IndyCar | Race | Long Beach GP | Kirkwood again converts pole to win in Long Beach - Motorsport

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Qualifying for the Long Beach GP saw an all-Andretti front row for today’s race. But with five laps added to the total length of the race, a whole new range of tactics became available. Find out what happened in the report and results below.

Early stops cause frantic opening

With Long Beach GP legends Mario Andretti and Al Unser Jr. giving the command, the field lined up for 90 laps around the Los Angeles suburb.

At the green flag it was Kyle Kirkwood who got the jump on Colton Herta and Felix Rosenqvist. Further back Scott Dixon was quickly passed by Josef Newgarden, with the former starting on the harder, primary tyre.

Newgarden’s progress didn’t last long as he quickly pitted for fresh primary tyres. He is quickly followed by Christian Rasmussen and Graham Rahal, as Pato O’Ward passes David Malukas.

In the backfield Calum Ilott passes Louis Foster, as multiple drivers hit pit road at the end of lap 5. At the exit Herta and Scott McLaughlin come out next to eachother, but by virtue of having the inside (and thus shorter) line Herta stays in front. McLaughlin quickly disposes of Herta, as both drivers are close to the earlier stopped Newgarden.

Next lap more drivers enter the pits, providing action in both the pits and on track, as the just pitted drivers need a few corners to warm their tyres.

At the end of lap 7 leader Kirkwood stops and has returned back in front of Álex Palou. This leaves Lundgaard, Dixon and Kyffin Simpson up front, as those drivers have started on the hard tyres.

Josef Newgarden ahead of the IndyCar Long Beach GP — Photo credit: Team Penske

Strategies unfold for hard tyre starters

Will Power feels combative, as he outbreaks Alexander Rossi into turn 1. O’Ward tries to profit into the fountain complex, but wisely backs out. Palou is told to try and get Kirkwood, as his pit stand feels he is quicker than the American.

Up front Lundgaard keeps a constant gap to Dixon, with Simpson, Sting Ray Robb and Santino Ferrucci following at an appropriate distance. The Dane however is not taking it easy, as he has a big moment out of turn 4.

Robert Shwartzman is the first of the drivers that started the Long Beach GP on the hard tyres to make their first stop. He drops back to 18th, right in front of Christian Rasmussen. The young Dane immediately passes the Prema driver, who also loses spots to Marcus Armstrong and Foster.

Robb and Ferrucci follow suit, with Lundgaard following a lap later. This means Dixon and Simpson take over the lead. The Arrow McLaren driver comes back on track behind Rosenqvist, but shodded with the green-walled softer tyre.

In lap 28 Dixon and Simpson stop, making that everyone has made their first stop. The six-time champion comes back on track behind Lundgaard and right in front of compatriot McLaughlin.

This of course means the order is restored with Kirkwood leading from Palou and Rosenqvist. It also means Newgarden is at the end of his stint, meaning he is the first one to stop for a second time, together with Rasmussen.

Kyffin Simpson during the IndyCar Long Beach GP — Photo credit: Chip Ganassi Racing

Robb to the top

Coming towards the second round of stops, Kirkwood is getting pressure from Palou. Rosenqvist is the first from the leading pack to stop, together with McLaughlin. Palou follows a lap later and the Catalan driver comes back in front of Nolan Siegel and Rosenqvist.

Kirkwood covers Palou yet another lap later, and comes out back in front of the championship leader.

The pitstop sequence means Lundgaard and Dixon are again leading the race on the alternate strategy. Not for long though, as Dixon stops a few laps later for his second stop. Unfortunately the crew makes a mistake, dropping Dixon in the claws of McLaughlin and Newgarden. Herta passes Dixon a few laps later, proving the pit mistake quite costly.

Lundgaard stops at the end of lap 39, switching back to the hard tyres. This gives the lead to Robb, who is followed by Shwartzman. Rosenqvist sees Lundgaard appearing right in front of him, but takes the place into turn 6.

Halfway through the race Robb leads the Long Beach GP from Shwartzman, followed by Kirkwoord, Palou and Rosenqvist. Then it’s Lundgaard from McLaughlin, Newgarden, Herta and Simpson.

Sting Ray Robb during the IndyCar Long Beach GP — Photo credit: Juncos Hollinger Racing

First lap led for Prema

After having overtaken Dixon Will Power’s next victim is Simpson. He passes the Chip Ganassi Driver at the end of Shoreline Drive. He has more difficulty lapping Foster, but eventually disposes of him at T1.

Leader Robb stops for a second time, switching to the green-walled alternat tyres. This hands the lead over to Shwartzman, marking the first lap led for the new Prema outfit. The Israeli driver stops the next time around, restoring the order at the front.

The final round of pit stops is opened by Graham Rahal, but with 32 laps to go, there might be some fuel saving needed from the RLL driver.

Pato O'Ward during the IndyCar Long Beach GP — Photo credit: Arrow McLaren

Kirkwood clinical to the flag

At the front Palou tries to increase the pressure on Kirkwood, as Newgarden makes his final stop. An issue in the cockpit seems to delay it ever so slightly, as a team member needs to reach over the aero screen to fix the issue. The Penske driver returns the next lap as the issue is not resolved, putting him lap down.

Palou is the first of the leaders to enter the pits, attempting to undercut Kirkwood. His stop is good, and with the Andretti driver catching some traffic this might be an attack on the lead.

Kirkwood stops the next lap, and he manages to stay ahead of Palou. But as the former needs to warms his tyres the pressure is on immediately. Kirkwood manages to stay ahead for the moment.

Simpson leads for the moment, but the Cayman native still needs to pit. That stop comes in lap 68, and that means that Kirkwood and Palou will slug it out at the front.

Newgarden has a close call as he ever so slightly touches the tyre barrier, but for the moment the race remains caution free.

Team mate Power overtakes Herta for sixth, making yet another great progress after the last outing at Thermal Club.

Up front Rosenqvist’s pace is tumbling down, and with five laps to go Lundgaard manages to pass him into turn 1. Behind them Power continues his run to the front as he passes team mate McLaughlin for fifth.

Kirkwood is not challenged though, and he crosses the line firs about five seconds before Palou. Lundgaard completes the podium from Rosenqvist and Power. McLaughlin comes home sixth, just ahead of Herta, Dixon, Robb and Simpson.