Venue: Long Beach Street Circuit (Streets of Long Beach), Long Beach, California
Green Flag is scheduled for Warm-up ~1:00 PM ET; Pre-race ~5:30 PM ET; Green flag 5:57 PM ET (90 laps / 177.12 miles)
Broadcast: FOX (TV), IndyCar Radio / SiriusXM, TSN (Canada), international options available
The iconic 51st running of the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach brings the NTT IndyCar Series to one of its most historic and fan-favorite venues. This tight, technical temporary street circuit delivers wheel-to-wheel action, dramatic overtakes, and high-stakes strategy in a scenic waterfront setting. After four races in 2026, the championship is razor-tight, with street-course specialists poised to shine.
Track Specifications
Length: 1.968 miles (3.167 km) temporary street circuit
Type: Clockwise temporary street course winding through downtown Long Beach streets and along the waterfront
Turns: 11 challenging corners (mix of tight hairpins, medium-speed sweepers, and technical complexes)
Key Sections:
Frontstretch/start-finish along Shoreline Drive (longest straight, top speeds reached here)
Turn 1 (prime overtaking spot into a sharp right-hander)
Iconic hairpin before the frontstretch (critical for momentum and passing)
No traditional “backstretch”—the layout features a series of connected straights and corners encircling the Long Beach Convention Center, with scenic views of the harbor and Queen Mary.
Surface/Notes: Smooth concrete and asphalt mix with walls very close to the racing line. Rewards precise car setup, braking, and tire management. Lap record: 1:05.309 (Colton Herta, 2022). Wide enough for side-by-side battles but extremely unforgiving of mistakes.
Weather Conditions
Ideal dry racing conditions with sunny to partly cloudy skies.
Race window (afternoon/evening): Highs around 73°F (low 70s), lows in the upper 50s°F by sunset. Winds light (W/NW 5-10 mph), humidity moderate, 0-38% chance of precipitation (none expected).
Clear visibility, good grip, and consistent track temperatures—perfect for full green-flag runs or strategic pit stops. No weather delays anticipated.
Current Standings & Recent Driver Forms
After four races (through Barber Motorsports Park):
Kyle Kirkwood (#27, Andretti Global) – 156 points (1st), 1 win – consistent and fast on streets.
Álex Palou (#10, Chip Ganassi Racing) – 154 points (2nd), 2 wins – reigning champion, ultra-consistent.
Christian Lundgaard (#7, Arrow McLaren) – 121 points (3rd) – breakout speed this season.
David Malukas (#12, Team Penske) – 116 points
Josef Newgarden (#2, Team Penske) – 113 points (1 win)
Others in mix: Pato O’Ward (106 pts), Scott McLaughlin, Marcus Ericsson, Scott Dixon.
Recent Form Highlights: Kirkwood and Palou have dominated early 2026, with multiple podiums. Lundgaard and Malukas show strong street potential. Penske cars (Newgarden/McLaughlin) are always threats on temporary circuits. The field is deep—six different teams in the top six at Barber.
Key Driver Matchups & Contenders
Álex Palou vs. Kyle Kirkwood: The two favorites (+250 to +350 range). Palou’s consistency and Ganassi setup shine on streets; Kirkwood is the recent Long Beach king (wins in 2023 and 2025) and Andretti’s street-course ace.
Josef Newgarden / Scott McLaughlin (Penske) vs. the field: Newgarden is a proven street fighter; McLaughlin has shown recent flashes. Penske’s qualifying speed will be key.
Christian Lundgaard / Pato O’Ward (Arrow McLaren): Lundgaard’s early-season form makes him a live underdog; O’Ward brings raw talent and podium pace.
Sleepers/Underdogs: Scott Dixon (Ganassi veteran with Long Beach wins), Marcus Ericsson (strong recent streets), Colton Herta (local knowledge), and David Malukas. Rookies or mid-pack drivers could steal points in the chaos.
Expect tight qualifying and strategy battles—pit stops, tire wear, and the hairpin will decide the race.
Race History
Long Beach is IndyCar’s longest-running street race with 50+ years of tradition. Recent winners:
2025: Kyle Kirkwood (Andretti Global, Honda)
2024: Scott Dixon (Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda)
2023: Kyle Kirkwood
2022: Josef Newgarden (Penske, Chevrolet)
American drivers have won the last several editions. High lead changes, dramatic passes at Turn 1 and the hairpin, and frequent cautions make it one of the most exciting races on the calendar. Honda-powered cars have been dominant lately.
Betting Trends
Favorites (Palou/Kirkwood) have performed well on recent streets.
Value in top-5/top-10 props for consistent runners (Kirkwood, Palou, Lundgaard).
Overs on lead changes and cautions common due to the tight layout.
Historical edge to Honda cars and street specialists; Penske strong in qualifying.
DRIVER ODDS
Alex Palou + 150
Kyle Kirkwood + 165
Christian Lundgaard + 750
Scott McLaughlin + 1000
Josef Newgarden + 1200
Pato O’Ward + 1400
Will Power + 1600
Scott Dixon + 1800
David Malukas + 2000
Marcus Ericsson + 2500
Felix Rosenqvist + 3000
Marcus Armstrong + 4000
Romain Grosjean + 6000
Alexander Rossi + 6000
Graham Rahal + 7000
Rinus Veekay + 8000
Santino Ferrucci + 10000
Louis Foster + 10000
Dennis Hauger + 10000
Christian Rasmussen + 10000
Nolan Siegel + 15000
Mick Schumacher + 15000
Kyffin Simpson + 15000
Sting Ray Robb + 50000
Caio Collet + 50000
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Saturday, April 18, 2026
