The Toyota Grand Prix, an open-wheel race has been a seasonal event, is one of the most famous events held regularly on a street circuit in Long Beach, California. Also known as the Long Beach Grand Prix, it was founded by Christopher Pook.
The Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach is the premier circuit in the Champ Car, an open-wheel car used in American Championship Car Racing since 1996. In 2008, it merged with the Indy Racing League, and is now an event on the Izod IndyCar series calendar, the premier level of American open-wheel racing.
It is the largest event in Long Beach during April, with about 20,000 people regularly attending during regularly. It takes place on a 1.968-mile (3.167 km) temporary road course carved out of the city streets surrounding the Long Beach Convention Center, doubling as the pit paddock during the days of Formula One.
The Long Beach Grand Prix is also the longest running major “street” race held in North America. It started as a race on the streets of downtown Long Beach for Formula 5000, an open-wheel, single-seater formula running in different series around the world from 1968 to 1982. It is also associated with Firestone Indy Lights, a developmental automobile racing series, American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón (ALMS), a sports car racing series based in the United States and Canada, and the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race, an annual 10-lap auto race.