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<generator>Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/</generator><item><title><![CDATA[Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race Scion FR-S [w/video]]]></title><link>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/07/toyota-pro-celebrity-race-scion-fr-s/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/07/toyota-pro-celebrity-race-scion-fr-s/</guid><comments>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/07/toyota-pro-celebrity-race-scion-fr-s/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/coupes/" rel="tag">Coupe</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Performance</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/scion/" rel="tag">Scion</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/quick-spin/" rel="tag">Quick Spins</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/racing/" rel="tag">Racing</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/toyota-pro-celebrity-race-scion-fr-s-at-willow-springs/med/#photo-5693606"><img height="419" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/628-lead.jpg" vspace="4" width="628" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/toyota/">Toyota</a> has been hosting its <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/16/adam-carolla-wins-long-beach-grand-prix-celebrity-pro-race/">Pro/Celebrity race</a> at the Toyota Grand Prix on Long Beach since 1977. The charity event, which has raised millions of dollars over the years, traditionally pits Hollywood celebrities against professional athletes (including race car drivers) on the full Grand Prix course in modified street vehicles. The short, sprint-style race is popular with the crowds as the amateur drivers race uninhibited - the result is an action-packed event with plenty of excitement and automotive... er... carnage.<br />
<br />
Over the decades, the drivers have raced a variety of Toyota products including last year's front-wheel-drive <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/scion/tc/">Scion tC</a>. But this year, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/07/toyota-pro-celebrity-race-switching-from-scion-tc-to-fr-s-w-vid/">Toyota announced</a> at the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/chicago-auto-show/">Chicago Auto Show</a> that the new rear-wheel-drive <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/scion/fr-s/">Scion FR-S</a> would be stepping up to the plate. The good news only became better when Toyota Motorsports invited us out to Southern California's Willow Springs Raceway (the same circuit where the drivers train and practice) to be one of the first behind the wheel.<br />
<br />
<strong>Driving Notes:</strong><br />
<ul>
	<li>
		Transforming a stock Scion FR-S into one of two-dozen hand-built race cars is a tedious project that begins with gutting the interior. A steel roll cage is welded in place, and then most everything (<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/toyota-pro-celebrity-race-scion-fr-s-at-willow-springs/#photo-5693618">including the headliner</a>) goes back in - with a few exceptions. The audio system, cup holders and passenger-side vent are removed, as are all of the airbags. A pair of five-point <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/toyota-pro-celebrity-race-scion-fr-s-at-willow-springs/#photo-5693617">Simpson racing harnesses are bolted in place</a> and fitted through the stock seats. The radio panel is replaced with a panel only containing a fire extinguisher pull lever, the windshield wipers are deactivated (to prevent inadvertent activation) and the removed vent becomes a master kill switch. A window net is fitted on the driver's side, and knee bolsters are installed on the door and on the side of the center console (anyone who has ever raced will consider the foam pads a gift from the heavens).</li>
	<li>
		The four-cylinder Subaru-sourced Boxer engine, left displacing 2.0-liters, receives a new performance intake and <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/toyota-pro-celebrity-race-scion-fr-s-at-willow-springs/#photo-5693609">TRD stainless-steel exhaust</a> for better breathing (one catalytic converter is removed and some of the baffles are eliminated to increase the exhaust note). Radiator fluid, a slippery bane if leaked on track surfaces, is replaced with water and Water Wetter (a chemical that improves heat transfer properties). Burning unleaded racing fuel, the engine develops about 210 horsepower. The six-speed manual gearbox retains the same ratios, but a Centerforce single disc racing clutch ensures longevity through the abuse.</li>
	<li>
		TRD Racing coil-over shocks and springs are fitted and supplemented with TRD sway bars. Special lower control arms, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/toyota-pro-celebrity-race-scion-fr-s-at-willow-springs/#photo-5693610">anodized blue at the rear</a>, allow 2.5 degrees of negative camber at all four corners. The stock front calipers and rotors are tossed and replaced with <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/toyota-pro-celebrity-race-scion-fr-s-at-willow-springs/#photo-5693607">four-piston calipers over floating rotors</a> (surprisingly, the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/toyota-pro-celebrity-race-scion-fr-s-at-willow-springs/#photo-5693608">rear calipers and rotors</a> remain stock) and the factory pads are upgraded with Hawk Performance DTC60 racing pads. The new rolling gear is TRD-sourced 18-inch alloy wheels wrapped in <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/toyota-pro-celebrity-race-scion-fr-s-at-willow-springs/#photo-5693604">Bridgestone RE-11 summer tires</a> (225/40R18).</li>
	<li>
		While it sounded much more aggressive than stock, the exhaust note was loud and booming (easily permeating the shell of my full face helmet). On a positive note, it allowed me to hear the changing pitch of the engine as it climbed towards redline. Even so, I hit the rev limiter and fuel cutoff more often than not in my early laps (a red blinking light alters the driver of his/her ineptness) before consciously short-shifting at 6,500 rpm in my later laps. Rather than rely on the engine's meager torque (about 160 pound-feet) pulling a taller gear, I shifted frequently - more than a dozen times on each lap - to keep the power flowing. As is the case with the lightweight <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/mazda/mx-5+miata/">Mazda MX-5 Miata</a>, the FR-S is a momentum car.</li>
	<li>
		I found the handling and overall dynamics significantly improved over the stock model. The chassis felt light and agile in response to steering inputs, and the various suspension upgrades meant most of the understeer was gone too (also evident by the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/toyota-pro-celebrity-race-scion-fr-s-at-willow-springs/#photo-5693605">minimal scrub on the front tires</a>). The Scion coupe never felt anything but very well balanced. (Note: stability and traction control have been re-programmed to default to OFF - the opposite of what they normally do - upon engine start.) Putting the tires exactly where I wanted them was a no-brainer, and the fade-free brakes easily reigned things in and saved me when I overcooked more than a few corners. If asked to sum up how the FR-S race car felt on the circuit, I'd say moderately powered, responsive, predictable and very entertaining.</li>
	<li>
		The 2013 Toyota Pro/Celebrity Scion FR-S is what happens when a very good sports coupe turns great at the skilled hands of a factory-supported team. If these two dozen Long Beach race cars are indicative of what a future Spec FR-S series holds in store, I'll be one of the first standing in line.</li>
