Long Beach highlight
Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach
A street race that began in 1975 as a Formula 5000 race and switched to Formula One in 1976, now organized by Penske Entertainment and held annually.
The Grand Prix of Long Beach began in 1975 as a Formula 5000 race and switched to Formula One racing in 1976. It was one of only a handful of Formula One circuits to remain unchanged during the turbocharged era of the 1980s and beyond. The race runs through the streets of downtown Long Beach on a 1.968-mile circuit, making it the longest-running major street race in North America and one of the most challenging courses in motorsport.
Penske Entertainment, which acquired the event in November 2024, now organizes the Grand Prix as part of the IndyCar and IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship schedules. The three-day race weekend draws international competitors, passionate fans, and a carnival atmosphere with concerts, family activities, and vendor areas throughout downtown Long Beach. The economic impact of race weekend is substantial, generating nearly $100 million for the region annually and creating temporary employment for thousands of workers.
For Long Beach residents, the Grand Prix is a marker of the year—a weekend when the city's character changes, when neighbors gather for the spectacle, and when families make plans around the event. Life insurance works similarly as a marker and anchor point: a decision made in clear circumstances that stays in place, protecting the people who depend on you, until those circumstances change enough to warrant a review and comparison of new options.