LONG BEACH — The 47th Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach ended under caution but winner Josef Newgarden was happy to celebrate his first NTT Indy Car Series victory in the streets of downtown Long Beach on Sunday.
Newgarden said a big part of his win was navigating turn 8 on Pine Avenue.
As the 85-lap race went on and tires wore out, experienced drivers like Jimmie Johnson crashed with ten to go in turn 8 and with one to go Takuma Sato also crashed in turn 8, which forced the race to end under caution.
Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach winner Josef Newgarden talked to be about navigating Turn 8 on Pine Avenue, which took out several Indy Car drivers, including Jimmie Johnson and Takuma Sato. Sato’s crash in Turn 8 caused race to end under caution. @josefnewgarden @presstelegram pic.twitter.com/hWl9fv9Tb9
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) April 11, 2022
Turn 8
Pine Ave turn in downtown Long Beach. #IndyCar #GPLongBeach #LongBeach @presstelegram pic.twitter.com/ofdGU7qO8D
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) April 10, 2022
Meanwhile, Newgarden’s closest competitors Romain Grosjean, who finished second, and Alex Patou, who finished third, said they didn’t have anything left to pass the Newgarden’s car if there would have been a final restart.
The Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach ended under caution but 2nd place Romain Grosjean and 3rd place Alex Palou said they didn’t have anything left to overtake the winner Josef Newgarden. @presstelegram @GPLongBeach #GPLongBeach pic.twitter.com/98tFr7eByd
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) April 11, 2022
The Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach had a festival-like atmosphere, particularly in the expo center. It is a place where the Romero family of Fullerton loves to create lifelong memories like competing against each other minutes before the big race.
“It’s really special because it’s something that me and my dad always do, since I was really young,” said Adrian Romero. “It’s really special, it’s really fun.”
13-year-old Adrian Romero beat me to the finish line at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. That’s probably because Romero and his father have been making memories at the @GPLongBeach for as long as he can remember. @presstelegram #GPLongBeach pic.twitter.com/hyEqBbrmNL
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) April 10, 2022
Long Beach Transit bus race at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. @LongBeachCity @presstelegram @GPLongBeach #GPLongBeach pic.twitter.com/CXhxW3LBhj
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) April 10, 2022
Meanwhile, I even made my racing debut at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, when I challenged Romero to a Long Beach Transit race with remote-controlled buses. (Romero won.)
I have officially made my racing debut at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. @GPLongBeach @presstelegram #GPLongBeach pic.twitter.com/xctk2geUiC
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) April 10, 2022
There was plenty for fans to experience, including replica race cars and dozens of exotic vehicles worth tens of millions of dollars at the exotic car paddock at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.
A timelapse of the fan experience at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. @GPLongBeach @presstelegram #GPLongBeach pic.twitter.com/qwdpZwMMCA
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) April 10, 2022
McLaren, Ferrari, Lamborghini and more at the Exotic Car Paddock at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. @presstelegram @GPLongBeach #GPLongBeach pic.twitter.com/mjyqv09x6t
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) April 10, 2022
After the exotic car paddock, fans were able to walk across the track before select spectators headed to pit row.
Walking across the track at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. @presstelegram @GPLongBeach #GPLongBeach pic.twitter.com/FpYA82lsmI
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) April 10, 2022
Behind the scenes along Pit Row at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. @presstelegram @GPLongBeach #GPLongBeach pic.twitter.com/xryJBKiosa
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) April 10, 2022
It’s almost time for the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. @presstelegram @GPLongBeach pic.twitter.com/1XtDoXGWyh
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) April 10, 2022
7-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Johnson in Long Beach. @JimmieJohnson @GPLongBeach @presstelegram pic.twitter.com/48EoHpt755
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) April 10, 2022
Jimmie Johnson is ready for the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. @JimmieJohnson @presstelegram @GPLongBeach pic.twitter.com/wJggdgbBDB
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) April 10, 2022
Caution. Indy Car timelapse. @GPLongBeach @presstelegram pic.twitter.com/gXZR4gxrFH
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) April 10, 2022
The Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, which is normally in April, was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and was rescheduled from April 2021 to September 2021.
The 47th Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach on April 10, 2022, was the first time the annual race was held in the spring since 2019.