</ul><p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/07/toyota-pro-celebrity-race-scion-fr-s/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race Scion FR-S [w/video]</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/07/toyota-pro-celebrity-race-scion-fr-s/">Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race Scion FR-S [w/video]</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Thu, 07 Mar 2013 15:29:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/07/toyota-pro-celebrity-race-scion-fr-s/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20492321/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/07/toyota-pro-celebrity-race-scion-fr-s/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>fr-s</category><category>scion</category><category>scion fr-s race car</category><category>toyota</category><category>toyota celebrity race</category><category>toyota grand prix of long beach</category><category>toyota pro celebrity race</category><category>toyota procelebrity race scion fr-s</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Harley]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 07 Mar 2013 15:29:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[Toyota Pro/Celebrity race switching from Scion tC to FR-S [w/video]]]></title><link>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/07/toyota-pro-celebrity-race-switching-from-scion-tc-to-fr-s-w-vid/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/07/toyota-pro-celebrity-race-switching-from-scion-tc-to-fr-s-w-vid/</guid><comments>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/07/toyota-pro-celebrity-race-switching-from-scion-tc-to-fr-s-w-vid/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/motorsports/" rel="tag">Motorsports</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/coupes/" rel="tag">Coupe</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Performance</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/scion/" rel="tag">Scion</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/celebrities/" rel="tag">Celebrities</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/toyota-pro-celebrity-scion-fr-s-racecar-chicago-2013/"><img height="417" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/scion-fr-s-celebrity-racecar-chicago-1360260381.jpg" vspace="4" width="628" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/toyota/">Toyota</a> has announced that the rear-wheel-drive <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/scion/fr-s/">Scion FR-S</a> will replace the front-wheel-drive <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/scion/tc/">Scion tC</a> as the racecar used by actors, singers and celebrities of all grades in its annual Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race. It's the first time a rear-drive vehicle has been used for the event in 27 years, with the tC having been in use since 2005, and the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/celica/">FWD Celica</a> before that. This year's race takes place on April 20th amidst the festivities of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach weekend.<br />
<br />
The racing FR-S, which debuted today at the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/chicago-auto-show/">Chicago Auto Show</a>, won't be left stock either, but rather outfitted with a range of official Toyota Racing Development parts and equipment, such as a stainless steel exhaust, new coil overs and springs, upgraded brakes, a bigger air intake and 18-inch wheels, not to mention all of the safety equipment required to keep the celebrities and pro drivers safe. The company says the performance mods have lifted horsepower to 210 from the standard car's 200. Check out the build process for the cars in the <a href="/2013/02/07/toyota-pro-celebrity-race-scion-fr-s-chicago-2013/#continued">video below</a> to see just how much work's been done.<br />
<br />
The Toyota Pro/Celebrity race is also about more than just letting celebrities and pros do battle on a road course. The spectacle helps raise money for "<a href="http://www.racingforkids.org/">Racing for Kids</a>," a non-profit charity that supports children's hospitals in the US.<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/07/toyota-pro-celebrity-race-switching-from-scion-tc-to-fr-s-w-vid/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Toyota Pro/Celebrity race switching from Scion tC to FR-S [w/video]</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/07/toyota-pro-celebrity-race-switching-from-scion-tc-to-fr-s-w-vid/">Toyota Pro/Celebrity race switching from Scion tC to FR-S [w/video]</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Thu, 07 Feb 2013 14:33:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/07/toyota-pro-celebrity-race-switching-from-scion-tc-to-fr-s-w-vid/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20452631/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/07/toyota-pro-celebrity-race-switching-from-scion-tc-to-fr-s-w-vid/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>chicago</category><category>chicago 2013</category><category>chicago auto show</category><category>fr-s</category><category>scion</category><category>toyota</category><category>toyota grand prix of long beach</category><category>toyota pro celebrity race</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[John Neff]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 07 Feb 2013 14:33:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[Long Beach Grand Prix 2010: Records broken in World Challenge [Spoilers]]]></title><link>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/22/long-beach-grand-prix-2010-records-broken-in-world-challenge-s/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/22/long-beach-grand-prix-2010-records-broken-in-world-challenge-s/</guid><comments>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/22/long-beach-grand-prix-2010-records-broken-in-world-challenge-s/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/motorsports/" rel="tag">Motorsports</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2010-toyo-tires-world-challenge-at-long-beach/"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/world-challenge2010tgplbo---56.jpg" alt="" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><small>2010 Toyo Tires World Challenge at Long Beach - Click above for high-res image gallery</small></strong></em></div>
<br />
The final race of the weekend-long Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach was the 2010 Toyo Tires World Challenge event, held at dusk on this downtown/oceanside street course as the crowds streamed out following Ryan Hunter-Reay's IndyCar victory. The track had picked up a lot of rubber during the week, with Indy Lights, ALMS, IndyCar and Drifting demos going on along with the SCCA Pro action. The skies were clear but the track was cooling as the cars lined up for round three of the championship.<br />
<br />
The race was the third on the WC schedule following a double-header in St. Petersburg. That set of races had seen Peter Cunningham and Todd Buras sweep in GTS and Touring Class respectively, while GT crowned two winners. Randy Pobst had won from pole position on Saturday, besting teammate Andy Pilgrim to the checkers. On Sunday, it was second-place qualifier, Dino Crescentini who took the win, having dropped out of the first race due to electrical problems.<br />
<br />
Long Beach is something of a home-track for several of the racers and everyone seemed pumped to do good in front of their family and friends. Last but not least, by Sunday afternoon it was time to run the final race on the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach card. <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/22/long-beach-grand-prix-2010-records-broken-in-world-challenge-s/#continued">Follow the jump</a> to see how the race went down and be sure to check out our gallery of pics below.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2010-toyo-tires-world-challenge-at-long-beach">2010 Toyo Tires World Challenge at Long Beach</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2010-toyo-tires-world-challenge-at-long-beach/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/world-challenge2010tgplb---01_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2010-toyo-tires-world-challenge-at-long-beach/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/world-challenge2010tgplb---02_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2010-toyo-tires-world-challenge-at-long-beach/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/world-challenge2010tgplb---03_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2010-toyo-tires-world-challenge-at-long-beach/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/world-challenge2010tgplb---04_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2010-toyo-tires-world-challenge-at-long-beach/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/world-challenge2010tgplb---05_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />
