Logo for the 50th Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, featuring blue stylized number 50, with dates April 11-13, 2025, and years 1975-2025.
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Celebrating 50 years — auto racing returns this week to the streets of Long Beach (with photos from the 2024 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach)

April 8, 2025/Jan Wagner/
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This week, “50 Years at Full Speed” is celebrated at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. To commemorate the event, a new logo was developed by Acura and the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach. It evokes a 1970s feel with a stylized “50” that resembles both a racetrack and a “retro” racing logo of the era. In addition, the “50” includes a checkered flag positioned in the lower right portion of the zero and the primary version of the logo will appear in “Long Beach Blue,” featured on multiple limited editions of Acura vehicles dating back to the first-generation NSX.

The headline race of the event will once again be the IndyCar race — the third on the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES calendar, following close behind the Inaugural Thermal Club IndyCar Grand Prix (for coverage of that event, complete with extensive original photography, see https://automatters.net/inaugural-thermal-club-indycar-grand-prix-two-thumbs-up/.

Poster of the 49th Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, April 19-21, 2024, featuring a racing car on a track, with palm trees and a crowd in the background.
Race cars navigating a track corner during a competitive event, with one prominent car in the foreground and two others following behind. Spectators visible in the background.
IndyCar action from the 2024 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach
Race cars navigate a turn on a street circuit during a motorsport event, with spectators in the background and branded barriers alongside the track.
Race cars on a track turning left, closely following each other with spectators in the stands behind a fenced barrier on a sunny day.
IndyCar race at Long Beach with cars speeding through a turn, surrounded by barriers and advertising banners, while spectators watch from the stands.
A large crowd sits in bleachers under numerous flags on a sunny day. Some people wear hats and sunglasses.
Photographers in orange vests kneel and stand, capturing images with large cameras at an outdoor event.
A diverse crowd sits tightly packed outdoors, many wearing caps and sunglasses. One person in an orange cap wears noise-canceling headphones. Sunlight casts shadows over the group.
Race car with Hitachi branding turns on a street circuit, showing sponsorship logos.
Race cars navigating a track curve, with one black and gold car leading a blue car. Sponsorship logos visible on barriers.
Race car number 14 turns on a track, surrounded by advertisements for NOS Energy Drink, O'Reilly Auto Parts, and others.
Dolphin statue fountain in front of Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. restaurant, surrounded by palm trees and an RH building in the background.
Racing pit crew in action, preparing tires and equipment as cars pass on the track.
An orange and blue race car speeds through a city circuit, surrounded by sponsor banners and tall buildings in the background.
Mechanic in black gear works on a race car tire with a tool. Nearby are other tires and mechanical equipment on a race track.
Two race cars on a track taking a turn. The car in front is black and orange, followed by a red and yellow car. Advertising banners line the background.
A pit crew services a race car during a pit stop at a racetrack, with crew members working on tires and refueling. Spectators and flags are visible in the background.
A race car pit stop with a team in red uniforms changing tires and refueling. The car is black and red, numbered 45. Spectators watch from stands in the background.
Race car driver in helmet inside a sleek, modern race car, with sponsor logos on the vehicle, under clear blue skies.
Race car in a pit stop with crew members changing tires and refueling, surrounded by barriers and onlookers at a motorsport event.
IndyCar race with multiple cars rounding a corner on a racetrack. Barriers and advertisements are visible in the background.

The Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach also includes exciting racing from other series. We learned about race car engineering and design for a car from one of those series at a panel discussion at last year’s event about, and as reported by AutoDesignO Automotive Design Organization (thank you!).

Four men are sitting on stools inside a tent. One is holding a microphone and speaking, while the others are smiling or laughing.

That car was the Acura ARX-06. Members of the panel included Acura’s design team and the co-owner of one of the teams. The moderator of the panel was Eric Noble of The CARLAB.

Two men sitting on stools against a white background, one holding a microphone. Both are casually dressed.
Person with glasses and shoulder-length hair speaking into a microphone, wearing a dark polo shirt with a racing logo, standing against a white background.
A smiling person in glasses, wearing a patterned shirt, holds a microphone. They are sitting with arms crossed in front of a white background.
Two men sitting on stools; one is speaking into a microphone while gesturing with his hand. Both are casually dressed and seated indoors.

Following the panel discussion, the panelists led us outside where they pointed out various design and engineering elements of the Acura ARX-06.

