IndyCar will stay in Long Beach

The intrigue surrounding the Long Beach Grand Prix is ​​therefore coming to an end. Following the death of Kevin Kalkhoven, co-owner of the event, in 2022, his heirs decided to put his shares up for sale. There NASCAR had initially positioned itself, having the desire to return to Southern California, after the demolition of the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, and the probable end of the Clash at the Los Angeles Coliseum.

Feeling the tide turn, the owners of theIndyCar had also tried to buy back Kalkhoven's shares, in order to guarantee a future for their second flagship event, behind the Indy 500. It is now certain that neither will become co-owners of the Long Beach GP . Gerry Forsythe, owner of the other 50 percent, will also buy Kevin Kalkhoven's shares.

“The heirs [of Kalkhoven] agreed to sell me his 50%”, Forsythe told Racer.com. “If anyone has their sights set on Long Beach, tell them to look elsewhere. It's an IndyCar race, and it will remain so in the future. »

Forsythe also explained that he did not want to sell his own stake in the race. This could have acted as a deterrent for certain volunteers, who would therefore not have been able to become majority shareholders in the race, and thus have strong decision-making power.

“Pour eliminate toute for another option, j'ai dit clearly à all ceux à , here Pierre [Widmon, Kalkhoven's right-hand man and in charge of his inheritance] a spoken which je n'was to interested by la Selling . So who is going to buy 50%, so as not to be able to control anything? And I think that might be why some people opted out. »

A first buyout 21 years ago

In 2003, Gerry Forsythe and Kevin Kalkhoven were part of a group called the Open Wheel Racing Series (OWRS), which purchased the CART championship, becoming Champ Car. This group also bought the rights to the Long Beach race, which Forsythe and Kalkhoven retained after the disappearance of Champ Car at the end of 2007.

Former team boss, notably winner of the 2003 title with Paul Tracy, Forsythe did not join IndyCar in 2008 but remained a faithful supporter of the championship, and he intends to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Long Beach Grand Prix in a big way. pumps, in 2025!