<em><strong><small>Photos by <a href="http://about.frank4cars.fotki.com/">Frank Filipponio</a> and <a href="http://alrphotography.zenfolio.com/">Andre Ravinowich</a>/Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc</small><small>.</small></strong></em><p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/22/long-beach-grand-prix-2010-records-broken-in-world-challenge-s/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Long Beach Grand Prix 2010: Records broken in World Challenge [Spoilers]</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/22/long-beach-grand-prix-2010-records-broken-in-world-challenge-s/">Long Beach Grand Prix 2010: Records broken in World Challenge [Spoilers]</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Thu, 22 Apr 2010 16:58:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/22/long-beach-grand-prix-2010-records-broken-in-world-challenge-s/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19443698/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/22/long-beach-grand-prix-2010-records-broken-in-world-challenge-s/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>GPLB</category><category>grand prix</category><category>Grand Prix of Long Beach</category><category>GrandPrix</category><category>GrandPrixOfLongBeach</category><category>lbgp</category><category>SCCA</category><category>SCCA World Challenge</category><category>SccaWorldChallenge</category><category>TGPLB</category><category>Toyo Tires World Challenge at Long Beach</category><category>toyota grand prix of long beach</category><category>ToyotaGrandPrixOfLongBeach</category><category>ToyoTiresWorldChallengeAtLongBeach</category><category>World Challenge</category><category>WorldChallenge</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Frank Filipponio]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 22 Apr 2010 16:58:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[Long Beach Grand Prix 2010: Reflecting on America's Monaco]]></title><link>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/19/long-beach-grand-prix-2010-reflecting-on-americas-monaco/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/19/long-beach-grand-prix-2010-reflecting-on-americas-monaco/</guid><comments>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/19/long-beach-grand-prix-2010-reflecting-on-americas-monaco/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/motorsports/" rel="tag">Motorsports</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/etc/" rel="tag">Etc.</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2010-toyota-grand-prix-of-long-beach-grid-girls/"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/gridgirls2010tgplb---00.jpg" alt="" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><small>2010 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Grid Girls - Click above for high-res image gallery</small></strong></em></div>
<br />
The great thing about a weekend of racing action in Long Beach is that there is so much to see and do besides the already thrilling track action and automotive displays. Vendor alleys, 'extreme sports' demonstrations, free concerts, '50s-style Mexican wrestling with a little extra vavoom thrown in...they all add to the payout on your already value-packed ticket purchase. That last one, though, is something new for the GPLB, via something old.<br />
<br />
Dubbed <a href="http://luchavavoom.com/">Lucha VaVoom</a>, it's a fairly new show that recalls the burlesque shows and masked wrestling matches of the '50s and '60s, but adds a few modern twists, along with a bunch of comedy and some daredevil antics to keep everyone happy and alert. Why do we bring this up when we're supposed to be covering an auto race? Because there's always more to the scene than just the racecars. Being at an event like the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach is an experience. Anyone can watch a race on their LCD screen, but actually being at the track, hearing, smelling, tasting and feeling the cars is a whole 'nother ball of wax.<br />
<br />
A race event can be like having the circus in town. In fact, a whole little city sprouts up for these types of events, with restaurants, hair salons, recruiting centers, auto dealers, chapels, hospitals and entertainment spots galore. Participating in a race weekend is something all auto enthusiasts should do at least once in their lives, if not once a year or more. Long Beach in particular is such a great event because of its proximity to Hollywood, the Pacific Ocean and downtown Long Beach. And if you should ever think that attending a race is just a guy thing, know that there are plenty of families there as well, and plenty of ladies too, giving us all hope that the future of the hobby is in good hands.<br />
<br />
This past weekend we were so pleased to find so many young women, in particular, at the track, that we couldn't help but take some pictures of all their smiling faces to prove our point. Take a look at the gallery below and you'll understand why we love Long Beach, and why it's been referred to as America's Monaco.<br />
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<br />
<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2010-toyota-grand-prix-of-long-beach-grid-girls">2010 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Grid Girls</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2010-toyota-grand-prix-of-long-beach-grid-girls/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/gridgirls2010tgplb---01_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2010-toyota-grand-prix-of-long-beach-grid-girls/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/gridgirls2010tgplb---02_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2010-toyota-grand-prix-of-long-beach-grid-girls/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/gridgirls2010tgplb---03_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2010-toyota-grand-prix-of-long-beach-grid-girls/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/gridgirls2010tgplb---04_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2010-toyota-grand-prix-of-long-beach-grid-girls/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/gridgirls2010tgplb---05_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />
<em><strong><small>Photos by <a href="http://about.frank4cars.fotki.com/">Frank Filipponio</a> and <a href="http://alrphotography.zenfolio.com/">Andre Ravinowich</a>/Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc</small><small>.</small></strong></em><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/19/long-beach-grand-prix-2010-reflecting-on-americas-monaco/">Long Beach Grand Prix 2010: Reflecting on America's Monaco</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Mon, 19 Apr 2010 19:27:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/19/long-beach-grand-prix-2010-reflecting-on-americas-monaco/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19443699/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/19/long-beach-grand-prix-2010-reflecting-on-americas-monaco/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>booth babes</category><category>BoothBabes</category><category>D1</category><category>drift</category><category>drifting</category><category>Formula D</category><category>Formula Drift</category><category>FormulaD</category><category>FormulaDrift</category><category>GPLB</category><category>Grid Girls</category><category>GridGirls</category><category>indy car</category><category>IndyCar</category><category>lbgp</category><category>long beach</category><category>Long Beach Grand Prix</category><category>LongBeach</category><category>LongBeachGrandPrix</category><category>TGPLB</category><category>toyota grand prix of long beach</category><category>ToyotaGrandPrixOfLongBeach</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Frank Filipponio]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 19 Apr 2010 19:27:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[Long Beach Grand Prix 2010: Toyota Pro/Celebrity race never flops [Spoilers]]]></title><link>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/19/long-beach-grand-prix-2010-toyota-pro-celebrity-race-never-flop/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/19/long-beach-grand-prix-2010-toyota-pro-celebrity-race-never-flop/</guid><comments>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/19/long-beach-grand-prix-2010-toyota-pro-celebrity-race-never-flop/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/motorsports/" rel="tag">Motorsports</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/celebrities/" rel="tag">Celebrities</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2010-toyota-grand-prix-of-long-beach-pro-celebrity-race/"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/proceleb2010tgplbw---43.jpg" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><small>2010 Long Beach Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race - Click above for high-res image gallery</small></strong></em></div>
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The annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach just wouldn't be the same without the rough-and-tumble slugfest known as the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race. Even though the actors, singers, pro athletes and television personalities who compete could probably care less, they have actually been driving safety-modded Scion tC street cars (StopTech brakes, window netting and roll cages) instead of Toyotas ever since the Celica went the way of analog television. No matter, Toyota is still the title sponsor of the whole shebang, even though there are no Toyotas in any of the racing classes tearing up the nearly two-mile street course in downtown Long Beach. Renaming it the "Scion Grand Prix..." just doesn't have the same ring to it anyhow. <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/19/long-beach-grand-prix-2010-toyota-pro-celebrity-race-never-flop/"><br />
<br />
Follow the jump</a> to see the full list of entrants and the race recap, and don't forget to click below to see the rest of the pics.<br />
