IndyCar at Long Beach preview: How to watch, start times, TV, schedules, streaming

IndyCar Long Beach start times: It’s been barely six months since the last Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, but IndyCar drivers hardly can wait to return to the Southern California street race this weekend.

After crowning Alex Palou as champion in the 2021 finale last September, Long Beach’s marquee event will return to its traditional springtime date for the first time in three years — reclaiming its mantle as a premier early season stop on the schedule.

“Long Beach is a huge race weekend for us,” said Graham Rahal, whose wife, Courtney, is from nearby Orange County. “Outside of the Indy 500, it’s likely the second largest race of the entire season. Lot of history, always a beautiful place to race, and IndyCar racing and the Long Beach Grand Prix is a huge part of the fabric of Southern California and particularly that city to get it back on track.

“We’re excited to go. It’s become a second home race for me with my wife being from 20 minutes down the road. Lot of family, lot of friends (will attend).”

It’s special as well for Jimmie Johnson, who attended the race often as a kid and had key meetings that helped launch his racing career.

“I’m so excited to get back,” said the El Cajon, California, native, who had an entourage of 80 on hand to watch his 17th in last year’s race. “I had a great experience in the fall, a great run and one of my more competitive races. Hopeful that my progression allows me to qualify higher and run higher in the the race.”

Colton Herta, another Southern California native (from Valencia), is the defending winner at Long Beach, will play host to its 38th IndyCar race.

“It’s always the race that I look forward to the most outside of running the Indy 500,” Herta said. “Long Beach is the race I