Long Beach Is Prepped! ... "Let's Get Ready To R(copyright)!"

Media Luncheon driver group photo that included, Mike Conway, Ryan Briscoe, Will Power, Oliver Gavin, Justin and brother Stefan Wilson, James Jakes, Scott Sharp, Ed Brown Oriol Servia and Charlie Kimball in the roof. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2011)

Long Beach Is Prepped! ... "Let's Get Ready To R(copyright)!"

The annual race through the streets of Long Beach has always been characterized as a rough and tumble street fight between drivers and cars. So please excuse us if we are reminded of a man, standing at the middle of a ring, with a microphone in his hand, making a loud announcement and using the word RUMBLE! The picture just seems to fit the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.

From the E! style Toyota Pro/Celebrity Scion tCs battles, all of the way through Drifting exhibitions, the Pirelli World Challenge, the exotic Patron American Le Mans Series, to the open wheel excitement of IZOD IndyCar series racing rarely does a competition go down without a brutal contest and issues with a wall or another competitor.

This what we come to expect from this rite of spring event here in the LA Basin - great weather, people lookin' racy and stylin' to the 9's, and tough time at the beginning of the race ... any race in turn #1!

Will Power - Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2011)

Ryan Hunter-Raey - Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2011)

The talk from IndyCar drivers - specifically, Penske's Will Power (series points leader after 2 races), and Andretti Autosport's Ryan Hunter-Raey (defending Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach champion) centered around the new rule for IndyCar restarts implemented this season ... double file on all starts during the entire race. It was what was discussed most often during the TGPLB pre-event luncheon at the infield Tacate Lite Lounge yesterday.

Paul Tracy will join a full 28 car field and run his first race of the season with the Jay Penske Dragon Racing Team. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2011)

In previous years, only the first start of the race had two rows side-by-side going into the hard left turn #1 after screaming down the wide and fast Shoreline Drive, soft right-turn, front straight. Speeds could reach over 170 mph just to be braked down to under 60 mph under ideal conditions - no other cars on one's left or right. So, after any full-course YELLOW Flag, the re-start of the race will be just as hazardous and exciting as the first start of the race with no romm to fudge in the first few turns with everyone looking to gain positions.

Then there comes the ability to pass at the track. The Patron American Le Mans race last year saw Adrian Fernandez in his Aston Martin get passed by Simon Pagenaud in his Acura in the last laps which always keeps the excitement high.

This excerpted and edited from autoblog.com -

With six minutes to go, the race looked to belong to Fernandez. With 50 seconds left, the pair crossed the start/finish line for the final time. By the time they reached Turn 1, Adrian had powered ahead by a sizable amount. Through 2,3 and 4, though, Simon was right on his tail again. As the two entered Turn 5, Fernandez made an uncharacteristic slip and when he ran wide, Pagenaud slid through and into the lead. It briefly appeared that Fernandez would take it back in 6,7, or even 8, but by the time they hit slower traffic at the hairpin, Simon was still ahead. Could that big V12 outdrag the ARX-01c on the final blast to the checkers? Not this time. Pagenaud held on, taking the win by just 0.353 seconds.
Reference Here

The Dyson Racing, G-Oil, Mazda/Lola of the LMP1 classification in the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón. Image Credit: ALMS/Patron

More about the Long Beach street course as seen by the Mazda/Lola Dyson Racing's Chris Dyson excerpted and edited from the ALMS -

IN HIS OWN WORDS: CHRIS DYSON
At Long Beach owning the LMP1 championship lead

After finishing the 12 Hours of Sebring second among the American Le Mans Series LMP1 entries (and first in points), Chris Dyson gave his thoughts on Dyson Racing`s performance at Sebring, this weekend`s upcoming Tequila Patrón American Le Mans Series at Long Beach, and the start of a new season...

The team is coming off a solid run at Sebring. How does that affect your confidence for the Long Beach race and for the season?
It makes a huge difference for the season, to be honest. If there`s one lesson we`ve learned from our years in the ALMS, it is that you have to score week in and week out. Sebring is a bonus points event, so it`s critical to have a strong result. The team executed brilliantly all week at Sebring and that really sets the tone for the rest of the year.

Best memory from Sebring?
Midway through the event, I looked at the timing and scoring and we were running fourth overall with a car that was five seconds off the pace. I really chuckled at that, but it was no fluke. The faster cars were smashing into each other and going off into the tires, and our Mazda had just marched up the charts. Obviously, we couldn`t sustain it over the full race, but it did give us all some genuine pride in the quality of the team`s performance and strategy.

You first ran Long Beach in 2005. Your thoughts on your very first lap of the track?
I fell in love with Long Beach right away. It`s a great challenge. Most street circuits don`t really have long straightaways and good rhythm sections, but Long Beach is unique. Also, you really feel like you`re competing on a grand stage. The track is like a cavern slicing though a city, and the crowds are fantastic. The whole time it feels like you`re in a huge stadium. It`s an extra buzz and you find yourself digging deeper every lap.

How much of an adjustment is there in a driver`s style going from the wide-open track at Sebring to the confines of a street race like Long Beach?
You have to treat both tracks with equal respect. Sebring looks wide open but in reality there`s so little runoff, you can have a massive shunt before you even know what happened. Also, it`s the first race of the year and the last thing you want to do is jeopardize the team`s result in an enduro. Long Beach has Jersey barriers lining the track and that keeps you honest. You have to respect the limit at all times because Long Beach is entirely unforgiving. Blow the corner entry and pay the price.