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<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2010-toyota-grand-prix-of-long-beach-pro-celebrity-race">2010 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Pro/Celebrity Race</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2010-toyota-grand-prix-of-long-beach-pro-celebrity-race/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/proceleb2010tgplb---01_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2010-toyota-grand-prix-of-long-beach-pro-celebrity-race/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/proceleb2010tgplb---02_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2010-toyota-grand-prix-of-long-beach-pro-celebrity-race/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/proceleb2010tgplb---03_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2010-toyota-grand-prix-of-long-beach-pro-celebrity-race/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/proceleb2010tgplb---04_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2010-toyota-grand-prix-of-long-beach-pro-celebrity-race/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/proceleb2010tgplb---05_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />
<em><strong><small>Photos by <a href="http://about.frank4cars.fotki.com/">Frank Filipponio</a> and <a href="http://alrphotography.zenfolio.com/">Andre Ravinowich</a>/Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc</small><small>.</small></strong></em><p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/19/long-beach-grand-prix-2010-toyota-pro-celebrity-race-never-flop/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Long Beach Grand Prix 2010: Toyota Pro/Celebrity race never flops [Spoilers]</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/19/long-beach-grand-prix-2010-toyota-pro-celebrity-race-never-flop/">Long Beach Grand Prix 2010: Toyota Pro/Celebrity race never flops [Spoilers]</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Mon, 19 Apr 2010 18:21:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/19/long-beach-grand-prix-2010-toyota-pro-celebrity-race-never-flop/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19443696/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/19/long-beach-grand-prix-2010-toyota-pro-celebrity-race-never-flop/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>adam carolla</category><category>AdamCarolla</category><category>Adrien brody</category><category>AdrienBrody</category><category>brian austin green</category><category>BrianAustinGreen</category><category>christian slater</category><category>ChristianSlater</category><category>grand prix</category><category>Grand Prix of Long Beach</category><category>GrandPrix</category><category>GrandPrixOfLongBeach</category><category>Jamie Bestwick</category><category>JamieBestwick</category><category>jesse mccartney</category><category>JesseMccartney</category><category>Keanu Reeves</category><category>KeanuReeves</category><category>long beach</category><category>Long Beach Grand Prix</category><category>LongBeach</category><category>LongBeachGrandPrix</category><category>megyn price</category><category>MegynPrice</category><category>patrick warburton</category><category>PatrickWarburton</category><category>ProCelebrity Race</category><category>ProcelebrityRace</category><category>Tanner faust</category><category>TannerFaust</category><category>tika sumpter</category><category>TikaSumpter</category><category>tony hawk</category><category>TonyHawk</category><category>toyota grand prix of long beach</category><category>Toyota ProCelebrity Race</category><category>ToyotaGrandPrixOfLongBeach</category><category>ToyotaProcelebrityRace</category><category>zach levi</category><category>ZachLevi</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Frank Filipponio]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 19 Apr 2010 18:21:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[Long Beach Grand Prix 2010: Lone caution makes for fast IndyCar action [Spoilers]]]></title><link>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/19/long-beach-grand-prix-2010-lone-caution-makes-for-fast-indycar/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/19/long-beach-grand-prix-2010-lone-caution-makes-for-fast-indycar/</guid><comments>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/19/long-beach-grand-prix-2010-lone-caution-makes-for-fast-indycar/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/motorsports/" rel="tag">Motorsports</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/indycar-2010-toyota-grand-prix-of-long-beach/"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/indycar2010tgplbw---17.jpg" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><small>2010 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach - Click above for huge high-res image gallery</small></strong></em></div>
<br />
Sometimes referred to as America's Monaco, the Izod IndyCar Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach typically means sun, surf, stargazing and sensational street racing action in one weekend-long party. The 2010 edition looked to be no exception as the weather was beautiful and there were plenty of stars in attendance. Some were competing in the weekend's well-known Pro/Celebrity race while others were competing or managing in other series, and others were just there as fans.<br />
<br />
Going into this, the fourth round of the 2010 IndyCar Series, Will Power was coming off his first loss of the season in Alabama and looking to regain his invincible status. Several other drivers were glad to see Power falter, giving them some hope that they could claw their way back into contention. After all, the season is far from over. After the first practice session, however, Power was once again on top. The question would be whether or not he could stay there through qualifying and in Sunday's featured event.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/19/long-beach-grand-prix-2010-lone-caution-makes-for-fast-indycar/">Follow the jump</a> to see if Power could make it three-for-four in Long Beach or whether Alabama-winner Helio Castroneves could continue his winning ways, or if maybe, just maybe, somebody else could step up and beat these Penske boys.<br />
<br />
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<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/indycar-2010-toyota-grand-prix-of-long-beach">IndyCar 2010 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/indycar-2010-toyota-grand-prix-of-long-beach/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/indycar2010tgplb---01_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/indycar-2010-toyota-grand-prix-of-long-beach/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/indycar2010tgplb---02_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/indycar-2010-toyota-grand-prix-of-long-beach/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/indycar2010tgplb---03_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/indycar-2010-toyota-grand-prix-of-long-beach/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/indycar2010tgplb---04_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/indycar-2010-toyota-grand-prix-of-long-beach/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/indycar2010tgplb---05_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />
<em><strong><small>Photos by <a href="http://about.frank4cars.fotki.com/">Frank Filipponio</a> and <a href="http://alrphotography.zenfolio.com/">Andre Ravinowich</a>/Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc</small><small>.</small></strong></em><p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/19/long-beach-grand-prix-2010-lone-caution-makes-for-fast-indycar/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Long Beach Grand Prix 2010: Lone caution makes for fast IndyCar action [Spoilers]</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/19/long-beach-grand-prix-2010-lone-caution-makes-for-fast-indycar/">Long Beach Grand Prix 2010: Lone caution makes for fast IndyCar action [Spoilers]</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Mon, 19 Apr 2010 14:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/19/long-beach-grand-prix-2010-lone-caution-makes-for-fast-indycar/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19443694/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/19/long-beach-grand-prix-2010-lone-caution-makes-for-fast-indycar/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>2010 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach</category><category>2010ToyotaGrandPrixOfLongBeach</category><category>danica patrick</category><category>DanicaPatrick</category><category>GPLB</category><category>Grand Prix of Long Beach</category><category>GrandPrixOfLongBeach</category><category>indy car</category><category>indycar</category><category>indycar series</category><category>indycars</category><category>IndycarSeries</category><category>justin wilson</category><category>JustinWilson</category><category>lbgp</category><category>long beach</category><category>long beach gp</category><category>Long Beach Grand Prix</category><category>LongBeach</category><category>LongBeachGp</category><category>LongBeachGrandPrix</category><category>ryan hunter-reay</category><category>RyanHunter-reay</category><category>TGPLB</category><category>toyota grand prix of long beach</category><category>ToyotaGrandPrixOfLongBeach</category><category>will power</category><category>WillPower</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Frank Filipponio]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 19 Apr 2010 14:30:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[Long Beach Grand Prix 2010: ALMS race goes down to the wire [Spoilers]]]></title><link>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/18/long-beach-grand-prix-2010-alms-race-goes-down-to-the-wire-spo/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/18/long-beach-grand-prix-2010-alms-race-goes-down-to-the-wire-spo/</guid><comments>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/18/long-beach-grand-prix-2010-alms-race-goes-down-to-the-wire-spo/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/motorsports/" rel="tag">Motorsports</a></p><div style="text-align: left;"><em><small><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2010-tequila-patr-n-american-le-mans-series-at-long-beach/"><img width="630" vspace="4" hspace="4" height="420" border="1" align="top" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/alms2010tgplb---035o.jpg" alt="ALMS Long Beach 2010" /></a><br />
