2008 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach

The 2008 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach was the third round of the 2008 IndyCar Series season, for teams who competed in the Champ Car World Series in 2007. This was because the 2008 Indy Japan 300 occurred on the same weekend and there was no way of changing dates to avoid the clash. It was held on April 20, 2008, at the 1.968-mile (3.167 km) street circuit in Long Beach, California, United States. The race was historic in that Will Power became the last winner of a Champ Car-style race. The contingent of former Champ Car teams produced a 20-car field, all utilizing the turbocharged Panoz DP01-Cosworth for the final time. All participants entering other IndyCar races earned points towards the 2008 IndyCar Series championship. All the teams raced together again a week later at Kansas Speedway, and for the remainder of the schedule together. The race was run under Champ Car rules, which included the standing start, option tire, two-day qualifying format, ran on time (1 hour, 45 minutes) rather than a set number of laps. The option tire rule was adopted by the IRL for 2009, as well as standing starts for selected road and street course races in 2013 and 2014 only to be abandoned in 2015 due to safety concerns.

2008 Grand Prix of Long Beach
Race details
3rd (B) round of the 2008 IndyCar Series season
DateApril 20, 2008
Official nameToyota Grand Prix of Long Beach
LocationStreets of Long Beach
CourseTemporary street circuit
1.968 mi / 3.167 km
Distance83 laps
163.344 mi / 262.877 km
Weather65°F, Sunny
Pole position
DriverJustin Wilson ( Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing)
Time1:06.902[1]
Fastest lap
DriverAntônio Pizzonia ( Rocketsports)
Time1:08.252 (on lap 68 of 83)
Podium
FirstWill Power ( KV Racing Technology)
SecondFranck Montagny ( Forsythe/Pettit Racing)
ThirdMario Domínguez ( Pacific Coast Motorsports)

The race was broadcast on ESPN2 using ABC's IndyCar Series broadcast crew, who also broadcast the 2008 Indy Japan 300 the previous evening (7 PM) from Long Beach (with the exception of Jack Arute, who was assigned to Motegi). Several IRL staff and team personnel had flown back from Japan Sunday afternoon (local time) and saw at least part of the race, including Motegi winner Danica Patrick, who had scored her historic win the previous evening.

Results

FinishCar
No.
DriverTeamLapsTime/RetiredGridLaps
Led
Points
1 8 Will Power KV Racing Technology 83 1:45:25.415 4 81 53
2 7 Franck Montagny (R) Forsythe/Pettit Racing 83 +5.094 6 0 0
3 96 Mario Domínguez Pacific Coast Motorsports 83 +15.516 10 0 35
4 36 Enrique Bernoldi (R) Conquest Racing 83 +25.677 8 0 32
5 5 Oriol Servià KV Racing Technology 83 +26.276 12 0 30
6 34 Franck Perera (R) Conquest Racing 83 +28.067 3 0 28
7 15 Alex Tagliani Walker Racing 83 +36.518 2 0 26
8 37 David Martínez (R) Forsythe/Pettit Racing 83 +37.127 18 0 0
9 33 E. J. Viso (R) HVM Racing 83 +44.944 14 1 22
10 12 Jimmy Vasser KV Racing Technology 83 +48.635 13 0 0
11 3 Paul Tracy Forsythe/Pettit Racing 83 +55.956 5 0 19
12 18 Bruno Junqueira Dale Coyne Racing 83 +1:07.553 11 0 18
13 06 Graham Rahal Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing 82 Crash 9 0 17
14 29 Alex Figge Pacific Coast Motorsports 82 +1 Lap 16 0 0
15 4 Nelson Philippe HVM Racing 80 +3 Laps 7 0 0
16 9 Antônio Pizzonia (R) Rocketsports 80 +3 Laps 15 0 0
17 14 Roberto Moreno HVM Racing 63 Drive train 17 1 0
18 10 Juho Annala (R) Rocketsports 42 Brakes 20 0 0
19 02 Justin Wilson Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing 12 Engine 1 0 12
20 19 Mario Moraes (R) Dale Coyne Racing 5 Crash 19 0 12
Race average speed: 92.964 mph (149.611 km/h)
Lead changes: 3 between 3 drivers
Cautions: 3 for 9 laps

References

  1. Beer, Matt (2008-04-20). "Wilson retains Long Beach pole". autosport.com. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 2009-04-17.
Preceded by
2008 Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
Indy Japan 300 (IRL teams; 3A)
IRL IndyCar Series
round 3B

2008
Succeeded by
2008 RoadRunner Turbo Indy 300
Preceded by
2007 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach
Grand Prix of Long Beach Succeeded by
2009 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach
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