What is the best part of the Long Beach track?
I really like the last section of corners before the Queen`s Hairpin. You come down the back straight and brake as late as you can, but you have to be careful of the bumps in the middle of the braking zone. Get greedy and your day will be over instantly. But if you get the entrance to that corner right, the car flows through the rest of the complex quite nicely. It`s a challenge every lap, and very important for lap time.

Why does Long Beach posses such an iconic standing among street races?
I think it`s mainly the venue itself and the great history of the event. If you look at a transformative event in a city`s history, the LBGP is certainly one of the biggest game- changers for Long Beach. The fact that it has run without interruption for over thirty-five years is a staggering accomplishment for a street race. Most come and go after only a few years. The longevity and the importance of the SoCal market means it`s the "city" race that every team and sponsor wants to win the most.

The importance of qualifying at Long Beach vs. other tracks?
Qualifying is very important at Long Beach, but the nature of the track still allows for passing and this means it`s not the do-all and end-all. The polesitter hasn`t won the race every year we`ve been here, and that says something about the place.

Is Long Beach more of a measured strategy compared to others on the ALMS calendar?
It`s a tough one because it`s an unusual race distance. At two hours, it`s the shortest race on the calendar and it`s the first time we`ve run the race over 90 minutes here. This is going to raise some interesting strategic points because fuel economy will be just as big of a factor as outright performance and arguably more so. Once the flag drops, it`s up to Vince (Wood) and Peter (Weston) to navigate Guy and I to the front!

Last year you were elected to the Road Race Drivers Club at Long Beach. A highlight of the year for you?
It was really cool-- an honor-- to join the RRDC. I had been pestering my dad for years about joining this "secret society" and he and Bob Leitzinger always used to laugh about that. All joking aside, the highlight of my year was finding out that we were having a baby girl!

What kind of flavor does a race weekend have when we share the track with IndyCar?
It`s enhanced. The turnout is always very good and the same kind of fans who watch IndyCars like ALMS, and vice versa. It`s always great to see our friends from the IndyCars, several of whom have competed in ALMS the past few years. Usually, we share the venues at classic stops on our tours, so the crowds are really into it.

The car ran flawlessly at Sebring. Talk a little bit about the advances that have been done to the Mazda MZR-R engine, the Lola chassis and the Dunlop tires in the offseason.
Engine-wise, the team ended 2010 on a very strong footing. The second half of last season reflected all the hard work and development efforts that AER had put into the Mazda MZR-R engine. It`s the smallest engine on the track, but you`d never know that based on the Mazda turbo`s performance. This offseason, the engine team has concentrated on maximizing the power and torque curves based on the 2011 regulations, which are quite a bit different than last year`s and which were finalized quite late in the day. On the Lola chassis front, over the winter, we focused on starting the season with the narrower, 2011 rear wing and understanding the effects this would have on the balance of the car. There`s less downforce, so this has meant that we have had to reconsider the mechanical setup, including the springs and shock absorbers. We worked very hard in the testing to regain the balance and make the car happy on the tires, which thanks to Dunlop have taken another step forward. We had a pretty short timescale to come up with a race-able package, but as always the DRT engineering team gave us a great car in the race at Sebring. There`s definitely some more to come with the car, but we`ve hit the ground running.

This is a home race for Mazda with their corporate headquarters nearby. How does the addition of their enthusiastic fans affect the team and drivers?
The SoCal tuning crowd really has lots of love for Mazda, and the paddock is always mobbed around our cars. It`s amazing how passionate the Mazda owners are about the brand!

A recent Motor Trend article called Dyson Racing the `greenest entry" in the ALMS with biodegradable oil, G-OIL and bio-fuel isobutanol. How does this green message fit in with your view on the direction of racing and the ALMS?
It`s a great fit and really a matter of perfect timing that we happened to align ourselves with "green" thinking companies as the ALMS was truly beginning to embrace Green Racing. I couldn`t be prouder of our partners. It`s an honor to be aligned with such a forward-thinking group at G-OIL, who recognize the ALMS as a terrific platform to showcase their wonderful product in the most demanding racing conditions. Likewise Mazda, whose 2.0 liter MZR-R turbo engine is a core engine for their road car platform, has leveraged the value of the ALMS program as a direct connection to the their own, cutting-edge showroom products. And we have been able to give the world debut to the isobutanol fuel, which is revolutionary. How many other racing platforms allow for such a broad array of technological freedom and innovation? Racing needs to be fast, exciting and dramatic. But it can also contribute some genuine good to the world through innovation. The ALMS has given us the opportunity to showcase some incredible technologies and spread our partners` messages in a thrilling environment.