</small></em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><small>2010 Tequila Patr&oacute;n American Le Mans Series at Long Beach - Click above for high-res image gallery<br />
</small><br />
</em></strong></div>
The featured race at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach might be Sunday afternoon's IndyCar race, but for the hundred thousand or so fans at the street course in downtown Long Beach on Saturday afternoon, it was all about the American Le Mans Series. The Tequila Patr&oacute;n American Le Mans Series at Long Beach is the official title for this exciting event, which has been part of the Long Beach schedule four times in as many years.<br />
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While the series had its first race of the season at Sebring in March, Long Beach would be the first time the former LMP1 and LMP2 cars would be running together in the new LMP class, joining the handful of slightly slower LMPC-class Oreca FLM09 prototypes on track. LMP didn't have the Peugeots we had seen dominate at Sebring, but there were plenty of other strong competitors. Long Beach was also the debut of the new former-GT2-like GT class, joining the GTC category, the latter of which is essentially a spec series for Porsche this year.<br />
<br />
Street races are always exciting because of the concrete walls surrounding the circuit, which give very little comfort to drivers who overdo it even a little bit. Long Beach can be particularly hard on machinery in that respect and even with the long front straight producing very high trap speeds, the technical nature of its 11-turn, 1.9-mile layout can also favor smaller, nimbler cars over heavier, higher-horsepower vehicles.<br />
<br />
With typically gorgeous weather at this track nestled up against the Pacific Ocean in the shadow of the Queen Mary, it set up well for a memorable second race on the ALMS calendar. We were there ourselves this year and bring you our own live gallery to accompany the race report. Click below to see the pics, and follow the jump to see how the race unfolded.<br />
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<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2010-tequila-patr-n-american-le-mans-series-at-long-beach">2010 Tequila Patrón American Le Mans Series at Long Beach</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2010-tequila-patr-n-american-le-mans-series-at-long-beach/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/alms2010tgplb---001_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2010-tequila-patr-n-american-le-mans-series-at-long-beach/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/alms2010tgplb---002_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2010-tequila-patr-n-american-le-mans-series-at-long-beach/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/alms2010tgplb---003_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2010-tequila-patr-n-american-le-mans-series-at-long-beach/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/alms2010tgplb---004_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2010-tequila-patr-n-american-le-mans-series-at-long-beach/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/alms2010tgplb---005_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />
<em><strong><small>Photos by <a href="http://about.frank4cars.fotki.com/">Frank Filipponio</a>/Copyright  (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc</small><small>.</small></strong></em><p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/18/long-beach-grand-prix-2010-alms-race-goes-down-to-the-wire-spo/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Long Beach Grand Prix 2010: ALMS race goes down to the wire [Spoilers]</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/18/long-beach-grand-prix-2010-alms-race-goes-down-to-the-wire-spo/">Long Beach Grand Prix 2010: ALMS race goes down to the wire [Spoilers]</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Sun, 18 Apr 2010 13:33:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/18/long-beach-grand-prix-2010-alms-race-goes-down-to-the-wire-spo/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19443693/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/18/long-beach-grand-prix-2010-alms-race-goes-down-to-the-wire-spo/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>alms</category><category>ALMS at Long Beach</category><category>alms green challenge</category><category>AlmsAtLongBeach</category><category>AlmsGreenChallenge</category><category>american le mans series</category><category>AmericanLeMansSeries</category><category>Grand Prix of Long Beach</category><category>GrandPrixOfLongBeach</category><category>Le Mans Series</category><category>LeMansSeries</category><category>long beach</category><category>Long Beach Grand Prix</category><category>LongBeach</category><category>LongBeachGrandPrix</category><category>motorsport</category><category>motorsports</category><category>race</category><category>Racing</category><category>Tequila Patrón American Le Mans Series at Long Beach</category><category>TequilaPatrónAmericanLeMansSeriesAtLongBeach</category><category>toyota grand prix of long beach</category><category>ToyotaGrandPrixOfLongBeach</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Frank Filipponio]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 18 Apr 2010 13:33:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[Adam Carolla picked as favorite to win Long Beach Pro/Celebrity Race]]></title><link>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/06/adam-carolla-picked-as-favorite-to-win-long-beach-pro-celebrity/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/06/adam-carolla-picked-as-favorite-to-win-long-beach-pro-celebrity/</guid><comments>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/06/adam-carolla-picked-as-favorite-to-win-long-beach-pro-celebrity/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/motorsports/" rel="tag">Motorsports</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/scion/" rel="tag">Scion</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/toyota/" rel="tag">Toyota</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/celebrities/" rel="tag">Celebrities</a></p><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/carollatacrlb.jpg" alt="" /><br />
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If you're desperate to bet on these things, a Vegas pro has laid out the odds for the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/toyota">Toyota</a> Pro/Celebrity Race that takes place before the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach in two week's time. In the number one spot, at 11-1, sits Adam Carolla, which gives him the same odds as pro Marty Nothstein and ahead of the odds smacked down on celebrity-cast-as-pro Keanu Reeves, who's at 12-1. <br />
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It also puts Carolla at the head of the celebrity class, before "Chuck's" Zachary Levi, skateboarder Tony Hawk, Mr. Megan Fox - otherwise known as Brian Austin Green, and soon-to-be-Predator-hunter <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004778/">Adrien Brody</a>. The field of <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/scion">Scion</a> tCs will blast around the 1.97-mile circuit on April 17, and to paraphrase <em>Gone in 60 Seconds</em>, "Go, Carolla, go."<br />
