Champ Car will have its largest ever field of cars in several years, with 20 drivers entered. Sixteen of those were on hand for Wednesday's media lunch and a 'class' photo was taken. Some of the drivers here this weekend won't be running the full IRL series, but that could change.
Three of those missing from the lunch had notes from home, including one who taken his first ever IndyCar victory the previous weekend at St Petersburg - in his maiden voyage in IRL waters. Graham Rahal was off shooting his guest appearance for Wednesday's late night
David Letterman Show. Letterman, of course, co-owns an IRL team with Graham's father, Bobby - who, incidentally, will be this year's grand marshal at Long Beach.
The other three drivers 'missing in action' are among perhaps the most veteran of those here this weekend. Mario Dominguez and Paul Tracy flew in Wednesday night, the Canadian's Forsythe Pettit team not exactly sure if PT will race or not. "It's up to him," I was told. Jimmy Vasser, meanwhile, is coming out of an open-wheel 'retirement' to race one last time at Long Beach with the KV Technology team he co-owns with Kevin Kalkhoven.
And, as if the 20-car large field wasn't enough excitement, the two-hour race will have a standing start. That should make the race even more exciting. In the past, all the cars going into turn one was a heart-stopping experience. The two-hour race is Sunday afternoon.
Friday PM - 'Hinch' to set pace
Canada's James Hinchcliffe has been given the honour of driving the pace car for the Champ Car World Series finale this weekend.
The 21-year old Toronto resident, who will also compete in the opening round of the Atlantic Championship in Long Beach, is relishing his surprise duty behind the wheel of Champ Car's Mazda RX8.