This year’s race will be telecast by ESPN2 from 5 to 7 p.m. ET on Sunday, April 17. Live video and radio coverage will be available on americanlemans.com and ESPN3.com starting at 7:15 p.m. ET/4:15 p.m. local time. Visit the American Le Mans Series` schedule page for information on tickets and area accommodations.
(ht: ALMS by Patron)

... notes from The EDJE

2011 Long Beach Toyota Pro-Celebrity Race Media Day - Car Drawing & Charity RajArt Signing

A star-studded cast of some of America’s favorite celebrities from film, television, sports and music will take to the streets of Long Beach, Calif. April 15-16, 2011, to challenge a group of talented professional race-car drivers in the 35th annual Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race. The Hollywood stars are prepared to meet the high-speed challenge to support Racing for Kids, a national nonprofit program benefiting children’s hospitals in Long Beach and Orange County, Calif.. Pictured with Artist Raj Champaneri are Celebrities: AJ Buckley, Kim Coates, William Fichtner, Daniel Goddard, Djimon Honsou, Kevin Jonas, Stephen Moyer, Tito Ortiz, Megyn Price, Jillian Barberie Reynolds, Michael Trucco, charity auction winner Jerry Westlund, Toyota dealer Mike Sullivan. In the “Pro” category: 2010 winner Brian Austin Green, TV star and Pro driver Frankie Muniz, Ken Gushi, Kody Swanson, Christian Rado. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2011)

2011 Long Beach Toyota Pro-Celebrity Race Media Day - Car Drawing & Charity RajArt Signing

At the Media Day Luncheon, Pros and Celebrities mix with the Press as they draw for the specially prepared, Toyota Corporation, Scion tCs car they will drive in the charity race that is in its 35th year. After drawing their car, they then signed a special piece of art created by Raj Champaneri for an auction to be held at a charity event held during the 37th Annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach event.

Artist Raj Champaneri doesn't say much especially about his art and design work ... here are a few impressions he delivered at an interview while on location, recently. Raj says that he is blessed with a talent, that he has been touched to be able to provide such entertainment to all kinds of people, from children to adults, 'everyone has something to say'... "I am even more blessed that I can use my gifts for so much good; in preparing art and design work for charities creating an even greater good for all people, especially for children" (hence his connection with the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race). His art work has generated a good sum of money for many various charities around the world, benefiting those in need.

This excerpted and edited from the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach media guide -

“FUELED BY FAME”: Celebs Gear Up For the Annual Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race

As the world’s longest-running and most prestigious celebrity racing event, the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race has introduced more than 540 celebrities to the sport of race-car competition. Pitting popular personalities against professional racers, the 10-lap sprint around the 1.97-mile downtown Long Beach street circuit begins as an even field, as drivers get behind the wheel of identical race-ready Scion tCs.

Raj Champaneri, of East Indian descent, was born and raised in England and has been residing with his family in Los Angeles for over 25 years. His fascination with Art and Design, especially with cars dates back to his childhood days, when he dismantled his fathers estate car (station wagon) to conceptualize if stream-lined headlamps and a slant front-end would make the car go faster!!! Raj now prepares each masterpiece from his studios in Los Angeles, for clients and customers from all over the world. His renditions cover a wide subject matter, however the art work is immediately recognizable, and unmistakably unique. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2011)

The lineup of 18 drivers includes celebrities, proven professionals and a charity auction winner:

She normally reports on the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race from her anchor’s seat in the “Good Day LA” studio, but this year JILLIAN BARBERIE REYNOLDS is switching gears and getting behind the wheel to take a shot at winning the grand prize. As co-host of the Emmy Award–winning, top-rated Fox morning show for the past 15 years, Reynolds created the much loved segments “Style File” and “Adopt a Pet.” In 2000, she added another show to her hosting résumé by joining “Fox NFL Sunday,” which she co-hosts each week during the NFL season alongside Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long and Jimmy Johnson.

Multi-talented actor/writer/director/producer AJ BUCKLEY currently stars as Adam Ross on the CBS hit series “CSI: NY.” But he has a range of experience on other well-known and critically acclaimed series and films, including “The In Crowd” and “Blue Car” on the big screen and “Entourage,” “Without a Trace,” “NYPD Blue,” “Bones” and “The X-Files” on the small screen. A guest-starring role on the popular CW series “Supernatural” as Ed Zeddmore, the leader of a group of wannabe ghost hunters, led to the opportunity for Buckley to write, direct and star in the original Web-based series “The Ghostfacers.” He also stars in the Syfy film “The Doomsday Scrolls.”

KIM COATES currently appears as mercurial motorcycle club sergeant-at-arms Tig Trager on the FX hit series “Sons of Anarchy.” His film career kicked off with a bang in 1991 with “The Last Boy Scout,” and he’s since starred in more than 40 films, including the Academy Award–winning “Black Hawk Down,” “Pearl Harbor,” “The Client” and “Open Range.” He has six films opening in 2011: “Goon,” “Sacrifice,” “A Little Help,” “Sinners and Saints,” “Robosapien” and “Blood the Butchers Tale.” Coates starred on Broadway as Stanley Kowalski in “A Streetcar Named Desire” and held the title role in “Macbeth” at the legendary Stratford Theatre.

Versatile character actor WILLIAM FICHTNER has appeared in such big-screen blockbusters as “Armageddon,” “Black Hawk Down,” “The Perfect Storm,” “Date Night,” “Blades of Glory” and Michael Mann’s “Heat.” He was one of the winners of the Screen Actors Guild award for Best Ensemble Cast in a Feature Film for his performance in Paul Haggis’ Academy Award–winning “Crash.” He starred for three seasons in Fox’s hit drama “Prison Break” and can next be seen in theaters in the Nicolas Cage action movie “Drive Hard 3D.”

DANIEL GODDARD is best known as Cain on the soap opera “The Young and the Restless.” The Australian native also starred as television’s “Beastmaster” and appeared in the long-running Aussie soap opera “Home and Away.” Other small screen work includes parts in such series as “Lightspeed” and “Monk.” On the big screen, he’s appeared in such films as “The Perfect Sleep,” “These Boots Are Made for Walking,” “Dream Warrior” and “Immortally Yours.”

