IndyCar speeds into Long Beach celebrating season of gains
FILE - Romain Grosjean (51) smiles before the start an IndyCar auto race at World Wide Technology Raceway on Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021, in Madison, Ill. Grosjean will move to Andretti Autosport next season and drive the full 17-race schedule, including the Indianapolis 500. The Frenchman has fallen in love with IndyCar since moving to the series this season from Formula One. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)

FILE - Romain Grosjean (51) smiles before the start an IndyCar auto race at World Wide Technology Raceway on Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021, in Madison, Ill. Grosjean will move to Andretti Autosport next season and drive the full 17-race schedule, including the Indianapolis 500. The Frenchman has fallen in love with IndyCar since moving to the series this season from Formula One. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)

Sep. 24, 2021 02:45 PM EDT
Colton Herta, centro, celebra su victoria en IndyCar en Laguna Seca, con Alex Palou, izquierda, en segundo lugar y Romain Grosjean, el domingo 19 de septiembre de 2021, en Monterey, California. Palou extendió su ventaja a 35 puntos en la clasificación de pilotos de cara a la carrera final del campeonato la próxima semana. (AP Foto/Jenna Fryer)

Colton Herta, centro, celebra su victoria en IndyCar en Laguna Seca, con Alex Palou, izquierda, en segundo lugar y Romain Grosjean, el domingo 19 de septiembre de 2021, en Monterey, California. Palou extendió su ventaja a 35 puntos en la clasificación de pilotos de cara a la carrera final del campeonato la próxima semana. (AP Foto/Jenna Fryer)

Sep. 19, 2021 10:11 PM EDT
Colton Herta poses after winning the pole, Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, at Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, Calif. Herta is the defending race winner from 2019. (AP Photo/Jenna Fryer)

Colton Herta poses after winning the pole, Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, at Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, Calif. Herta is the defending race winner from 2019. (AP Photo/Jenna Fryer)

Sep. 18, 2021 08:37 PM EDT
Driver Alex Palou, front right, poses by his car and team after winning the first pole of his career during qualifying for Sunday's IndyCar auto race, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, at Portland International Raceway in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenna Fryer)

Driver Alex Palou, front right, poses by his car and team after winning the first pole of his career during qualifying for Sunday's IndyCar auto race, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, at Portland International Raceway in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenna Fryer)

Sep. 11, 2021 05:05 PM EDT
FILE - Romain Grosjean, of Switzerland, drives into the second turn during the IndyCar auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021. Grosjean will move to Andretti Autosport next season and drive the full 17-race schedule, including the Indianapolis 500. The Frenchman has fallen in love with IndyCar since moving to the series this season from Formula One. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)

FILE - Romain Grosjean, of Switzerland, drives into the second turn during the IndyCar auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021. Grosjean will move to Andretti Autosport next season and drive the full 17-race schedule, including the Indianapolis 500. The Frenchman has fallen in love with IndyCar since moving to the series this season from Formula One. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)

Sep. 24, 2021 02:46 PM EDT
FILE - In this Jan. 23, 2021, file photo, Jimmie Johnson interacts with crew members in his garage during a practice session for the Rolex 24 hour auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. The first season on Johnson's midlife career change closes Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, with the IndyCar season finale, a week after his strongest moments yet through 11 races in a brand new discipline. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)

FILE - In this Jan. 23, 2021, file photo, Jimmie Johnson interacts with crew members in his garage during a practice session for the Rolex 24 hour auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. The first season on Johnson's midlife career change closes Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, with the IndyCar season finale, a week after his strongest moments yet through 11 races in a brand new discipline. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)

Sep. 24, 2021 02:57 PM EDT
FILE - In this Aug. 13, 2021, file photo, Alex Palou (10) drives during a practice session for the IndyCar Indianapolis GP auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis. The bad news for Alex Palou is that he’s never raced before at Laguna Seca, the penultimate race in the IndyCar championship. The good news? Those trying to wrest the title away from Palou don’t have much experience, either. Laguna Seca only returned to the IndyCar schedule in 2019 and then was canceled last year during the pandemic. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler, File)

FILE - In this Aug. 13, 2021, file photo, Alex Palou (10) drives during a practice session for the IndyCar Indianapolis GP auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis. The bad news for Alex Palou is that he’s never raced before at Laguna Seca, the penultimate race in the IndyCar championship. The good news? Those trying to wrest the title away from Palou don’t have much experience, either. Laguna Seca only returned to the IndyCar schedule in 2019 and then was canceled last year during the pandemic. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler, File)

Sep. 17, 2021 02:22 PM EDT