RACING AROUND TOWN

L.A. Times Archives

April 12, 2000 12 AM PT

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Downtown Long Beach will be transformed into a 1.97-mile race track this weekend for the 26th running of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. The reconfigured course adds a 1,275-foot chute from Turn 5 to Turn 6 just past the Aquarium of the Pacific.

Friday: Practice and qualifying; 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

Saturday: Practice and qualifying; 8 a.m.-6 p.m.; Celebrity race 12:45-1:30 p.m. Toyota Atlantic Race, 3:415-4:15 p.m.

Sunday: Warm ups and pre-race activities, 8 a.m.; Dayton Indy Lights race, 10:20-11:20 a.m.; Toyota Grand Prix, 1 p.m.; Trans Am Race, 3:45-4:45 p.m.

Television: One hour tape delay on ESPN Top Drivers: Jimmy Vasser, Michael Andretti, Paul Tracy, Dario Franchitti, Juan Montoya, Max Papis, Tony Kanaan, Kenny Brack.

TICKETS

GRAND PRIX TICKET OFFICE

In person: 430 East First St., Long Beach

Telephone orders: (562) 436-9953 or (888) 827-7333

Tickets must be picked up at Will Call window.

Order line: www.longbeachgp.com

TICKETMASTER

In person: At all California TicketMaster outlets, including Robinson’s-May, Tower Records/Video, Ritmo Latino

Telephone orders: (714) 740-2000 or (213) 480-3232

Order online: https://www.ticketmaster.com

PRICES

Grandstands

Three-day pass: $108 upper, $72 lower

Sunday: $60 upper, $50 lower

General Admission

Three-day pass: $45

Friday/Saturday two-day pass: $27

Sunday only: $35

GENERAL INFORMATION

Telephone: (562) 981-2600

Web site: https://www.longbeachgp.com

PARKING

Public lots: $10-$25 per day

Locations:

A: (Long Beach Plaza Mall) 3rd Street & Pine Avenue East

C&D;: 300 block of 3rd Street East

E: Pacific Avenue and Ocean Boulevard

F: Pacific Avenue & 1st Street

G: (Long Beach Civic Center) 332 W. Broadway

* Private lots (downtown hotels and offices): Arrive early, rates vary

Note: Aquarium parking structure at 100 Aquarium Way is not available for public parking.

FAST FACTS

Construction time: 44 skilled workers working for nine weeks

9,225 tons of concrete blocks

Three miles of fencing

1,800 concrete blocks, each 12 feet long and weighing 10,250 pounds create the perimeters

250 tire crash barriers with 64 tires per pallet (16,000 tires) are used along the perimeter to cushion any accidents.

Seats: 21 grandstands provide seating for more than 63,000.

Television monitors: Nine, ranging in size from 11x14 feet to 20x30 feet, are situated around the circuit.

TRANSPORTATION

Park & ride: Park for free at the Willow Street MTA Blue Line station. Take the train a short distance to downtown Long Beach. Get off at the 1st Street Station or the Pacific Transit Mall. Or take MTA Bus #5 or #60 west on Long Beach Blvd. to downtown Long Beach.

Train fare: $1.35 each way

Bus fare: 90 cents each way

Metropolitan Transit Authority: (213) 626-4455 or (800) 266-6883

Web site: https://www.mta.net

GARAGE ON WHEELS

Racing teams haul their cars in elaborate trailers that double as workshops. Two complete cars, spare engines, parts, tires, hardware and office space are tucked inside. The trailer and its contents are worth around $3.5 million.

THE DRIVER

Helmet: Fiberglass or carbon fiber shell lined with foam and flame resistant padding; includes headphones, microphone and connection to emergency air supply.

Driving suit: Flame resistant cloth designed to provide protection for 12 seconds in temperatures up to 1,300 degrees.

Gloves: Flame-resistant cloth with leather palms.

Boots: Leather with high-grip rubber soles. Padded inside to protect against knocks in the cockpit. Exterior finished with flame-resistant cloth.

THE CAR

All entries are champ cars, an open-cockpit, open-wheel design similar to an Indy car

Basic Specifications

Length: 190-199 inches

Width: 77 3/4-78 1/2 inches

Weight: 1,550 pounds

Height: 32 inches maximum, excluding roll bar

Chassis: Composite honeycomb and/or carbon fiber

Wheelbase: Minimum 96 inches, most are 112-120 inches