2008 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach

2008 Grand Prix of Long Beach
Race details
3rd (B) round of the 2008 IndyCar Series season
DateApril 20, 2008
Official nameToyota Grand Prix of Long Beach
LocationStreets of Long Beach
CourseTemporary street circuit
1.968 mi / 3.167 km
Distance83 laps
163.344 mi / 262.877 km
Weather65 °F (18 °C), Sunny
Pole position
Driver Justin Wilson ( Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing)
Time1:06.902[1]
Fastest lap
Driver Antônio Pizzonia ( Rocketsports)
Time1:08.252 (on lap 68 of 83)
Podium
First Will Power ( KV Racing Technology)
Second Franck Montagny ( Forsythe/Pettit Racing)
Third Mario Domínguez ( Pacific Coast Motorsports)
Chronology
Previous Next
2007 2009

The 2008 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach was an IndyCar Series motor race held at the streets of Long Beach in Long Beach, California, on April 20, 2008. It was the third round of the 2008 IndyCar Series, for teams who competed in the Champ Car World Series in 2007. This was because the 2008 Indy Japan 300 occurred on the same weekend and there was no way of changing dates to avoid the clash. KV Racing Technology driver Will Power led all but two laps and won the race. Franck Montagny, driving for Forsythe/Pettit Racing, finished second, and Mario Domínguez finished third for Pacific Coast Motorsports.

Due to the reunification of IndyCar and Champ Car, this was the final race held under Champ Car sanctioning. The race was run under 2007 Champ Car rules, which included the standing start, option tires, two-day qualifying format, and was run based on time (1 hour, 45 minutes) rather than a set number of laps. he contingent of former Champ Car teams produced a 20-car field, all utilizing the turbocharged Panoz DP01-Cosworth for the final time. Every participant who elected to run other races in the IndyCar season was awarded championship points towards IndyCar. The option tire rule was adopted by the IRL for 2009, as well as standing starts for selected road and street course races in 2013 and 2014 only to be abandoned in 2015 due to safety concerns.

Several IRL staff and team personnel had flown back from Japan Sunday afternoon (local time) and saw at least part of the race, including Motegi winner Danica Patrick, who had scored her historic win the previous evening.

Results

Finish Car
No.
Driver Team Laps Time/Retired Grid Laps
Led
Points
1 8 Will Power KV Racing Technology 83 1:45:25.415 4 81 53
2 7 Franck Montagny (R) Forsythe/Pettit Racing 83 +5.094 6 0 0
3 96 Mario Domínguez Pacific Coast Motorsports 83 +15.516 10 0 35
4 36 Enrique Bernoldi (R) Conquest Racing 83 +25.677 8 0 32
5 5 Oriol Servià KV Racing Technology 83 +26.276 12 0 30
6 34 Franck Perera (R) Conquest Racing 83 +28.067 3 0 28
7 15 Alex Tagliani Walker Racing 83 +36.518 2 0 26
8 37 David Martínez (R) Forsythe/Pettit Racing 83 +37.127 18 0 0
9 33 E. J. Viso (R) HVM Racing 83 +44.944 14 1 22
10 12 Jimmy Vasser KV Racing Technology 83 +48.635 13 0 0
11 3 Paul Tracy Forsythe/Pettit Racing 83 +55.956 5 0 19
12 18 Bruno Junqueira Dale Coyne Racing 83 +1:07.553 11 0 18
13 06 Graham Rahal Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing 82 Crash 9 0 17
14 29 Alex Figge Pacific Coast Motorsports 82 +1 Lap 16 0 0
15 4 Nelson Philippe HVM Racing 80 +3 Laps 7 0 0
16 9 Antônio Pizzonia (R) Rocketsports 80 +3 Laps 15 0 0
17 14 Roberto Moreno HVM Racing 63 Drive train 17 1 0
18 10 Juho Annala (R) Rocketsports 42 Brakes 20 0 0
19 02 Justin Wilson Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing 12 Engine 1 0 12
20 19 Mario Moraes (R) Dale Coyne Racing 5 Crash 19 0 12
Race average speed: 92.964 mph (149.611 km/h)
Lead changes: 3 between 3 drivers
Cautions: 3 for 9 laps

References

  1. ^ Beer, Matt (April 20, 2008). "Wilson retains Long Beach pole". autosport.com. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved April 17, 2009.