The original circuit used the section of Ocean Boulevard, between Pine and Linden, for the grid and start/finish line. The circuit has always been a clockwise loop around the Long Beach sports arena and convention hall, the latter acting as the paddock. Murray Walker, 1981 United States Grand Prix West, BBC Commentary
Included in the field were F1 names Chris Amon, Mario Andretti, Tony Brise, George Follmer, David Hobbs, Brett Lunger, Jackie Oliver, Tom Pryce, Brian Redman, Jody Scheckter, Vern Schuppan, Al and Bobby Unser, and Eppie Wietzes.ĭespite lacking the speed of Andretti and Al Unser, Redman won a race of attrition.Ĭircuit Layouts Previous Layouts 1976-1981 So the field was broken in two, with a pair of 12 lap heats held, and the top 14 finishers in each moving on to the final. 39 cars actually showed up, and to their dismay the officials discovered that the pit road was not long enough to accommodate all of them. The organizers offered double the usual prize fund for a typical race of the North American Formula 5000 series, and in response a huge entry of 44 cars was received. The 1975 Long Beach Grand Prix was a pure Formula 5000 race held on September 28. They were finally granted a date on the 1976 Formula One calendar, contingent on a successful dry run. The two of them nursed the project through many financial and bureaucratic hurdles.
He eventually met former driver and constructor Dan Gurney, who lived in the area and loved the idea. He felt that Long Beach would never come out of the shadow of nearby Los Angeles without a unique and world-famous event, and what could be a better event than a Formula One race that emulated the Monaco Grand Prix. In 1973, when the City of Long Beach was planning a billion-dollar redevelopment for the downtown core, British expatriate and travel agent Chris Pook had an idea.