Returning from the 2010 Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race is popular actor BRIAN AUSTIN GREEN, who will vie this year in the pro category. Green most recently appeared as a recurring character on the ABC hit series “Desperate Housewives.” He gained overnight success for his role as David Silver on the teen phenomenon television series “Beverly Hills, 90210,” which ran for 10 years. Green also produced 40 episodes of the show. He was a series regular on Fox’s critically acclaimed “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.” His additional TV credits include “Smallville,” “Las Vegas,” “Hope & Faith” and a lead role on “Freddie.” He directed his first feature film, “Fish Without a Bicycle,” in 2003.

Two-time Academy Award–nominated actor DJIMON HOUNSOU was first noticed by audiences in Steven Spielberg’s 1997 historical drama “Amistad.” Following that film, he appeared in roles in films including the Oscar-winning “Gladiator,” Michael Bay’s “The Island,” the thriller “Constantine,” the comedy “Beauty Shop” and Shekhar Kapur’s “The Four Feathers,” with Heath Ledger and Kate Hudson. He received Oscar nominations for his accomplished performances in the critically acclaimed “In America” and “Blood Diamond.”

Pop musical group, Jonas Brothes, Kevin Jonas, is a 35-1 shot (odds set in Las Vegas) at winning the Toyota Pro/celerity Race. The musician is tied for last spot primarily because of his inexperience with a stick shift, and because he missed the last training — which was a rainy one. But to Jonas’s credit, he learned quickly; he’ll just need to hope for a sunny race. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2011)

With his world-famous brothers, KEVIN JONAS has an impressive list of accomplishments, including 12 Teen Choice awards, numerous Grammy and Emmy award nominations, a No. 1 New York Times bestselling children’s book, the third-highest-grossing 3-D concert movie of all time and 2008’s No. 1 cable telecast, the Disney Channel original movie “Camp Rock.” The Jonas Brothers made SoundScan history as the only artist to hold three titles in the Top 10, with their third album, “A Little Bit Longer,” at No. 1; the “Camp Rock” soundtrack at No. 8; and their sophomore album, “Jonas Brothers,” at No. 10 on the Billboard Top 200. Their fourth album, “Lines, Vines and Trying Times,” debuted at No. 1 and was one of 2009’s top album debuts.

STEPHEN MOYER plays vampire Bill Compton on HBO’s Golden Globe–nominated series “True Blood,” which will soon return for its fourth season. He’s recently completed filming “Ice,” “Tribes of October” and “The Caller,” and will soon begin work on “Big Valley.” He can be seen next on the big screen in “Priest,” alongside Paul Bettany and Cam Gigandet.

Actor-turned-pro racer FRANKIE MUNIZ is returning for his fourth Toyota Pro/Celebrity race. Best known to fans as the eponymous star of the popular Fox series “Malcolm in the Middle,” Muniz put his acting career on hold after his win in the 2005 Toyota Pro/Celebrity race to pursue professional racing. He has also appeared in such films as “My Dog Skip,” “Agent Cody Banks,” “Big Fat Liar” and “Stay Alive.” He will next be seen on screen in the superhero comedy “Pizza Man,” not yet released.

Legendary ultimate fighter TITO ORTIZ won his first-ever fight—as an amateur in the Ultimate Fighting championships while he was a college student—in 31 seconds. He went on to win the Light Heavyweight Championship by defeating Wanderlei Silva at UFC 25 in Japan. He defended his championship six times, until surrendering it to fellow ultimate-fighting legend Randy Couture at UFC 44. Ortiz coached the third and 11th seasons of “The Ultimate Fighter” and wrote a bestselling autobiography, “This Is Gonna Hurt.”

Returning for her second consecutive year, television actress MEGYN PRICE is best known for her current role on the hit CBS comedy “Rules of Engagement” with David Spade and co-star Patrick Warburton. Price also starred as Claudia Finnerty in the sitcom “Grounded for Life.” Other television credits include “LateLine” and the animated series “American Dad!”

MICHAEL TRUCCO currently stars in the new USA Network series “Fairly Legal,” opposite Sarah Shahi. The actor, probably best known for his portrayal of Samuel Anders in three seasons of the critically acclaimed series “Battlestar Galactica,” recently guested in a multi-episode arc as Det. Tom Demming on the hit show “Castle,” starring Nathan Fillion. Prior to that, he appeared in a recurring role on “Beverly Hills, 90210” and then starred for two seasons on “Pensacola: Wings of Gold,” with James Brolin. His breakout role was in the big-screen blockbuster “A Few Good Men.”

Compact Drag-Racer, Chris Rado as he signs art for charity. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2011)

Vying for a win in the pro category alongside last year’s celebrity winner Green and star-turned-pro driver Muniz are KEN GUSHI, CHRIS RADO and KODY SWANSON.

GUSHI, a drift car champion and member of the Scion Racing team, is the youngest drifting competitor in both the D1 Grand Prix of Japan and the Formula Drift Championships of the U.S.

RADO is the owner of WORLD Racing and one of the leaders of the professional compact drag racing circuit and, in 2009, was the first front-wheel-drive vehicle driver in history to run a six-second quarter mile.

SWANSON is a midget-car series champion who began racing—and winning titles—before graduating from the eighth grade.

MIKE SULLIVAN, owner of Toyota of Hollywood and Toyota of Santa Monica, is filling the Southern California Toyota dealer seat.

