Press Snoop: Long Beach GP - 1.

...the latest news from around the world, courtesy of press snoop Lynne Huntting.

- LBGP BY THE NUMBERS;
- KALKHOVEN SAYS "WE'RE STILL TALKING";
- NEWMAN BEATS LENO IN GRUDGE MATCH;

The City of Long Beach is hosting the 32nd Annual Grand Prix this weekend and this week's rain stopped Wednesday just prior to the Media Lunch, and hasn't been seen since. The weather forecast is dry and at least some sunny weather. No rain. Maybe San Francisco should hold a street race and see if the rain will stop, at least for the weekend. The only race in the City by the Bay right now is to build the first ark.

This weekend is the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Prix, the longest consecutively run American street race. There are six races: Bridgestone Presents the Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford, Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race, Imperial Capital Bank Atlantic Championship Race, Long Beach Drifting Challenge, Crown Royal Daytona Prototype Challenge, and SCCA SPEED GT Championship Race.

LBGP Numerology

32 - number of years the race has run consecutively.
31 - the field for SCCA SPEED World Challenge
30 - number of years for the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race
29 - the field for the Champ Car Atlantic Series, the largest field in seven years
26 - number of years LBGP has been sponsored by Toyota
26 - the field for the Rolex Series
21 - the largest ever field for the Pro/Celebrity race
18 - the field for Champ Car
5 - number of years Toyota just extended the title sponsorship
5 - number of different course configurations
1.968 - length in miles of this year's course
0 - number of previous LBGP races with driver changes

At the annual LBGP media lunch, Champ Car Co-Owner, KEVIN KALKHOVEN kept his promise to make the shortest speech all weekend. "Yes, we're still talking. Thank you." There was no need for anyone to make explanatory references. Everyone knew that he meant Champ Car was still in discussions with Indy Racing League about reunification of the two rival open wheel series.

This year Turn One has had its runoff area increased, but overall the course configuration remains at 1.968-miles, a configuration in place since 2000. One new addition in that runoff area is a short but well-placed private bridge - installed by the Grand Prix of Long Beach Association, right in front of what is known as the Roller Coaster bridge. Last year the Roller Coaster bridge was abruptly put off limits to by its owners, displacing photographers. This year to ensure good photo access for what is the 'signature' shot of the race, there is now a bridge accessible only by photographers with the correct credential.

Right after the left turn from the long Shoreline Drive straight the drivers will see a nice water fountain with landscaping at its base. There are stacks of tyres in front of part of the fountain, and orange pylons bolted in front of the hedges, but the rest of 'The Garden' is exposed. There's a pool in place to see which car or cars are the first to plow it up. When asked about protecting it, Grand Prix Association President JIM MICHAELIAN said, "We'll send them the bill."

Although he is well known for eschewing publicity and public appearances, actor PAUL NEWMAN went on the Tonight Show with JAY LENO Thursday night, and among other things promoted the LBGP. He also soundly defeated Leno in the Second Annual Grudge Match - two laps in go karts around the TV studio. The race was officially started by racer/TV Motorsports commentator, DEREK DALY, who waved the Green Flag, and also did the play by play commentary.

This year's Toyota Pro/Celebrity race car is the Scion. Among the Celebrity drivers in the Pro/Celebrity race are PATRICK DEMPSEY, Dr McDreamy on TV's Gray's Anatomy; Hall of Fame quarterback and this years LBGP Grand Marshal, JOHN ELWAY; WILLIAM FITCHNER, Sheriff Tom Underlay on TV's Invasion; SHANNON MILLER, winner of seven Olympic Gold Medals for gymnastics; last year's Celebrity winner, FRANKIE MUNIZ, TV's Malcolm In The Middle; tennis ace MARTINA NAVRATILOVA; ANTONIO SABATO Jr-who may be known to the younger generation as Dante on TV's Bold and the Beautiful, but is known to me as the son of ANTONIO SABATO, who played Italian F1 driver, Nino Barlini, in my favourite race movie, GRAND PRIX (which may soon come out on DVD after worldwide requests via Internet petitions); and WILLIAM SHATNER, Captain Kirk and most recently attorney Denny Crane on TV's Boston Legal.

The Pro Drivers all race Toyota trucks: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series racers, TODD BODINE and DAVID REUTIMANN; and CORR (Championship Off Road Racing) racers, JOHNNY GREAVES and JEFF KINCAID.

One of the LBGP founders, DAN GURNEY, and 1961 F1 World Champion, PHIL HILL, were Thursday the first members to be inducted into the Long Beach Motorsports Hall of Fame, located on South Pine Avenue in front of the Long Beach Convention Centre.