By: Spencer Neff
April 8, 2022
The calendar has turned to April as the NTT INDYCAR SERIES gets set for its third race of 2022.
For the second time this season, the 26-car field will head to a temporary street circuit. After being canceled in 2020 and moved to the season finale in 2021, the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach returns to its more traditional spot on the calendar.
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Last year, Colton Herta stormed from 14th on the grid to win his second consecutive race and first at Long Beach. After finishing fourth, Alex Palou clinched his first series championship.
After finishing second during the season opener at St. Petersburg in February, Palou finished seventh at grand Texas on March 20.
Herta finished fourth at St. Petersburg and 12th at Texas. Although Herta gave Andretti Auosport its third consecutive win at Long Beach and Palou earned the title, this year has been dominated by Team Penske.
Following his second consecutive front row start, Scott McLaughlin led 186 of 248 laps at Texas Motor Speedway. On the last lap, teammate Josef Newgarden edged pas him for the victory.
This weekend, Penske looks for their seventh win at Long Beach and first since 2016 (Simon Pagenaud).
If Will Power takes his third win on the California streets, it would mark the first time since 2017 that Penske has won. three consecutive races with as many different drivers.
While he was a late scratch for the previous round at TMS, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Jack Harvey was cleared to drive earlier this week and will pilot the No. 45.
Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach Fast Facts
Race weekend: Friday, April 8 – Sunday, April 10
Track: 1.968-mile, 11-turn temporary street course (clockwise) in Long Beach, California
Race distance: 85 laps / 167.28 miles
Push-to-pass parameters: 200 seconds of total time with a maximum time of 20 seconds per activation.
Firestone tire allotment: Six sets primary, four sets alternate. Rookie drivers are allowed one extra primary set for Practice 1.
Twitter: @GPLongBeach @INDYCAR, #AGPLB, #INDYCAR
Event website: http://www.gplb.com
INDYCAR website: http://www.INDYCAR.com
2021 race winner: Colton Herta (No. 26 Gainbridge Honda)
2021 NTT P1 Award: Josef Newgarden (No. 2 Hitachi Team Penske Chevrolet), 1:08.2241, 103.846 mph
Qualifying lap record: Helio Castroneves, 1:06.2254, 106.980 mph, April 8, 2017
NBC Sports race telecast: 3 p.m. (ET) Sunday, April 10, NBC (live). Leigh Diffey is the play-by- play announcer for NBC’s coverage of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, alongside analysts Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe. Marty Snider, Dave Burns and Kevin Lee are the pit reporters.
Peacock Premium Live Streaming: All NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice sessions and qualifying will stream live on Peacock Premium, NBC’s direct-to-consumer livestreaming product. NBC’s Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach race telecast will be simulcast on the streaming service, while Peacock Premium’s exclusive post-race show – featuring driver interviews, podium ceremonies and post-race analysis – will be streamed following the race.
INDYCAR Radio Network broadcasts: Mark Jaynes is the chief announcer alongside analyst Davey Hamilton and turn announcers Nick Yeoman, Jake Query and Michael Young. Ryan Myrehn and Joel Sebastianelli are the pit reporters. The Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach race and all NTT INDYCAR SERIES practices and qualifying sessions air live on network affiliates, SiriusXM 160, racecontrol.indycar.com and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA.
At-track schedule (all times local):
Friday, April 8
3:15-4:15 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice 1 (45-minute session), Peacock Premium (live)
Saturday, April 9
8:45-9:45 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice 2 (45-minute session), Peacock Premium (live)
12:05 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES Qualifying for the NTT P1 Award (three rounds of knockout qualifying), Peacock Premium (live)
Sunday, April 10
9-9:30 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES warmup, Peacock Premium (live) Noon – Driver introductions
Noon – NBC on air
12:38 p.m. – Start engines command
12:45 p.m. – Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach (85 laps/167.28 miles), NBC and Peacock Premium (live)
Header Image By Chris Jones/INDYCAR, Fast Facts By INDYCAR
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