Rounding out the field is the charity auction winner: JERRY WESTLUND, who is returning for the second consecutive year. He won the opportunity to race due to his generous donation in a charity auction.
[Reference Here]

Toyota will donate $5,000 to Racing for Kids in the name of each celebrity racer and another $5,000 to the winning racer’s charity of choice. Additionally, a $15,000 donation will be made in conjunction with the 14th annual People Pole Award. Sponsored by People magazine, the award honors the pole-position winner of the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race qualifying session on Friday, April 15.

The Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race takes place the following day, Saturday, April 16. In addition to participating in a practice session and a qualifying race on April 15, the drivers’ schedules include a visit to Long Beach’s Memorial Miller Children’s Hospital, which receives a charitable donation in their names from Toyota.

On behalf of the race and its participants, Toyota has donated more than $1.9 million to various children’s hospitals since 1991. Learn more about the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race, one of six main-event attractions taking place during the 37th annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach - HERE.

... notes from The EDJE

2011 Long Beach Pro-Celebrity Media Day: Five Minutes With Patrick Long

TruSpeed Motorsports Director, Tyler Tadevic readies a race prepared Porsche with ALMS stickers. Able assistance for sticker application was provided by Erin Cechal, American Le Mans Series Director of Public Relations/Media Services. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2011)

2011 Long Beach Pro/Celebrity Media Day: Five Minutes With Patrick Long

One might assume that it would be difficult to have a conversation with one of the more accomplished, yet under-publicized motorsports drivers of our era ... American born (actually Southern California born and bred) factory Porsche driver, Patrick Long.

Five minutes with Patrick Long leaves one with a strong and positive long-term memory of a person who is able to pursue & experience one's passion of mastering the art of driving an automobile in competition, establish strong interpersonal relationships at the pinnacle of performance, and make a difference in the context of this professional world on an international basis.

Audio Of Revealing Interview With Patrick Long, Here
(Patrick on World Challenge ride, open-wheel racing, general life issues)

Patrick Long gets ready to step into his office for the day giving rides around a track he has won at in the American Le Mans Series the previous two years. If he wins again (in any series) ... this threatens to bring a new meaning understanding to the name "Long Beach"! Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2011)

All of this may sound daunting and hectic given the goals of winning and the demands of representing the technology and corporate agenda of an international sports car powerhouse that is Porsche, especially when one considers that Patrick remains the happy, relaxed yet focused and professional Southern Californian that he is, but to Patrick ... it is all part of a life lived fully and well.

At the 2011 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Pro/Celebrity Media Day, a day about one and half weeks before the event and where the celebrities are able to get familiar with the track lay-out for the first time as the city shuts down public access to the streets, Patrick Long joined his newest competition effort in the World Challenge for 2011. Patrick has joined forces with TruSpeed Motorsports (part of TruSpeed Motorcars, and TruSpeed Motorwerks - Porsche Sales, Service, and Racing out of Costa Mesa) in its desire to field a two car Porsche team in competing the Pirelli World Challenge Championship.

TruSpeed is best known as the premier source for air-cooled Porsches in the United States. Founded by businessman and driver Rob Morgan in January of 2001, TruSpeed has delivered absolute satisfaction and superior service to more than 4,000 customers worldwide.

Patrick Long grabs his helmet as he gets ready to take another hot lap, with a passenger in tow, around the temporary street course that is the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach race track. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2011)

Porsche, TruSpeed's founder and lead driver Rob Morgan, and TruSpeed's Motorsports Director, Tyler Tadevic are happy to have Patrick expand his competition awareness efforts outside of his primary Factory responsibilities of the American Le Mans Series and other corporate efforts ... as long as there remains no conflict on the Factory side. This TruSpeed Motorsports opportunity of teaming up with Rob Morgan fit the bill almost perfectly. Only one race, the Round 4 run at Miller Motorsports Park, Utah, would be effected with Patrick's absence. So far, Patrick has captured wins in Rounds 1 and 2 of the Pirelli World Challenge Championships from St. Petersberg ... and with 322 points, leads the driver championship by 89 points over the nearest competitor in the GT class.

This excerpted and edited from American Le Mans Series -

LONG BEACH VICTORIES TOUGH TO COME BY
List of multi-time winners is a short one

Since the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón first raced at the historic Long Beach circuit in 2007, multiple victories have been hard to come by.

Only one driver pairing in the last four seasons managed back-to-back class wins in the Tequila Patrón American Le Mans Series at Long Beach – Jörg Bergmeister and Patrick Long for Flying Lizard Motorsports and Porsche in 2009 and 2010. In addition, Corvette Racing’s Olivier Beretta and Oliver Gavin took GT1 victories in 2007 and 2009.

The only other competitors to win more than once at Long Beach are David Brabham (2008 LMP2 and 2010 overall) and Simon Pagenaud (2009 and 2010 overall). There are 12 previous Long Beach class winners entered for next week’s race. In contrast 17 drivers will make their first Long Beach start in the Series.

This year’s race will be telecast in its entirety on ESPN3.com starting at 7:15 p.m. ET/4:15 p.m. local time. ESPN2 will provide television coverage from 5 to 7 p.m. ET on Sunday, April 17. Visit the American Le Mans Series' schedule page for information on tickets and area accommodations.
Reference Here

Come the weekend of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach (April 14-17, 2011), Patrick Long will be very busy doing what he feels he was born to do ... driving and promoting the expansion of the relationships he shares in the Porsche motorsports community by looking to notch his third victory in class for the Flying Lizards factory Porsche team with teammate Jorg Bergmeister and competing in his first season in the World Challenge with TruSpeed Motorsports with his own Porsche along side of teammate Rob Morgan.