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[Source: Las Vegas Advisor]<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/06/adam-carolla-picked-as-favorite-to-win-long-beach-pro-celebrity/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Adam Carolla picked as favorite to win Long Beach Pro/Celebrity Race</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/06/adam-carolla-picked-as-favorite-to-win-long-beach-pro-celebrity/">Adam Carolla picked as favorite to win Long Beach Pro/Celebrity Race</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Tue, 06 Apr 2010 09:58:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/06/adam-carolla-picked-as-favorite-to-win-long-beach-pro-celebrity/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19427367/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/06/adam-carolla-picked-as-favorite-to-win-long-beach-pro-celebrity/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>adam carolla</category><category>AdamCarolla</category><category>grand prix</category><category>Grand Prix of Long Beach</category><category>GrandPrix</category><category>GrandPrixOfLongBeach</category><category>scion tc</category><category>ScionTc</category><category>toyota grand prix of long beach</category><category>ToyotaGrandPrixOfLongBeach</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jonathon Ramsey]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 06 Apr 2010 09:58:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[Patrick Dempsey to race at Long Beach... but not in the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race]]></title><link>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/02/patrick-dempsey-to-race-at-long-beach-but-not-in-the-toyota-p/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/02/patrick-dempsey-to-race-at-long-beach-but-not-in-the-toyota-p/</guid><comments>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/02/patrick-dempsey-to-race-at-long-beach-but-not-in-the-toyota-p/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/motorsports/" rel="tag">Motorsports</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/mazda/" rel="tag">Mazda</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/celebrities/" rel="tag">Celebrities</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/event-alert/" rel="tag">Event Alert</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/racing/" rel="tag">Racing</a></p><a href="www.autoblog.com/2010/03/31/patrick-dempsey-to-race-at-long-beach-but-not-in-the-toyota-pr/"><img hspace="4" vspace="4" border="1" align="right" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/patrick-dempseywclbgp-1270089627.jpg" /></a>Actor <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/search/?q=dempsey&amp;invocationType=wl-auto">Patrick Dempsey</a> is no stranger to racetracks, nor to the pages of Autoblog. We've run into the <em>Gray's Anatomy</em> star at various races and automotive events over the past few years, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/16/monterey-2009-the-faces-and-names-of-the-monterey-historics/">most recently</a> piloting a '90s <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/mazda/">Mazda</a> RX-792 LeMans racer in the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/monterey+historics/">Historics</a> at Laguna Seca. We've even seen him run at Long Beach, although that was in their annual <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/20/spoiler-alert-2009-long-beach-grand-prix-toyota-pro-celebrity-r/">Toyota Pro/Celebrity race</a> that usually features as many crashes and spins as a roller-derby match.<br />
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This year, Dempsey is set to return to the streets of Long Beach, but not in a <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/tc">Scion tC</a>, nor even his usual ride, the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/lexus/rx-8">Mazda RX-8</a> he runs in the Rolex <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/Grand-Am/">Grand-Am</a> GT series. No, Patrick will instead be driving the wheels off a 2010 <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/infiniti/mazda3">Mazda3</a> prepared by Tri-Point Motorsports for the World Challenge race during the <a href="http://www.gplb.com/index.html">Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach</a> weekend. So what was it like going from a push-me to a pull-me? Dempsey says he was impressed with the Mazda3, the first front-driver he's ever raced, though not surprised, as his daily driver is a <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/infiniti/mazdaspeed3">Mazdaspeed3</a>.<br />
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We'll be sure to keep an eye out for him when we head to Long Beach in a couple of weeks to cover the racing activities, which will include <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/indycar/">IndyCar</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/World+Challenge/">World Challenge</a> and <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/ALMS/">ALMS</a> action. There's a longer press release from Mazda <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/31/patrick-dempsey-to-race-at-long-beach-but-not-in-the-toyota-pr/">after the jump</a>, with more details about the weekend of racing from Long Beach.<br />
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[Source: Mazda]<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/02/patrick-dempsey-to-race-at-long-beach-but-not-in-the-toyota-p/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Patrick Dempsey to race at Long Beach... but not in the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/02/patrick-dempsey-to-race-at-long-beach-but-not-in-the-toyota-p/">Patrick Dempsey to race at Long Beach... but not in the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Fri, 02 Apr 2010 08:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/02/patrick-dempsey-to-race-at-long-beach-but-not-in-the-toyota-p/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19422388/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/02/patrick-dempsey-to-race-at-long-beach-but-not-in-the-toyota-p/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>grand prix</category><category>GrandPrix</category><category>Long Beach</category><category>Long Beach Grand Prix</category><category>LongBeach</category><category>LongBeachGrandPrix</category><category>mazda</category><category>patrick dempsey</category><category>PatrickDempsey</category><category>SCCA</category><category>SCCA World Challenge</category><category>SccaWorldChallenge</category><category>toyota grand prix of long beach</category><category>Toyota ProCelebrity Race</category><category>ToyotaGrandPrixOfLongBeach</category><category>ToyotaProcelebrityRace</category><category>World Challenge</category><category>WorldChallenge</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Frank Filipponio]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 02 Apr 2010 08:30:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[SPOILER ALERT: 2009 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach]]></title><link>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/20/spoiler-alert-2009-toyota-grand-prix-of-long-beach/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/20/spoiler-alert-2009-toyota-grand-prix-of-long-beach/</guid><comments>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/20/spoiler-alert-2009-toyota-grand-prix-of-long-beach/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/motorsports/" rel="tag">Motorsports</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-toyota-grand-prix-of-long-beach/1502256/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/tgplb09_lead.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /><em><strong><small>Click above for a high-res gallery of the IndyCar Series at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach</small></strong></em><br /></div>
<br />In what was the hottest day of the year so far in Southern California, a full field took to to the streets for the 35th running of the Grand Prix of Long Beach. This was the first time the event has been run with the combined teams from IRL and Champ car since <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/22/breaking-irl-and-champ-car-unification-agreement-signed/">the two joined forces</a> early last year. In qualifying on Saturday, Will Power had captured pole just ahead of Dario Franchitti followed by rookie Raphael Matos and E.J. Viso. Just a day after being <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/17/helio-castroneves-acquitted-on-six-counts-of-tax-evasion/">acquited on six accounts of tax evasion</a>, Helio Castroneves arrived at the track to qualify in eighth place after just one practice session. Hit the jump for a recap and results from the race, and be sure to check out plenty of high-res photos in the gallery below.