Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[SPOILER ALERT: 2009 Long Beach Grand Prix Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/20/spoiler-alert-2009-long-beach-grand-prix-toyota-pro-celebrity-r/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/20/spoiler-alert-2009-long-beach-grand-prix-toyota-pro-celebrity-r/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/20/spoiler-alert-2009-long-beach-grand-prix-toyota-pro-celebrity-r/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


2009 Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race at Long Beach - Click above for gallery of high-res pics

One of our favorite events at the annual Long Beach Grand Prix is the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race. The slash in its name lets you know that this event features celebrities racing against real pro drivers, as well as a few buy-in drivers. In this case, each entrant gets the chance to pilot an identically prepped and lightly modified Scion tC. Basically, Toyota has removed the mufflers and added racing wheels and StopTech brakes, plus a rollcage and other safety equipment. The pros spot the celebs 30 seconds at the start of this 10-lap race, and then it's every driver for him-or-her-self.

This year's field featured some pretty big names from the entertainment and racing worlds. The race itself sometimes becomes secondary to the mere spectacle, but this year's race featured some pretty good on-track action as well. After jumping out to a huge lead, skateboarding legend and polesitter Danny Way pushed a little too hard trying to hold off the hard-charging Farnsworth Bentley. They tangled, allowing the "pro" triumverate of Al Unser Jr., Johnny Benson and Tom Tudnai through. If that last name doesn't sound familiar, that's probably because Tudnai is the president of a local Toyota dealership - but he won this event once before in 2001, elevating him to pro status.

Just behind the top three, Keanu Reeves inherited the the top celebrity title, just ahead of Ken Baker and Carlos Mencia. Raven Simone finished last after an early shunt ended her run. This means that Little Al now has seven wins at Long Beach, six in an open-wheeler. No wonder he's known as "King of the Beach" in these parts. There's a full rundown after the jump and a gallery available by clicking on any image here.


Gallery: 2009 Toyota Pro/Celeb Race at Long Beach GP


Photos copyright (C)2009 Frank Filipponio / Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading SPOILER ALERT: 2009 Long Beach Grand Prix Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race

SPOILER ALERT: 2009 Long Beach Grand Prix Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Apr 2009 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adrien brodyAdrienBrodyal unseral unser jralex trebekAlexTrebekAlUnserAlUnserJrAnnamarie DeanAnnamarieDeancarlos menciaCarlosMenciacelebrity raceCelebrityRaceCoy GibbsCoyGibbsDouglas FreginDouglasFregineric closeEricClosefonzworth bentleyFonzworthBentleyGPLBGrand Prix of Long BeachGrandPrixOfLongBeachJamie LittleJamieLittlejohnny bensonJohnnyBensonkeanu reevesKeanuReevesken bakerKenBakerlbgplong beachlong beach grand prixLongBeachLongBeachGrandPrixMary Lynn RakskubMaryLynnRakskubProCelebrity RaceProcelebrityRaceraven symoneRavenSymonescionscion tcScionTctim dalyTimDalyTom RudnaiTomRudnaitoyota grand prix of long beachToyota ProCelebrity RaceToyotaGrandPrixOfLongBeachToyotaProcelebrityRaceMon, 20 Apr 2009 12:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Long Beach Grand Prix: Final Champ Car race gallery]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/23/long-beach-grand-prix-final-champ-car-race-gallery/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/23/long-beach-grand-prix-final-champ-car-race-gallery/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/23/long-beach-grand-prix-final-champ-car-race-gallery/#commentsFiled under:


Click above for huge high-res gallery of Champ Car action from Long Beach

We already told you about the final Champ Car race, how it marks the end of the series while signaling the start of a new era in American open-wheel racing. Although we think that we might have been among only a handful of fans to have noticed the series' demise (with most eyes glued to the Danica Patrick champagne bath over in Japan), we understand that with the reunification about to commence there should be happier times ahead for open top racing aficionados in the States. We didn't want it to pass, however, without a whole bunch of photos to commemorate the occasion. Besides this year's contenders the gallery includes some atmosphere shots of the spectacle surrounding Long Beach: The Queen Mary, C-17 and FA/18 flyovers, historic CART cars and plain old scenery shots. We hope you enjoy them as much as we enjoyed taking them.

All photos Copyright (C)2008 Frank Filipponio / Weblogs, Inc.

Gallery: '08 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach

Long Beach Grand Prix: Final Champ Car race gallery originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Apr 2008 20:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CARTChamp carChampCarIndyCarIRLlbgplong beachlong beach grand prixLongBeachLongBeachGrandPrixWed, 23 Apr 2008 20:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Long Beach Grand Prix: People Gallery]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/22/long-beach-grand-prix-people-gallery/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/22/long-beach-grand-prix-people-gallery/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/22/long-beach-grand-prix-people-gallery/#commentsFiled under: ,


Click above for high-res gallery from this weekend's LBGP

American open-wheel racing just had a pretty big weekend, in case you missed it. While one era was beginning in Japan, another was ending at America's Monte Carlo. With reunification finally about to commence, the last Champ Car (nee CART) race ever was held at the street course in downtown Long Beach. While we've already told you the outcome, we also wanted to share some more photos. Although the race should be back on the schedule for '09, this weekend's race was truly the end of an era.

After 25 years of Champ Cars and their predecessors, next year's race will bring us a series that has a female driver who is an honest-to-goodness winner. And not only is she a winner (and a part-time swimsuit model), but she is pretty hardy too. After winning the race at Motegi, she and unfortunate runner-up Helio "Dancing with the Stars" Castroneves hopped on a plane and made it back to LAX and the LBGP by the time things wrapped up on Sunday afternoon.

While we didn't get any pics of Danica or Helio, we did manage to capture a few dozen shots of some of the drivers (mostly ALMS and Champ Car), and a few of the models too. Click below to check out some of the people that made this race weekend a memorable one.

All photos Copyright (C)2008 Frank Filipponio / Weblogs, Inc.

Gallery: Long Beach Grand Prix: People Gallery

Long Beach Grand Prix: People Gallery originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Apr 2008 20:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>champ carChampCardanica patrickDanicaPatrickhelio castronevesHelioCastronevesIRLlbgplong beachlong beach grand prixLongBeachLongBeachGrandPrixTue, 22 Apr 2008 20:03:00 EST<![CDATA[ALMS at Long Beach]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/22/alms-at-long-beach/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/22/alms-at-long-beach/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/22/alms-at-long-beach/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,


Click above for high-res gallery of ALMS action from Long Beach

With Champ Car going the way of the dodo bird after this year's Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, it looks like the American Le Mans Series is poised to take over top billing at America's Monte Carlo. The street course around downtown Long Beach, California is quite a track, with a long tradition of motorsport excitement. Everything from Formula 1 to CART to Trans-Am have run here, but very few series can match the thrill of four different classes running into the dusk like the ALMS presents. This year's sophomore running of the Tequila Patrón American Le Mans Series at Long Beach showed exactly why the series deserves more support and coverage than it gets. Not only was the on-track action enthralling, but the huge crowds that Long Beach always attracts seemed to go ga-ga over the prototypes and GT cars wearing names like Porsche, Aston Martin, Corvette and Ferrari. In case you haven't seen the race yet, the results are after the jump. Don't let that stop you from clicking through the massive high-res gallery however.

All photos Copyright (C)2008 Frank Filipponio / Weblogs, Inc.

Gallery: Long Beach Grand Prix: ALMS highlights

Continue reading ALMS at Long Beach

ALMS at Long Beach originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Apr 2008 17:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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