The Grand Prix of Long Beach is an IndyCar race run every year in a temporary street circuit in downtown Long Beach, California. The racing event started in 1975 and grew in popularity due to its privileged location near the glamorous Hollywood area, serving as an alternative venue for the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix on several occasions. The Grand Prix of Long Beach's trajectory runs through the city's shoreline and port area on a 1.96-miles (3.15-km) circuit surrounded by entertainment, exposition centers, and all types of festival activities to create a memorable experience for everybody.
The front straightaway of the circuit is not a straight segment per se but a long-stretching sweeping turn going along the Shoreline Drive. A 90-degree turn one, Acura's Turn, takes drivers into a rectangle-shaped area covering turns two to 5. A short straight comes next, followed by another 90-degree turn north and a third one going into the back straightaway. This segment passes in front of the paddocks, the concert stage, and the arena park, scattered around the Seaside Way. A hard-to-maneuver sector consisting of turns nine, 10 and 11, closes the circuit going back into Shoreline Drive, completing a layout with an average speed of 80 mph (128 km/h).