Maybe, just maybe, he'll be able to win two Long Beach races during the same weekend in different series championships - if anyone can do it, Patrick Long can.

... notes from The EDJE

For 2011, It's Still A Chip On Penske's Shoulder In The IRL

Target Chip Ganassi IndyCar Championship Series transporter fleet as it sits proudly in the paddock at the 2010 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

For 2011, It's Still A Chip On Penske's Shoulder In The IRL

Now that open wheel motorsports racing fans have been treated to what could happen when competing factions join and meld together for the last three years, what do they have to look forward to for the Indy Racing League's IndyCar Championship Series 2011 season? Well, more of the same.

Cream always rises to the top, gold dents when one bites into it, angry jihadist Muslims always find a way to put a damper on everyone's party, the sun rises in the East and sets in the West ... just as teams fielded by Chip Ganassi and Roger Penske will always dominate the racing action on oval, street and road courses in premiere American open wheel automobile racing.

Many had hopes that the union of ChampCar and IndyCar 2008 would deliver a chance at diversity where more teams and drivers would have a better shot at creating racing history, but alas ... this hope was as ill fated as Tony George holding down every major executive position in the IRL including running the track the series was named after.

Having the gravitas of this dueling giant pair of immovable forces, when one looks at the path they cut really isn't so bad once one looks at the quality of the results. Just look at the incredible 2010 run a former ChampCar budding star, Will Power, had with Roger Penske just to be reeled in by one of the best racing pairings in modern open wheel racing of Dario Franchitti driving for Chip Ganassi.

In 2011, if past behavior is the best predictor of future results ... we all be uttering "Three-Peat" at seasons end.

Team Penske drivers Ryan Briscoe (P5), Helio Castroneves (P4), and Will Power (P1) as they field questions in the post Firestone Fast Six qualifying press conference. While no Target Chip Ganassi drivers made the "Fast Six" in qualifications, in the race Scott Dixon (qualified in P8) registered a P4, right behind Will Power's P3 ... the only Penske driver to finish in the top six positions. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

This excerpted and edited from SPEED CHANNEL -

INDYCAR: Penske’s Thorn
Looking back on these past 42 years, several people have tried to draft Penske into the fast lane, but there has only been one constant thorn in The Captain’s side.
Robin Miller | Posted December 29, 2010 Indianapolis, IN

Roger Penske began fielding cars at the Indianapolis 500 in 1969 and during this time span The Captain has amassed 153 wins, 12 championships and made a record 15 trips to Victory Lane at Indianapolis.

He also built a template for success and re-shaped the business model for motorsports.

Looking back on these past 42 years, several people have tried to draft Penske into the fast lane. Bobby Hillin and Rick Galles damn near went bust trying to keep up with R.P. in CART and billionaire John Menard threw good money after bad trying to catch The Captain at 16th & Georgetown.
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But, throughout CART’s heydays, The Split and unification; during the engine, car and tire wars; from taking a chance on equipment to being stuck with spec racing, there has only been one constant thorn in The Captain’s side.

That would our boy Chip Ganassi.

And while there’s no denying the Chipster can be a pain in the ass to a lot of people on any given day, he’s accomplished what nobody else has been able to pull off.

His IndyCar team has pulled alongside of Penske’s.

In a horse racing form, they would be coupled: 1 and 1A.

Since 1994, the year Target/Ganassi Racing scored its initial victory, it’s almost a dead heat.

Chip’s drivers have 79 wins, seven championships and three baby Borgs from winning Indianapolis.

Team Penske’s stats are 73 victories, four titles and five Indy 500s.

Ganassi and Target have been partners since 1990, while The Captain had Marlboro for the better part of 20 years.

Helio Castroneves returns for his 12th year with R.P. and Scott Dixon is back in the saddle for his ninth consecutive season at Ganassi’s.

Tim Lombardi, Tom Wertz, Clive Howell and Rick Rinaman are lifers at Penske just like Ricky Davis, Barry Wanser, Julian Robertson, Scott Harner and Mike Hull for Ganassi as both organizations breed loyalty.

If a driver is hired at either place, winning is the only option.

“I don’t know that Chip’s goal was to be like Roger but, let’s face it, Roger is the model for success in this business,” said Hull, the managing director who joined Ganassi in 1992.

“Chip is fueled by the passion of winning and the passion of having comparison. Both of them are from the same competitive mold.”
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There is no denying that The Captain is one of the smartest people on this planet and his work ethic is second to none. He builds up companies, resuscitates others and knows how to keep customers and sponsors satisfied. Racing is how he unwinds.

Ganassi lives and breathes motorsports, from his IndyCar and Grand-Am headquarters in Indy to his NASCAR shop in Charlotte. Pittsburgh is his home but racing is his family.

“The biggest difference between them is that Roger runs his empire from Monday through Thursday and follows his passion from Friday to Sunday,” continued Hull. “Chip is focused on racing from Monday to Sunday.

“I always hear that Chip gives us the resources to succeed but the resource is the mindset and culture we’ve been fortunate enough to develop. Chip is all about building for tomorrow and the future. It’s all about staying power.”

Staying up front with Penske has proved to be almost impossible during the past four decades. But he can’t shake Ganassi.

