These 5 Cars from Long Beach Grand Prix History Coming to the Petersen
The exhibit will be open to the public from March 20 through April 8 in the museum's lobby, giving visitors an up-close look at machines that once roared through the streets of Long Beach. And the best part? You can go into the lobby for free!
As you may know, the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach saw three distinct kinds of racing over its half a century.
It started in 1975 with a Formula 5000 race, won by Brian Redman in a Carl Haas Lola Chevrolet.
Then it was Formula 1 for eight glorious years. You could actually go to Long Beach—Long Beach!—and see the greatest drivers in the fastest cars in the world. Niki Lauda won it, Mario Andretti won it, it was darn near magical (for a kid from San Pedro who snuck in).
The CART/Champ Car era started in 1984 and lasted until 1987, an era that saw Andrettis and Unsers trading wins seemingly the whole time.
Then IndyCar took over in 2008 and has been running at Long Beach since.
'The exclusive display at the Petersen will feature five historic race cars spanning the three iconic racing eras—Formula 5000, Formula 1, and IndyCar—representing the evolution of open-wheel racing at North America's premier street race,' the Petersen said in a release. 'The cars will later take to the track during the Historic Formula Exhibition on race weekend, providing fans with a thrilling glimpse into motorsports history with the three types of cars racing together for the first time.'
The five cars on display at the Petersen will include:
The 1974 Formula 5000 Dan Gurney All-American Racers Eagle 755, winner of the 1975 Long Beach pole position with Vern Schuppan at the wheel, which was also the first car ever to turn a wheel on the streets of Long Beach. The car is currently owned by local businessman and sprint car sponsor Tom Malloy.
Representing Long Beach's Formula 1 era, 1976-83, will be the 1976 March 761 currently owned by Richard Griot and driven by Italy's Vittorio Brambilla in 1976 at Long Beach, along with the 1980 McLaren M30, most notably driven by Alain Prost during the 1980 F1 season and currently owned by Sean Allen.
The Indy Car era will be represented by the 1981 All-American Racers Eagle 8100, owned by Dennis Firestone and driven by Firestone himself in-period. In addition, the 1999 Reynard driven that season by Bryan Herta and currently owned by Erich Joiner, will be on display.
'Racing in Long Beach has been an important part of American motorsports for five decades, and this exhibit at the Petersen Automotive Museum offers a rare opportunity to celebrate its legacy,' said Grand Prix Association of Long Beach President and CEO Jim Michaelian. 'Fans will not only be able to witness these legendary machines up close but also experience them in action during race weekend.'
The Petersen Automotive Museum is located in the mid-city area of Los Angeles at the intersection of Wilshire and Fairfax. If you go past the lobby exhibit of Long Beach Grand Prix cars, which you really should, entry is $21 for adults, $12 for kids 4-11. See www.petersen.org. The Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach is April 11-13. You can buy tickets for the race at gplb.com.
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Photos from Hungarian GP - Practice Lando Norris, McLaren Guido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images Dettaglio tecnico Haas VF-25 Alexandra Saint Mleux Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber Guido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images Mark Webber Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images Fans of Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team Red Bull Content Pool Dettaglio tecnico Ferrari SF-25 Pierre Gasly, Alpine Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber, Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing, Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber Guido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images George Russell, Mercedes Alastair Staley / LAT Images via Getty Images Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images Dettaglio tecnico McLaren Leo the dog Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images Dettaglio tecnico Red Bull Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images Lando Norris, McLaren Alastair Staley / LAT Images via Getty Images Pierre Gasly, Alpine Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images Paul Aron, Sauber Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images Lando Norris, McLaren Alastair Staley / LAT Images via Getty Images Flavio Briatore, Executive Advisor of Alpine F1 Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images Paul Aron, Sauber Guido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images Oscar Piastri, McLaren Alastair Staley / LAT Images via Getty Images Alexander Albon, Williams Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing Red Bull Content Pool Lando Norris, McLaren Alastair Staley / LAT Images via Getty Images Franco Colapinto, Alpine Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing Red Bull Content Pool Pierre Gasly, Alpine Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images Lando Norris, McLaren Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team Alastair Staley / LAT Images via Getty Images Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images George Russell, Mercedes Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images Paul Aron, Sauber Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images Oscar Piastri, McLaren Alastair Staley / LAT Images via Getty Images Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images Charles Leclerc, Ferrari Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images Oscar Piastri, McLaren Clive Rose / Formula 1 via Getty Images Oscar Piastri, McLaren Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images Charles Leclerc, Ferrari Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images Lando Norris, McLaren Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images George Russell, Mercedes Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images Lando Norris, McLaren Alastair Staley / LAT Images via Getty Images Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari Alastair Staley / LAT Images via Getty Images Franco Colapinto, Alpine Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images Oscar Piastri, McLaren Alastair Staley / LAT Images via Getty Images Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing Red Bull Content Pool Lando Norris, McLaren Alastair Staley / LAT Images via Getty Images George Russell, Mercedes Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images Felipe Drugovich, Aston Martin F1 Team Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team Red Bull Content Pool Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images Alexander Albon, Williams Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team Red Bull Content Pool Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team Red Bull Content Pool Read Also: Fernando Alonso ruled out of FP1 due to injury as Hungarian GP status uncertain To read more articles visit our website.