<br /><br /><br /><div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-toyota-grand-prix-of-long-beach">2009 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-toyota-grand-prix-of-long-beach/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/tgplb09_58_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-toyota-grand-prix-of-long-beach/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/tgplb09_01_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-toyota-grand-prix-of-long-beach/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/tgplb09_02_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-toyota-grand-prix-of-long-beach/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/tgplb09_03_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-toyota-grand-prix-of-long-beach/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/tgplb09_04_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br /><br /><strong style="font-style: italic;"><small>Photos copyright (C)2009 <a href="http://www.drewphillipsphotography.com/">Drew Phillips</a> / Weblogs, Inc</small></strong><p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/20/spoiler-alert-2009-toyota-grand-prix-of-long-beach/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>SPOILER ALERT: 2009 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/20/spoiler-alert-2009-toyota-grand-prix-of-long-beach/">SPOILER ALERT: 2009 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Mon, 20 Apr 2009 14:58:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/20/spoiler-alert-2009-toyota-grand-prix-of-long-beach/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/1521633/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/20/spoiler-alert-2009-toyota-grand-prix-of-long-beach/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>2009 Long Beach Grand Prix</category><category>2009LongBeachGrandPrix</category><category>Indy Racing League</category><category>IndyCar Series</category><category>IndycarSeries</category><category>IndyRacingLeague</category><category>Long Beach Grand Prix</category><category>LongBeachGrandPrix</category><category>Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach</category><category>ToyotaGrandPrixOfLongBeach</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Drew Phillips]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2009 14:58:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[SPOILER ALERT: 2009 Long Beach Grand Prix Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race]]></title><link>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/20/spoiler-alert-2009-long-beach-grand-prix-toyota-pro-celebrity-r/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/20/spoiler-alert-2009-long-beach-grand-prix-toyota-pro-celebrity-r/</guid><comments>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/20/spoiler-alert-2009-long-beach-grand-prix-toyota-pro-celebrity-r/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/motorsports/" rel="tag">Motorsports</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/scion/" rel="tag">Scion</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/toyota/" rel="tag">Toyota</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/celebrities/" rel="tag">Celebrities</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-toyota-pro-celeb-race-at-long-beach-gp/1501780/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/tproceleb09_lead.jpg" /></a><br /> <em><strong><small>2009 Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race at Long Beach</small></strong></em> - <em><strong><small>Click above for gallery of high-res pics</small></strong></em></div>
<br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br /><br /><div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-toyota-pro-celeb-race-at-long-beach-gp">2009 Toyota Pro/Celeb Race at Long Beach GP</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-toyota-pro-celeb-race-at-long-beach-gp/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/tproceleb09_01_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-toyota-pro-celeb-race-at-long-beach-gp/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/tproceleb09_13_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-toyota-pro-celeb-race-at-long-beach-gp/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/tproceleb09_12_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-toyota-pro-celeb-race-at-long-beach-gp/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/tproceleb09_11_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-toyota-pro-celeb-race-at-long-beach-gp/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/tproceleb09_10_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br /><em><strong><small>Photos copyright (C)2009 <a href="http://www.frank4cars.com">Frank Filipponio</a> / <a href="http://www.drewphillipsphotography.com">Drew Phillips</a> / Weblogs, Inc.</small></strong></em><p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/20/spoiler-alert-2009-long-beach-grand-prix-toyota-pro-celebrity-r/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>SPOILER ALERT: 2009 Long Beach Grand Prix Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/20/spoiler-alert-2009-long-beach-grand-prix-toyota-pro-celebrity-r/">SPOILER ALERT: 2009 Long Beach Grand Prix Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Mon, 20 Apr 2009 12:59:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/20/spoiler-alert-2009-long-beach-grand-prix-toyota-pro-celebrity-r/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/1521400/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/20/spoiler-alert-2009-long-beach-grand-prix-toyota-pro-celebrity-r/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>adrien brody</category><category>AdrienBrody</category><category>al unser</category><category>al unser jr</category><category>alex trebek</category><category>AlexTrebek</category><category>AlUnser</category><category>AlUnserJr</category><category>Annamarie Dean</category><category>AnnamarieDean</category><category>carlos mencia</category><category>CarlosMencia</category><category>celebrity race</category><category>CelebrityRace</category><category>Coy Gibbs</category><category>CoyGibbs</category><category>Douglas Fregin</category><category>DouglasFregin</category><category>eric close</category><category>EricClose</category><category>fonzworth bentley</category><category>FonzworthBentley</category><category>GPLB</category><category>Grand Prix of Long Beach</category><category>GrandPrixOfLongBeach</category><category>Jamie Little</category><category>JamieLittle</category><category>johnny benson</category><category>JohnnyBenson</category><category>keanu reeves</category><category>KeanuReeves</category><category>ken baker</category><category>KenBaker</category><category>lbgp</category><category>long beach</category><category>long beach grand prix</category><category>LongBeach</category><category>LongBeachGrandPrix</category><category>Mary Lynn Rakskub</category><category>MaryLynnRakskub</category><category>ProCelebrity Race</category><category>ProcelebrityRace</category><category>raven symone</category><category>RavenSymone</category><category>scion</category><category>scion tc</category><category>ScionTc</category><category>tim daly</category><category>TimDaly</category><category>Tom Rudnai</category><category>TomRudnai</category><category>toyota grand prix of long beach</category><category>Toyota ProCelebrity Race</category><category>ToyotaGrandPrixOfLongBeach</category><category>ToyotaProcelebrityRace</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Frank Filipponio]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2009 12:59:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[So long, Champ: Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach marks end of Champ Car World Series]]></title><link>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/21/so-long-champ-toyota-grand-prix-of-long-beach-marks-end-of-cha/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/21/so-long-champ-toyota-grand-prix-of-long-beach-marks-end-of-cha/</guid><comments>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/21/so-long-champ-toyota-grand-prix-of-long-beach-marks-end-of-cha/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/motorsports/" rel="tag">Motorsports</a></p><p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2008-toyota-grand-prix-of-long-beach/763829/"><strong><em><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/04/00_longbeachgrandprix08_opt.jpg" alt="" /></em></strong></a><br /><em>Click above for high-res gallery from the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach</em></p>
<p>This past weekend saw the end of an era as the Champ Car World Series held its last ever race. Although the race in Long Beach came after the merger with the Indy Racing League and after the kickoff of the inaugural joint season, pre-existing commitments sent the Champ Car teams to California (sponsored by Toyota) while Danica Patrick was claiming her <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/20/danica-patrick-wins-indy-japan-300/">maiden victory in Japan</a> (sponsored by Honda). The forked race weekend, however, was to be the last, as the Champ Car World Series has formally filed for bankruptcy with several of its teams folding into the IndyCar Series.</p>