People gather around an Acura race car displayed outdoors, with a large blue building in the background and palm trees lining the area.
Two race cars parked: a black and blue Acura with red accents in the foreground, and a gray car with "93" on the windshield in the background.
Four men stand around a black, sleek Acura race car outdoors, each holding a microphone, appearing to discuss its features.
A man holding a microphone stands beside a blue and black Acura race car, gesturing towards its features. Another Acura vehicle is parked behind him.
A man gestures towards a parked race car with "Acura" branding. Other people and cars are visible in the background under a red and white striped tent.
Close-up of a race car's rear featuring logos for Honda Racing, Acura ARX-06 Type S, and Michelin tires.
Close-up of a car panel displaying Acura's logo and the text "ARX-06 Type S" in white and red.
A man in sunglasses and a patterned shirt speaks into a microphone while gesturing toward an Acura racing car, parked outdoors with tents in the background.

This Thursday will be Thunder Thursday, a free-to-the-public event that annually marks the start of the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach race weekend. It starts at 6 p.m. with activities for the entire family.

Thunder Thursday will include an NTT INDYCAR SERIES pit stop competition on Shoreline Drive, west of Pine Ave., lighting up the streets at 6:45 p.m. There will be four cars representing four INDYCAR teams competing for a $10,000 prize: in the first round, Alex Palou, driving the #10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, will take on Christian Rasmussen in the #21 Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet, while Will Power, driving the #12 Team Penske Chevrolet will go up against Graham Rahal in the #15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda. The two winning teams will go on to the final round, while the other two teams will face off in a consolation matchup to determine third place overall.

In addition, the always-exciting FreestyleMX freestyle motocross demonstrations will take over Shoreline Drive briefly at 6:30 p.m. and for a full show at 7:45 p.m.

Three motorcyclists perform mid-air tricks against a dark evening sky. A fourth person cycles near a rollercoaster and FMX signage is visible at the bottom.

Within The Pike Outlets, fans will enjoy interactive photo booths and live music from Emerald Street Band and Manuel The Band on stage in the Main Plaza. Food will also be available in the Main Plaza, as will, for fans 21 and older, a Beer Garden.

Other attractions include a classic car show located on The Paseo, with local antique and vintage cars; race cars from the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship including the Acura ARX-06 hybrid GT Prototype (GTP) car, and GT America series that will race over the weekend, and for the third time, Iron Goddess, an all-female motorcycle show on Bay Street. Plus, the IMSA and GT America drivers will sign autographs!

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, the Petersen Automotive Museum will host a special exhibit showcasing 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 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.

Red race car with number 40 takes a corner on a city street circuit, surrounded by advertising banners and safety barriers. Safety personnel are visible in the background.
Historic racecars were on track at the 2024 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach
Vintage race car number 14 on a city street track with painted whales on a building in the background. Crowd and banners line the track.
Three vintage race cars navigate a track turn, with the lead car in the foreground and two others following closely behind. Racing barriers and sponsor logos are visible in the background.
Two vintage race cars on a track in front of a "Port of Long Beach" billboard. The blue car leads the red and white car through a fenced curve. Crowd visible in the background.
Two vintage race cars on a track, one with a red and white design leading, the other following with a rear wing. Spectators and fencing line the track.

In addition to the feature NTT INDYCAR SERIES race, the event will also include the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

A lineup of race cars driving closely together on a track during a daytime race event.
2024 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach
Race cars competing on a street circuit with a barrier and spectators on the right. The cars are brightly colored and closely packed.
Three race cars tightly grouped on a city street racetrack, surrounded by barriers, with spectators in the background.
A red and black race car with Acura branding speeds on a track, featuring the number 40 and various sponsor logos.
Two race cars on a track, one blue and white, the other yellow, passing an Acura advertisement with spectators nearby.
Sports cars race on a track in a competitive event.
Two race cars, a red and yellow Porsche followed by a white and green Acura, navigate a track turn in a motorsport event.
Yellow Cadillac race car driving on a city track during a motorsport event, with other cars following in the background. Acura branding is visible on the barriers.
Emergency responders assist a damaged race car on a track, with another vehicle nearby.
A Lexus race car with "SealMaster" branding turns a corner on a racetrack, with another car visible behind it.
Race cars on a city street track, led by a red and white car; spectators watch from behind a fence.
Race cars in action on a track, with a leading blue and white car followed by two others. Acura branding is visible on barriers in the background.

The weekend will also include the Super Drift Challenge under the lights on Friday and Saturday nights…

Two race cars drift on a track, emitting smoke. The front car is black with red and white decals, followed by a blue car. A drone hovers in the background capturing the action.
Drifting at the 2024 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach
Two drift cars maneuvering on a track, trailing smoke. The front car is blue and red, and the back car is yellow and white.
Two race cars drifting on a track, emitting smoke. One car has flames coming from the hood. The cars display various sponsorship logos.
Racing cars crash on track, emitting thick black smoke and flames. Safety workers are present.

