Long Beach expecting attendance increase
The April 8-10 race is expected to draw 175,000 spectators, a healthy spike from last year when Championship Auto Racing Teams, or CART, went bankrupt. Some fans unsure of CART's status stayed away. Light rain and generally gray weather on race weekend didn't help attendance, either. Champ Car World Series, a new organization, stepped in last year to rescue the race from CART and will put it on again, April 8-10.
"Realistically, I don't think anyone could have predicted we'd be celebrating our 31st anniversary this year," said Jim Michaelian, president and CEO of the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach. "But when you look at the contributions of literally thousands of people, from the staff to city personnel, the assistance of sponsors and promotional partners and the support of the fans, that has been the driving factor.
"They've not only kept the event viable, but increased its popularity as the years have gone by." Construction is well under way on the 1.97-mile, 11-turn street circuit, with the last of the 14 million tons of concrete race barrier blocks, 16,000 cushion tires, seven pedestrian bridges and 19 spectator grandstands going into place. Soon to come will be eight giant television boards around the track. More at Long Beach Telegram