Long Beach opens up for grand prix return, IndyCar closer
FILE - Two-time Formula 1 world champion Niki Lauda, center, sprays champagne over well wishers around the winner circle at the Grand Prix circuit in Long Beach, Calif., in this April 5, 1982, file photo. Lauda, driving for Team McLaren, won the race, finishing ahead of Team Williams driver Keke Rosberg, left, of Finland, second, and Canadian Gilles Villeneuve, right, who finished third driving for Ferrari. The Grand Prix of Long Beach opens 17 months after the pandemic ended the crown jewel’s streak as one of the longest continuously-running street events in racing. (AP Photo/FIle)

FILE - Two-time Formula 1 world champion Niki Lauda, center, sprays champagne over well wishers around the winner circle at the Grand Prix circuit in Long Beach, Calif., in this April 5, 1982, file photo. Lauda, driving for Team McLaren, won the race, finishing ahead of Team Williams driver Keke Rosberg, left, of Finland, second, and Canadian Gilles Villeneuve, right, who finished third driving for Ferrari. The Grand Prix of Long Beach opens 17 months after the pandemic ended the crown jewel’s streak as one of the longest continuously-running street events in racing. (AP Photo/FIle)

Sep. 23, 2021 01:43 PM EDT
FILE - In this Friday, Aug. 13, 2021, file photo, Alex Palou, second from left, of Spain, talks with a crew member before a practice session for a IndyCar auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis. IndyCar is on a two-week break, but the 24-year-old Palou has no plans to rest as he tries to reclaim his spot atop the championship standings. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)

FILE - In this Friday, Aug. 13, 2021, file photo, Alex Palou, second from left, of Spain, talks with a crew member before a practice session for a IndyCar auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis. IndyCar is on a two-week break, but the 24-year-old Palou has no plans to rest as he tries to reclaim his spot atop the championship standings. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)

Aug. 25, 2021 03:00 PM EDT
FILE - Bruno Junqueira of Brazil goes through turn three during the first day qualifying for Champ Car's Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, in Long Beach, Calif., in this Friday, April 8, 2005, file photo. The Grand Prix of Long Beach opens 17 months after the pandemic ended the crown jewel’s streak as one of the longest continuously-running street events in racing. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)

FILE - Bruno Junqueira of Brazil goes through turn three during the first day qualifying for Champ Car's Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, in Long Beach, Calif., in this Friday, April 8, 2005, file photo. The Grand Prix of Long Beach opens 17 months after the pandemic ended the crown jewel’s streak as one of the longest continuously-running street events in racing. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)

Sep. 23, 2021 01:48 PM EDT
FILE - In this May 20, 2021, file photo, Alex Palou, of Spain, waits to drive during practice for the Indianapolis 500 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/Darron Cummings, File)

FILE - In this May 20, 2021, file photo, Alex Palou, of Spain, waits to drive during practice for the Indianapolis 500 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/Darron Cummings, File)

Sep. 17, 2021 02:22 PM EDT
FILE - Formula One drivers Mario Andretti, left, and Clay Regazzoni of Switzerland lead the field through the streets of Long Beach, Calif., during the early laps of the Long Beach Grand Prix, in this April, 3, 1977, file photo. The Grand Prix of Long Beach opens 17 months after the pandemic ended the crown jewel's streak as one of the longest continuously-running street events in racing. The city closed its downtown streets for the first time in 1975 to host a street race that became one of the most prestigious events in both motorsports but also for successful, annual festivals (AP Photo/File)

FILE - Formula One drivers Mario Andretti, left, and Clay Regazzoni of Switzerland lead the field through the streets of Long Beach, Calif., during the early laps of the Long Beach Grand Prix, in this April, 3, 1977, file photo. The Grand Prix of Long Beach opens 17 months after the pandemic ended the crown jewel's streak as one of the longest continuously-running street events in racing. The city closed its downtown streets for the first time in 1975 to host a street race that became one of the most prestigious events in both motorsports but also for successful, annual festivals (AP Photo/File)

Sep. 23, 2021 01:42 PM EDT
FILE - Italian driver Alex Zanardi rounds the eighth turn of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach, Calif., in this Sunday, April 13, 1997, file photo. A Wyland whale mural is on the wall of a building behind the grandstands. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)

FILE - Italian driver Alex Zanardi rounds the eighth turn of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach, Calif., in this Sunday, April 13, 1997, file photo. A Wyland whale mural is on the wall of a building behind the grandstands. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)

Sep. 23, 2021 01:47 PM EDT
FILE - Rock Star Ted Nugent celebrates in the winners circle with hosts Long Beach Grand Prix Princess Cynthia Pressimone, left, and Kara Karr after he won the Toyota Pro-Celebrity race on the Grand Prix circuit in Long Beach, Calif., in this March 26, 1983, file photo. The city closed its downtown streets for the first time in 1975 to host a street race that became one of the most prestigious events in both motorsports but also for successful, annual festivals. AP Photo/Lennox McLendon, File)

FILE - Rock Star Ted Nugent celebrates in the winners circle with hosts Long Beach Grand Prix Princess Cynthia Pressimone, left, and Kara Karr after he won the Toyota Pro-Celebrity race on the Grand Prix circuit in Long Beach, Calif., in this March 26, 1983, file photo. The city closed its downtown streets for the first time in 1975 to host a street race that became one of the most prestigious events in both motorsports but also for successful, annual festivals. AP Photo/Lennox McLendon, File)

Sep. 23, 2021 01:59 PM EDT
Colton Herta, center, celebrates his IndyCar victory at Laguna Seca with runner-up Alex Palou, left, and Romain Grosjean, Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, in Monterey, Calif. Palou stretched his lead in the championship standings to 35 points headed into next week's season finale. (AP Photo/Jenna Fryer)

Colton Herta, center, celebrates his IndyCar victory at Laguna Seca with runner-up Alex Palou, left, and Romain Grosjean, Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, in Monterey, Calif. Palou stretched his lead in the championship standings to 35 points headed into next week's season finale. (AP Photo/Jenna Fryer)

Sep. 19, 2021 06:54 PM EDT