Andretti INDYCAR Takes on Iconic California Street Circuit for the 50th Anniversary of the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach
The third round of the 2025 season will take the NTT INDYCAR SERIES back to the West Coast this weekend for the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. Celebrating its 50th anniversary, the iconic 1.968-mile, 11-turn temporary street circuit boasts a rich history, encircling the Long Beach Convention Center and running down the scenic Shoreline Drive with numerous overtaking opportunities. With a strong resume of success on the Streets of Long Beach, including wins and poles from two of the team’s three current drivers and a pair of top-10 finishes at the season-opening street course race, Andretti INDYCAR will look for a strong result on the Southern California track.
Race Details
| INDYCAR – Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach |
| Round | 3/17 |
| Track Type | Street Circuit |
| Turns | 11 Turns |
| Laps | 90 Laps |
| Track Length | 1.968 Miles |
Notes
Andretti INDYCAR
- Andretti INDYCAR has made 15 appearances at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach dating back to 2009, scoring six wins (Hunter-Reay-2010, Conway-2011, Rossi-2018, 2019, C. Herta-2021, Kirkwood-2023), five poles (Hunter-Reay-2014, Rossi-2018, 2019, C. Herta-2022 and Kirkwood-2023), 12 podiums and 18 top-five finishes.
- Throughout the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach race weekend, Andretti INDYCAR will take part in TWG Motorsports’ Coast to Coast activation, uniting the Indianapolis-based squad with sister teams across NASCAR, Formula E and IMSA as they race simultaneously across the U.S. – the only weekend in 2025 where all four teams compete on TWG’s home soil.
Colton Herta
- Ahead of this weekend’s race in Long Beach, Colton Herta has teamed up with Gainbridge and Pasadena Humane for a unique initiative to raise awareness for pet adoption and support animals impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires. Fans can purchase a limited-edition dog bandana at ShopAndretti.com, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to Pasadena Humane. A select number of bandanas will also be sold on-site at Andretti INDYCAR’s merchandise tent at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach starting on Friday, April 11.
- Throughout his five Long Beach starts, Herta has amassed an impressive victory in 2021 from his starting position of 14th, one pole position, two podiums, three top-five finishes and has led 78 laps dating back to his first full-time INDYCAR season in 2019.
- The California native still holds the track record for fastest qualifying lap with a lap time of 1:05.3095 from his 2022 pole-winning effort.
- The 2024 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach saw Herta take the start in the top five, where the No. 26 Gainbridge Honda would remain throughout the majority of the race before capitalizing on a late-race incident that moved him onto the podium for a second-place finish.
Kyle Kirkwood
- Announced earlier today, PreFab Home Wiring™, a groundbreaking electrical wiring solution designed specifically for modern residential builders and contractors, will join the Andretti INDYCAR program as the primary partner for the No. 27 Honda piloted by Kyle Kirkwood at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.
- Kirkwood, winner of the 2023 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, will make his fourth start on the Streets of Long Beach this weekend.
- The Florida native has never finished outside of the top 10 and has led 54 laps on the California street course. Kirkwood scored both his first career INDYCAR pole and win during the Long Beach race weekend in 2023.
- Executing an alternate strategy from his 10th-place starting position during last year’s Grand Prix, Kirkwood remained solidly in the top 10 throughout the majority of the race. Despite sustaining contact in the pits, the No. 27 Honda advanced three positions to come away with a seventh-place finish.
Marcus Ericsson
- This weekend’s 50th Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach will mark Marcus Ericsson’s 100th INDYCAR start, and his sixth on the Streets of Long Beach.
- In his five starts on the Long Beach street circuit, Ericsson has two top-five finishes and a front-row start.
- Ericsson’s Long Beach debut with Andretti INDYCAR last season saw the Swede start and finish fifth, securing his 17th top-five finish at the time.
| NTT INDYCAR SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS |
| Driver Championship Standings |
| Colton Herta | 47 points | 8th |
| Kyle Kirkwood | 54 points | 6th |
| Marcus Ericsson | 37 points | 11th |
Team Quotes
Colton Herta
No. 26 Gainbridge Honda
“The Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach is a special one for me. It’s the first race I ever attended, and it’s also a place where I was fortunate to get a win in 2021. As a Honda driver and LA native, it’s also meaningful with the strong presence Acura and Honda have in Southern California. I can’t wait to get back to California this weekend and celebrate the 50th anniversary of such a great race.”
Kyle Kirkwood
No. 27 PreFab Honda
“I’m excited to return to Long Beach. It’s a track where I got my first INDYCAR pole and win, so it always brings back a lot of great memories. There’s so much history at Long Beach, with the Andretti name being a big part of the legacy. Our cars have always performed well there, so I’m looking forward to taking on another street course, especially with PreFab Home Wiring coming on as a primary sponsor this weekend.”
Marcus Ericsson
No. 28 Bryant Honda
“Long Beach has always been one of my favorite tracks, and this year’s race is a big one. Not only is it the 50th anniversary of the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, but it is also my 100th INDYCAR start, so there’s a lot to celebrate. Long Beach has a bit of everything—some fast corners, long straights and the famous hairpin. It’s a track that puts on an amazing show and brings out so many fans. Looking forward to a great weekend with the Bryant crew.”
Rob Edwards
Chief Operating Officer
“The Acura Beach Grand of Long Beach is always one of the highlights of the season. This year will be a special one as we celebrate 50 years of racing on the Streets of Long Beach. Some of us can even remember the first race in 1975 with the F5000 cars. Over the last two years, Colton, Kyle and Marcus have all been on the podium in Long Beach, and we will be looking to continue that momentum. It would be great if all three of them can be on the podium together.”
