The Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach is in its 49th year, but it is as hard to predict as ever.
Meyer Schenk Racing’s Felix Rosenqvist (No. 60) took pole position, continuing a hot start to the season and to his time with the team. This will be the fourth front-row start in four races for the Swede. It’s the first time the team has started on pole in a points race, but Rosenqvist did lead the field to green in Thermal.
Will Power (No. 12) has had a roller coaster weekend already. After practice, a good starting position seemed unlikely as he found the wall twice. The Australian driver hasn’t taken pole since Laguna Seca in 2022, when he set the record for most poles in IndyCar history and clinched his second championship. Today, he and Rosenqvist set a different record: the closest front row on a street course in series history (0.0039 seconds).
Despite topping the morning practice session, Long Beach’s reigning winner and polesitter, Andretti’s Kyle Kirkwood (No. 27), only managed a 10th-place starting spot. He’s had pace all weekend and should still pose a threat, but at a notoriously difficult track to pass on, he has his work cut out for him.
With the grid set, here’s what to watch when the Grand Prix of Long Beach kicks off.
Team strength
Andretti Global is traditionally quick around street courses. That has continued so far this weekend with all three drivers. Colton Herta (No. 26) and Marcus Ericsson (No. 28) join Kirkwood in the top ten, starting fourth and fifth, respectively.
Rosenqvist is further proof of the team’s speed this weekend, as Andretti shares its data with MSR.
Penske managed a 1-2-3 finish in the season opener at St. Petersburg, also a street track. Will Andretti and MSR’s qualifying pace translate to race pace?
Turn eight
Turn eight is a 90-degree right-hander, followed by the track’s second-longest straight. It is not traditionally a passing opportunity, but it was reprofiled and only has painted curbing this year, which has allowed drivers to carry more speed through it.
Power and Rosenqvist were skeptical that it could lead to moves into turn nine, but there were multiple moves at both eight and nine in the IMSA race. Both are risky moves with tire barriers on the outside, but both turns could easily be the site of a jaw-dropping pass or an embarrassing crash.
Still no David Malukas
McLaren’s David Malukas is still out, yet to recover from an offseason bike crash which broke his wrist and tore ligaments. His replacement in the No. 6 car had been Callum Ilott, but the Brit isn’t available, already contracted to drive for Jota in the World Endurance Championship.
In Ilott’s stead is reigning Formula 2 champion Théo Pourchaire. The Frenchman had never driven an IndyCar before this weekend and qualified 22nd.
He is unlikely to pose a significant threat, but McLaren is a top team and it may be Pourchaire’s only opportunity to race stateside this year. His race should at least be intriguing.
A second car change
At St. Petersburg, IndyCar introduced an upgrade package that removed 20 lbs from the car. This weekend, IndyCar brings in a new aeroscreen which is 11 lbs lighter. Such changes are not unusual for this season — the long-awaited hybrid engine is set to debut after the Indy 500 — but they provide another challenge to get on top of at an already tough track.
The weight change is already making itself felt, Power said.
“You can actually get away with being a little sideways and not lose time,” he noted. “It’s a more nimble car. You can hustle it.”
Rosenqvist did just that on his pole-winning lap, losing the rear at turn five but carrying plenty of speed.
Cars have yet to run in traffic, where they have less downforce. That willingness to lose the rear end could prove treacherous in race conditions.
The green flag will wave in Long Beach at 12:45 PST on USA Network and Peacock.