… plus doubleheader action from Robby Gordon’s SPEED Energy Stadium Super Trucks…

Three off-road trucks race on a track lined with palm trees, displaying logos like O'Reilly and King Taco. The lead truck is bright yellow.
Trucks race on a city circuit near palm trees and commercial buildings, with one truck airborne over a ramp.
Bright green racing truck airborne over a ramp on a track, with blurred background of barriers and signage.

… GT America Powered by AWS and the Historic Formula Exhibition.

More photos of the 2024 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach:

A blue IndyCar with "INDYCAR" text approaches a corner on a race track. A motorcyclist in red leads ahead. Spectators are visible behind fences.
Race cars displayed in a showroom with a large screen and branded banners in the background. People are observing the cars.
Inflatable red and white striped ticket booth with a person standing in front, large banner above, and two signs detailing event ticket prices.
Family fun
A man and a child wearing red and white checkered shirts walk hand-in-hand in a large indoor area with event barriers and orange cones.
A large inflatable slide featuring cars and desert scenery, including cartoon cactus figures and character designs from the "Cars" movie series.
A small amusement ride named "Pirates Revenge" features a wooden pirate ship design with numbered seats and a sign instructing riders to remain seated until the ride stops.
Two children in colorful bumper cars face each other on an inflatable arena floor. Vibrant surroundings enhance the playful atmosphere.
A child in glasses drives a pink toy race car indoors, surrounded by orange cones and other toy cars in the background.
Ferris wheel with white gondolas against a clear blue sky; palm trees and a building in the background.
A cruise ship sails near a grassy park with palm trees and a lighthouse by the water.
A large outdoor car meet with numerous parked cars and people walking around, set against an urban backdrop with palm trees and buildings. A wire fence is visible in the foreground.
Car show at the 2024 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, followed by a track drive
A green and yellow vintage sports car with exposed wheels is parked at a car show, surrounded by people and other vehicles.
Several vintage race cars, including a blue Gulf-liveried Ford GT40, line up on a street circuit with city buildings in the background.
Honda Racing booth at an auto show featuring a racing car, large HRC logo on the floor, and various displays with attendees browsing.
Lifestyle Expo
People stand near a "Spin the Wheel" gaming display at a AAA booth, with promotional materials and a model race car in the background.
People observe an orange and black Indy car on display with sponsor logos.
A person wearing blue plays a bean bag tossing game at a colorful food stand, surrounded by packages on display, while two people observe.
Four-legged robotic device on a miniature turf field, displaying "Metal Fabrication Technology" on its side. Background includes a Long Beach City College sign and an open cardboard box.
A clothing truck with palm tree graphics and the slogan "Quality You Can Wear" serves customers, with staff inside and patrons at the counter.
A person wearing a cap sits in a racing simulator rig with a steering wheel, pedals, and screen. Another person stands nearby. "Type S" is displayed on the wall behind them.
Six racing helmets on display, each labeled with different country names: Abu Dhabi, Italy, Monaco, Japan, Singapore, and United States.
A man in a blue shirt holds merchandise boxes outside an IndyCar official store tent, with people and palm trees in the background.
A coastal building with a red roof and palm trees, labeled "Parkers Lighthouse," stands near a marina with boats in the foreground.
Race cars speed on a city street track under an Acura banner during an auto race, with buildings and palm trees in the background.
Sportscar racing from the 2024 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach
Racing cars compete on a track, led by a black car with yellow stripes, during a motorsport event.
Three race cars, including a bright green car and a white car, competing closely on a track, with sponsor logos visible. Track barriers and advertisements are in the background.
Three race cars navigate a track turn during a competition, with spectators and advertising banners visible in the background.
Race cars speed down a city circuit, with a Lamborghini in the lead. Spectators fill the stands, and branded banners line the track.
Two sports cars race on a track with sponsor banners in the background, featuring a green car in the foreground and an orange car behind.
Two race cars with visible brand logos are on a track during a race event. Trees and advertisements are in the background.
Two race cars on a track, one with "The Heart of Racing" on its rear, navigating a curve. The track is lined with advertising banners.
A green and white race car with various logos navigates a track corner during a GT America event.
Man in a floral shirt and sunglasses holds a tray with a burger and fries, giving a thumbs-up at an outdoor food stall.

For more information, visit https://www.gplb.com.

To explore a wide variety of content dating back to 2002, with the most photos and the latest text, visit “AutoMatters & More” at https://automatters.net. Search by title or topic in the Search Bar in the middle of the Home Page, or click on the blue ‘years’ boxes and browse.

Copyright © 2025 by Jan Wagner – AutoMatters & More #878r1

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