The Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach is still more than a week away, but Media Day was in full swing on Tuesday with a number of attractions for fans and media in attendance.
That being said, it’s easier to get all the pre-advance work done before cars from six different series hit the track starting on Friday, April 7. The Long Beach IndyCar race airs on April 9 at 4 p.m. ET on NBCSN.
@JonathanNBCLA got the first interview of the day with @josefnewgarden, with a nice 🌅 in the back. #VisitLB #TGPLB #GoodHairDay pic.twitter.com/EHwCdHzLsJ
— Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach (@GPLongBeach) March 28, 2017
The day began with Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden fielding interviews with the local L.A. affiliates for NBC, Fox, and ABC before being a attending a midday luncheon. He also did various interviews with other outlets.
There were also a number of opportunities for rides around the 1.968-mile street circuit. IndyCar drivers Zach Veach and Gabby Chaves were in charge of the Verizon IndyCar Series two-seater while Scott Pruett manned driving duties in a two-seat version of his Lexus RC F GT3. Rocky Moran Sr. and Jr. also held demo rides of their own around the circuit in a Camry; James Sofronas took folks for rides in a GMG Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R.
@ZachVeach and @GabbyChaves giving their best 'Holy Smokes' face after several hours of making people scream. #TwoSeater @IndyCar #TGPLB pic.twitter.com/daoG1cKi0q
— Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach (@GPLongBeach) March 28, 2017
It's been a fun day in SoCal promoting the #BUBBAGP! pic.twitter.com/3AycyGxHtC
— #IMSA (@IMSA) March 28, 2017
Ride shotgun with us around @ToyotaGPLB in the #LexusRCF GT concept car. We can't wait for the @IMSA #GTD class debut at the beach April 8. pic.twitter.com/wu8AdLTi7b
— Lexus Racing USA (@lexusracingusa) March 29, 2017
Former #jbfactorydrivers @RockyMoransr @RockyMoranjr giving demo rides @ToyotaGPLB Media Day. (Rocky,Jr. pictured) #TGPLB pic.twitter.com/IVz7Fu8Eoa
— Justice Brothers (@JusticeBrosInc) March 28, 2017
Formula Drift was on hand as well, though their days were spent preparing for the event. Several cars made practice runs along Seaside Way and through turns 9, 10, and 11 of the circuit.
Drifting practice from Shoreline/Ocean, Long Beach GP@ToyotaGPLB #SealBeachPier#CoffeeCoffeeCoffee@BeachwoodBBQ @TomHall #MyDayInLA pic.twitter.com/PDaZZqB2iE
— Bogart's Coffee☕️ (@bogartscoffee) March 28, 2017
The Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach is slated for April 7-9, with first practice for the Verizon IndyCar Series rolling off at 1:00 p.m. local time on Friday April 7.