Nothing better illustrates this like 2010. At Indy, Castroneves and Will Power qualified 1-2 but the Ganassi team never concerned themselves with qualifying, and Franchitti totally dominated the race. Power was the class of the IndyCar season but lost the title in the finale when Dario and Dixon delivered a psychological blow in qualifying before sealing the deal in the race.

It was the second straight season that a Ganassi driver (Franchitti) had overtaken a Penske driver in the last race to win the championship.

While many have grown tired of the same two teams winning everything, and nothing is going to change drastically until those new cars/engines arrive in 2012, Ganassi and Penske have evolved into one of the best rivalries in sports.

Make no mistake: The Captain still casts a long shadow but the ‘ol Chipster is standing right in it.
Reference Here>>

Look for just more of the same in 2011 - but does anyone think it will be different in 2012 with the new choices in chassis, aero body forms, engine, and tire combinations? My bet would be on hearing "Four-Peat" at the awards dinner by the end of the year.

... notes from The EDJE

Toyota GP of Long Beach: Owner Andretti Predicted Hunter-Reay Win

Ryan Hunter-Reay of Andretti Autosport becomes the first American born driver to win a race in this 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series season. Image Credit: Andy Sallee (2010)

Toyota GP of Long Beach: Owner Andretti Predicted Hunter-Reay Win

With the confidence that comes from being a multiple time race winner here at motorsports premiere temporary street course race at Long Beach, Michael Andretti predicted that his recently signed driver (a test for a few races to begin), Ryan Hunter-Reay, would win the race.

What makes this prediction almost astounding is that none of the cars had set a tire anywhere on Shoreline Drive and he made this prediction at a post induction ceremony interview on Thursday, April 15, 2010, where he, along with Danny Sullivan, was honored with an achievement medallion in the sidewalk along the Long Beach Motorsports Walk Of Fame located in front, and the West side, of the Long beach Convention Center along Pine Avenue.

As for the race itself, Will Power was able to hold on for third place on the podium and increase his early season points lead. On the 17th/18th lap, his car experienced a transmission performance interruption (stuck in gear after turn 11 along the front straight) allowing the P2 and P3 qualifiers of Ryan Hunter-Reay and Justin Wilson respectively to get by along the 190 mph Shoreline Drive. For Ryan's part, he showed why he is one of the most respected drivers in the series when he exhibited extreme patience having to follow the Boy Scouts of America sponsored car of Alex Lloyd (Dale Coyne Racing) all the while Justin Wilson and Will Power whittled away at the margin of time between these chasing cars Hunter-Reay had built up during a rather flawless Green Flag first half of the race. After about five laps, in a "Be Prepared" moment, Ryan muscled past Lloyd, and when Wilson tried to do likewise, the standout Dreyer & Reinbold driver wasn't prepared for Lloyd who turned across the front of Wilson's car and wiped off half its front wing.

Wilson had to come in for a pitstop and a wing change and, of course, this placed him behind the early season IndyCar Series point leader from Penske, Will Power.

On Green Flag restart from a late full course caution track condition - caused when Conquest Racing's Mario Romancini pushed Graham Rahal (Sara Fisher Racing) into the tires on turn 1 - Justin Wilson got the jump on Will Power to reclaim second with a brilliant dive at Turn 1, and while he could not catch Hunter-Reay, the brilliant former CCWS driver from England had no trouble resisting the the fellow former CCWS driver's retaliation attempts, as a Team Penske driver (any Team Penske driver) was thwarted from winning a race for the first time in 2010.

Add the fact that in the post race interview in front of the gathered press, Ryan Hunter-Reay cited his previous Formula Atlantic (2002) and CCWS experience with his positive feelings for the track (which he considers his "home" track) at Long Beach ... one could say Champ Car has never left ... in this, the sophomore year for IndyCar at the famed streets in Long Beach ... for at the end of the race it was P1, P2 , and P3 on the podium for former ChampCar World series experienced drivers!

With the prediction becoming a matter of fact, we, at The EDJE, now wonder if we can tag along with the Long Beach Motorsports Walk Of Fame inductee (he joins his father with this exclusive honor), and IZOD IndyCar team owner, Michael Andretti, to a night at touring the tables in Las Vegas.

How They Fared (** denotes past Driver|Team CCWS ladder affiliation):

Pos Driver Team Gap

1.  Ryan Hunter-Reay**   Andretti                85 laps
2.  Justin Wilson**      Dreyer & Reinbold       + 5.6031s
3.  Will Power**         Penske                  + 8.5864s
4.  Scott Dixon          Ganassi                 + 10.6287s
5.  Tony Kanaan          Andretti                + 11.7732s
6.  Mario Moraes**       KV**                    + 16.5171s
7.  Helio Castroneves    Penske                  + 16.8928s
8.  Ryan Briscoe         Penske                  + 18.2214s
9.  Dan Wheldon          Panther                 + 19.4575s
10.  Mike Conway          Dreyer & Reinbold       + 19.9307s
11.  Vitor Meira          Foyt                    + 27.4005s
12.  Dario Franchitti     Ganassi                 + 28.1352s
13.  Hideki Mutoh         Newman/Haas/Lanigan**   + 28.6037s
14.  Marco Andretti       Andretti                + 30.0120s
15.  EJ Viso**            KV**                    + 31.6182s
16.  Danica Patrick       Andretti                + 32.1804s
17.  Simona de Silvestro**HVM**                   + 33.1652s
18.  Takuma Sato          KV**                    + 1 lap
19.  Alex Lloyd           Dale Coyne**            + 1 lap
20.  Raphael Matos**      Luczo Dragon/de Ferran  + 1 lap

Retirements:

Alex Tagliani**      Fazzt                   65 laps
Graham Rahal**       Sarah Fisher            58 laps
Mario Romancini      Conquest**              58 laps
Bertrand Baguette    Conquest**              45 laps
Milka Duno           Dale Coyne**            10 laps
(ht: autosport.com)

Final note - A tweet observed on twitter from someone attending the race went something like this:

Danica must have a THING for me / she has driven by, like, a 100 times already, geeeez!