<p>Australian driver Will Power (seriously, that's his name) dominated the race virtually from start to finish, leading 81 out of the 83 laps. Former F1 test driver Franck Montagny impressively took the second step on the podium on his first and last Champ Car race beside veteran Mario Dominquez in third. Pole sitter Justin Wilson was forced to retire with engine troubles on the 12th lap, as did his young team mate Graham Rahal - winner of the IRL race in St. Petersburg two weeks prior - who crashed on the last lap. Both Jimmy Vasser and Paul Tracy returned to the race seat for the Long Beach event, but weren't sharp enough to pose a serious threat to Power. The Panoz DP01, having turned their final laps, will now be mothballed as the migrating teams rejoin their IRL colleagues next weekend in Kansas City.</p>
<p><div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2008-toyota-grand-prix-of-long-beach">2008 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2008-toyota-grand-prix-of-long-beach/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/04/00_longbeachgrandprix08_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2008-toyota-grand-prix-of-long-beach/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/04/01_longbeachgrandprix08_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2008-toyota-grand-prix-of-long-beach/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/04/02_longbeachgrandprix08_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2008-toyota-grand-prix-of-long-beach/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/04/03_longbeachgrandprix08_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2008-toyota-grand-prix-of-long-beach/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/04/04_longbeachgrandprix08_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />[Source: <a href="http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/66742">Autosport</a>]</p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/21/so-long-champ-toyota-grand-prix-of-long-beach-marks-end-of-cha/">So long, Champ: Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach marks end of Champ Car World Series</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:32:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/66742>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/21/so-long-champ-toyota-grand-prix-of-long-beach-marks-end-of-cha/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/1173279/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/21/so-long-champ-toyota-grand-prix-of-long-beach-marks-end-of-cha/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>champ car california</category><category>ChampCarCalifornia</category><category>long beach champ car</category><category>long beach grand prix</category><category>LongBeachChampCar</category><category>LongBeachGrandPrix</category><category>toyota grand prix of long beach</category><category>ToyotaGrandPrixOfLongBeach</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Noah Joseph]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:32:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[List of "stars" for 2008 Toyota Pro/Celebrity race announced]]></title><link>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/12/list-of-stars-for-2008-toyota-pro-celebrity-race-announced/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/12/list-of-stars-for-2008-toyota-pro-celebrity-race-announced/</guid><comments>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/12/list-of-stars-for-2008-toyota-pro-celebrity-race-announced/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/motorsports/" rel="tag">Motorsports</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/scion/" rel="tag">Scion</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/toyota/" rel="tag">Toyota</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/celebrities/" rel="tag">Celebrities</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/history-of-toyota-pro-celebrity-race/695602/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="right" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/03/toytoacelebsold_opt.jpg" /></a>It's not that we've ever made a point to sit down and watch the Toyota Pro/Celebrity race. It's just that every few years we flip on the television and there it is, and then we have to watch as celebrities, pro athletes and some professional drivers make mince meat of whatever Toyota model is that year's race car. It's the Scion tC once again this year, and the list of celebs who will be crashing into one another has been released (check out the full list after the jump). We use the term "celeb" very loosely here, as the list is populated with names that usually appear a few spots down when the credits roll. Drew Lachey and Wilmer Valderrama are probably the most popular current celebs on the drivers list, as well as Eric Dickerson and John Salley. But Brad Lewis, the executive producer of <em>Ratatouille</em>? <br /><br />The Pro/Celeb race used to attract big names from pop culture, and we've got the gallery of archival pics to prove it. We're talking top talent like <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/history-of-toyota-pro-celebrity-race/695585/">Matt Leblanc</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/history-of-toyota-pro-celebrity-race/695594/">Ricky Schroder</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/history-of-toyota-pro-celebrity-race/695587/">Camaron Diaz</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/history-of-toyota-pro-celebrity-race/695581/">Patrick Stewart</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/history-of-toyota-pro-celebrity-race/695591/">Cybill Shepherd</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/history-of-toyota-pro-celebrity-race/695584/">George Lucas</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/history-of-toyota-pro-celebrity-race/695590/">Gene Hackman</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/history-of-toyota-pro-celebrity-race/695598/">Kelsey Grammar</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/history-of-toyota-pro-celebrity-race/695589/">Joe Montana</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/history-of-toyota-pro-celebrity-race/695597/">Cuba Gooding Jr.</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/history-of-toyota-pro-celebrity-race/695588/">Woody Harrelson</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/history-of-toyota-pro-celebrity-race/695595/">Jay Leno</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/history-of-toyota-pro-celebrity-race/695600/">Tony Danza</a> (TONY DANZA!), and yes, even <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/history-of-toyota-pro-celebrity-race/695582/">David Hasselhoff</a>. Oh, and Alfonso Ribeiro, who friggin' rules. <span style="font-style: italic;">Thanks for the tip, Eric!</span><br /><br /><div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/history-of-toyota-pro-celebrity-race">History of Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/history-of-toyota-pro-celebrity-race/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/03/00_toyotaceleb_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/history-of-toyota-pro-celebrity-race/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/03/01_toyotaceleb_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/history-of-toyota-pro-celebrity-race/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/03/02_toyotaceleb_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/history-of-toyota-pro-celebrity-race/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/03/03_toyotaceleb_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/history-of-toyota-pro-celebrity-race/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/03/04_toyotaceleb_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />[Source: <a href="http://scionnews.net/2008/03/12/more-2008-toyota-procelebrity-race-information/">Scionnews.net</a>]<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/12/list-of-stars-for-2008-toyota-pro-celebrity-race-announced/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>List of "stars" for 2008 Toyota Pro/Celebrity race announced</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/12/list-of-stars-for-2008-toyota-pro-celebrity-race-announced/">List of "stars" for 2008 Toyota Pro/Celebrity race announced</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Wed, 12 Mar 2008 16:27:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/12/list-of-stars-for-2008-toyota-pro-celebrity-race-announced/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/1138376/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/12/list-of-stars-for-2008-toyota-pro-celebrity-race-announced/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>toyota celebrity race</category><category>toyota grand prix of long beach</category><category>toyota pro/celebrity race</category><category>ToyotaCelebrityRace</category><category>ToyotaGrandPrixOfLongBeach</category><category>ToyotaPro/celebrityRace</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[John Neff]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 12 Mar 2008 16:27:00 EST</pubDate>
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