GP of Long Beach to be IndyCar season finale in 2021
IndyCar’s 2021 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach has been rescheduled for Sunday, Sept. 26 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, officials from IndyCar announced today.
The move from the event’s traditional April date creates a three-race west coast swing to conclude the 2021 NTT IndyCar Series championship, beginning at Portland International on Sept. 12, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on Sunday, Sept. 19, before finishing on the streets of Long Beach.
“It is important to have Long Beach rescheduled to continue the history and tradition for one of the series’ hallmark events in one of the nation’s premier media markets,” Penske Entertainment Corp. president and CEO Mark Miles said.
“Further, it’s a tremendous opportunity to wrap up the season with three straight iconic venues for what we believe will be our most exciting season yet.
“As we did during the 2020 season, we will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation and maintain flexibility across our schedule. We are committed to an action-packed and exhilarating 2021 NTT IndyCar Series.”
Grand Prix Association of Long Beach President and CEO Jim Michaelian said: “I want to thank all of the officials at IndyCar for their assistance in rescheduling the 2021 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach to September. We believe that this move will afford us the best opportunity to provide our guests with a fun and exciting experience in a safe and unrestricted environment.
“It will be a welcome sight to see the NTT IndyCar Series cars and stars back on the downtown streets of Long Beach in the fall.”
Long Beach was one of several IndyCar races that fell victim to the pandemic in 2020, breaking an unbroken annual run for the event, which was held for the first time in September 1975 for F5000 cars, from 1976 to ’83 for Formula 1, and since 1984 for Indy cars.
New 2021 NTT IndyCar Series schedule
March 7, St. Petersburg streets, NBC
April 11, Barber Motorsports Park, NBCSN
May 1, Texas Motor Speedway, NBCSN
May 2, Texas Motor Speedway, NBCSN
May 15, Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, NBC
May 22-23, Indy 500 qualifying
May 30, 105th running of the Indianapolis 500, NBC
June 12, Belle Isle streets, Detroit, NBC
June 13, Belle Isle streets, Detroit, NBC
June 20, Road America, NBCSN
July 4, Mid-Ohio SportsCar Course, NBC
July 11, Toronto streets, NBCSN
August 8, Nashville streets, NBCSN
August 14, Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, NBCSN
August 21, World Wide Technology Raceway, NBCSN
September 12, Portland International Raceway, NBC
September 19, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, NBC
September 26, Long Beach streets - TV details to be confirmed
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