THE STREETS OF LONG BEACH, CA

Sunday, April 15, 2012 on NBC

Preview: IndyCar drivers ready to show the fans a good time in Long Beach

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com

IndyCar, American LeMans Series and Formula Drift drivers talking to the news media on Thursday in Long Beach, Calif.

by Jason Rzucidlo americajr@americajr.com

WATCH: Exclusive interviews with three IndyCar drivers and a Formula Drift Driver WATCH: Exclusive interviews with two IndyCar drivers and two LeMans Series drivers

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LONG BEACH, Calif. – There are many races going on this weekend on the Streets of Long Beach. It begins with the Team Drifting Challenge, the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race, The Tequila Patron American Le Mans Series Race, the Firestone Indy Lights Race and the Pirelli World Challenge Race. It all leads up to the 85-lap Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach on Sunday afternoon. Drivers say they're ready and they hope the fans are too. The big race will be broadcast LIVE on NBC at 12:30 p.m. PT/3:30 p.m. ET.

"I'm really looking to improve on the results we've had this year," said Ed Carpenter, driver of the No. 20 Chevrolet IndyCar. "The first street race in St. Pete we had a pretty good run going, just outside the top ten. We got spun out and that kind of killed our race. I really just want to get on track and get a good result and build some points. I think there's a lot of newness in our series right now. This is a new car we're racing this year and a new engine. There's a lot of drama from that just because there's still some issues here and there. All in all I think this new car is going to produce some better racing than what the old car did."

Comedian Adam Carolla won the Toyota Pro/Celebrity race early on Saturday morning. He passed polesitter Kim Coates early on and never let up in the 10-lap race for charity.

"If we have a really good race here, we can finish in the top ten," said Simona de Silvestro, driver of the No. 78 Lotus IndyCar. "That's really what we're aiming for. I think it's achieveable. I think it's going to be a really good race. I think in St. Pete and Barber there was a lot of passing, a really exciting race from the beginning to the finish. I think Long Beach is special, the weather is supposed to be nice. Long Beach is such a great track. It has been running for so many years. Everybody knows about this place so it's really cool to be racing here."

It was announced on Friday that Racing legends Derek Bell, Neil Bonnett, Pop Dreyer, Vic Edelbrock, Sr., Ricky Johnson, Ed Pink and Danny Sullivan will all be inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America. The ceremony will take place on Wednesday, August 29, 2012 at the Fillmore Theater in Detroit.

"I won the Formula Drift opener for the second year in a row and I drive the Falken Tire Ford Mustang," said Justin Pawlak, the 32-year-old driver from Kalamazoo, Mich. "I'm not racing this weekend. I'm just kind of here meeting and greeting. We actually have a team drift demonstration that we've competed in years past, but I'm not going to be competing with my team this year. My favorite part of racing in southern California is definitely the weather. It's usually always sunny and always good weather to go out and wrap around."

Open-wheel racing has a long history in Long Beach as it dates back to 1975. It began as a Formula 5000 race then became a Formula One event the next year. From 1984 to 2008, it was a CART IndyCar/Champ Car event. After the Indy Racing League and Champ Car merged, it became an Izod IndyCar race in 2009.

"First, I think we need to finish the race," said Takuma Sato, driver of the No. 15 Honda IndyCar. "Unfortunately, we had a mechanical failure in the last two races. I think we have a good potential here. Firstly, finish the race and aiming for the top 10 for sure. It's massive. The fans know about here. It's got a history and atmosphere and beautiful, fantastic track. We expect the fans to turn up very exciting. We will make sure we will have a very exciting race on Sunday. This Long Beach has a long main straight with heavy braking, which gives the drivers some opportunity for overtaking. Yeah, you can enjoy the race."

Mike Conway won last year's Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. He is returning to defend his title in his No. 14 Honda.

"It feels nice," Conway said in an exclusive interview. "Coming back to the track was quite a different feeling. It's good. No real added extra pressure really. I just want to have a good weekend and work as hard as we have been the last few races. Each weekend just getting further and further up the grid. As always, you've got to be fast, keep out of trouble and kind of let the race come to you. Last year, we kind of went from the front of the grid all the way to the back and managed to find out way to the front again. As long as you've got a good car and your fast, you can definitely pass around here, but it's not easy."

J.R. Hildebrand won the 2009 Firestone Indy Lights race in Long Beach. He is also returning to defend his title in his No. 4 Chevrolet.

"Our biggest priority is on qualifying," Hildebrand said in an exclusive interview. "We were able to accomplish that last weekend for the first time in a long time for qualifying in the top five. For us, our biggest priority in the off season was improving our road and street course package. We feel like we're well on our way of doing that. We want to continue that momentum as we go forward this weekend. The race here in Long Beach is always an awesome event. It's kind of the party atmosphere. There's a lot of different things going on and a lot of racing. It's always an incredible event to come out to."

Patrick Long won the 2010 American Le Mans Series race for the GT class in Long Beach. He is also back to defend his title in his No. 45 Porsche.

"The goal is always to win," Long said in an exclusive interview. "Some weekends are easier than others. I think we have a fighting chance in GT in the American Le Mans Series. I've got lots of friends and family out and I always want to put out a good show. Scenery on and off the track, I think it's most urban flair. Not only racing, but a great street fair. Food, music and the whole nine yards. That's why I used to love coming to Long Beach as a kid. It was so much more than just race cars going around the track. It's a cool backdrop to have some of the best cars and teams out there in IndyCar."

The Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach is the single largest event in the city. Attendance is expected to exceed 200,000 people over the course of the weekend.

"We're looking to have a great race and finish on the podium," said Guy Cosmo, driver of the No. 2 Ferrari Le Mans series car. "My teammate is Ed Brown, who is the president and CEO of Patrón Tequila. He's not what you call a professional race car driver, but he's been racing for six years now. Obviously, we're shooting for a win, but we'd be thrilled if we could finish in the top five. We ran really strong last year. We had a great finish before some trouble with some other guys on track. The fans are very enthusiastic people. Everybody seems to be thrilled about the street race. It's really a fixture of the area."

The IZOD IndyCar series will wrap up its 2012 season with a race on Sept. 15 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif.

"I've never been there either," Conway added. "From reports, it sounds like it's going to be a lot of run. It's really wide so I think you see a lot of close racing. Yeah, it should be fun. The oval is always pretty close."

Many drivers said they are looking forward to coming back to southern California for the race, which will also be televised on NBC.

"We raced in Fontana in 2004 and 2005," Carpenter added. "I've been there. We're definitely getting our dose of California this year with Long Beach, Sonoma and Fontana."

The Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach will be broadcast LIVE on NBC Sunday at 12:30 p.m. PT/3:30 p.m. ET.

• To order tickets for the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, call (888) 82-SPEED (77333) or visit www.gplb.com/ticket_prices.html.
• To order tickets for the IZOD IndyCar Series at Auto Club Speedway, call (800) 944-RACE (7223) or visit www.autoclubspeedway.com/Tickets-Events/Event-Calendar.aspx.

Related Story: IndyCar drivers excited to return to Detroit and Fontana, Calif.

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com

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