... notes From The EDJE

36th Annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach events cheatsheet

The 36th annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach logo on the side of an IZOD IndyCar Series Dallara show car on display outside of V2O Nightclub & Events Center during the Committee of 300 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach KICKOFF PARTY. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

36th Annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach events cheatsheet

The 36th annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach activities get started in earnest this week as the ticket office opens and events are firmed up for all to enjoy during race weekend "At The Beach". The Grand Prix downtown ticket office opened Monday March 22, 2010, and is located at 300 E. Seaside Way in Long Beach (near the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center box office). The office is expected to be open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

One of the anticipated events that kick-off the weekend of April 16-18 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, featuring six races including the IZOD IndyCar Series, is the Long Beach Motorsports Walk of Fame induction ceremony that happens the day before the formal activities get started - April 15, 2010 at 11:00am - Pine Avenue in front of the Long Beach Convention Center.

The City of Long Beach kicks off the 2010 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach by honoring two additional members to the 5th annual Motorsports Walk of Fame: Michael Andretti (whose father, Mario, is already honored with a medallion and whose son, Marco will be competing in the IZOD IndyCar Series race) and Danny Sullivan. The event honors motorsports stars that have either lived in Long Beach or have graced the oceanside city with their talent, along the way to a pinnacle career behind the wheel in sporting competition.

A one-of-a-kind, two-foot in diameter medallion was cast, listing the name and accomplishments of the honoree, then set in cement for all race fans and visitors to see as they walk down the east side of Pine avenue in front of the Convention Center. Past inductees include Phil Hill, Dan Gurney, Brian Redman, Chris Pook, Paul Newman, Carl Haas, Al Unser, Jr., Bobby Rahal, Parnelli Jones, and Gary Gabelich. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2008)

The official three-day event, headlined with the fourth stop in the IZOD IndyCar Series 17 race season, that runs from April 16-18 also includes: the popular Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race; the technologically advanced sports cars of the Tequila Patron American Le Mans Series at Long Beach race; Firestone Indy Lights; Team Drifting Challenge and the SCCA Pro World Challenge.

The Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race will again boast a star-studded lineup that includes the return of Keanu Reeves, who will defend his 2009 race win, skateboarding icon Tony Hawk and Christian Slater tangling with professional drivers such as former CART champion Jimmy Vasser and Drifting ace Tanner Foust in an always-action-packed 10-lap dash for charity.

In addition to wheel-to-wheel racing, fans can enjoy the Tecate Light Fiesta Friday Concert Presented by Exitos 93.9 at 6:30 p.m., with the potent one-two punch of "Molotov" and "Maldita Vecindad." On Saturday, the Tecate Light Rock-N-Roar Concert Presented by KLOS at 6:30 p.m. features classic rockers "Cheap Trick."

Both concerts, held on the Convention Center outdoor stage, are free to race ticket holders.

The weekend-long Lifestyle Expo in the Convention Center - free to all ticket holders - features the alternative energy vehicles of "Green Power Prix-View" and highlights renewable energy sources and a host of energy tips for inside AND outside the home, as well as racecars, games, simulators, and BMX bike exhibitions. A new addition, Arena Jamm, will take place inside the Long Beach Arena and feature over 20 local musical acts providing a constant stream of entertainment throughout the weekend.

Of course, if paying for tickets is not your thing, and you would rather be a part of the 36th annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach as opposed to just watching the show, join the Committee Of 300. Volunteer and be seen assisting on staffing for the Los Angeles and Orange County Auto Shows, the Belmont Shore Auto Classics Show, the Belmont Shore, Seal Beach, and Daisy Lane holiday parades, and are supporters of the STEEL MAGNOLIAS, an organization for the Stramski Children's Development Center at Memorial Hospital ... the C-300! Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

The famed race circuit, which includes the downtown streets of Long Beach surrounding the Long Beach Entertainment and Convention Center, is 1.97 miles in length and includes 11 turns. Grandstands lining the circuit include reserved seating, limited general admission seats, and seating for various hospitality club ticket packages.

In addition to the downtown walk-up service, tickets can be ordered via credit card by using the toll-free ticket hotline, (888) 82-SPEED. Tickets can also be purchased on-line at www.gplb.com or at Ticketmaster outlets. Handicapped seating, IZOD IndyCar Paddock Passes, Super Photo tickets and a wide variety of hospitality club packages - including the all-new Vista Club atop the Hyatt Regency Hotel - are also available.

So get your tickets to the 36th annual Race at the Beach weekend, see some famous race drivers get honored, and don't forget to slap on your "SPF 500" sunscreen. It always is sunny and hot around Shoreline Drive, the Aquarium and Ocean Avenue as the sound of high-revving naturally aspirated Honda engines echo off of the buildings and fill the air.

Flowers, sunshine, SPF sunscreen, and the sound of race engines ... it MUST be spring in Southern California.

... notes from The EDJE