Grand Prix of Long Beach: Kyle Kirkwood repeats feat with anniversary win

LONG BEACH — It once again was Kyle Kirkwood’s day at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.

Two years after he won both pole position and the race here in 2023, he turned that trick again Sunday with a fine performance in the race’s 50th running on the streets of Long Beach.

The pole-sitter beat second-place Alex Palou by 2.6 seconds and third-place finisher Christian Lundgaard by a whopping 18.7 seconds.

Palou, of Chip Ganassi Racing, was trying to become the first driver to win the first three races in an NTT IndyCar season since teammate Scott Dixon did it at the outset of 2020.

Dixon, the defending champion of this race, finished eighth Sunday.

This was Kirkwood’s third IndyCar victory, all of them coming on street courses; he won in Nashville in 2023. Before heading to the winner’s circle, Kirkwood, who drives for Andretti Global, expressed his delight in a trackside interview.

“What a great day,” said Kirkwood, 26, of Jupiter, Florida. “We controlled the race even from practice, right? We felt like we were in control really through qualifying. Amazing race, amazing strategy. It was just execution all across the board, is what won us that race here today because if Palou was in front, he would have beat us for sure.

“This was a track position race here today without any yellows.”

For the first time since 2016, there were no caution flags at this race.

Kirkwood, who now has 108 series championship points and moved into second place behind Palou’s 142, couldn’t say enough about the significance of winning this iconic race on its 50th anniversary.

“It’s massive, right? said Kirkwood, who led 46 of the 90 laps. “This is a historic race and, you know, I don’t think it’s set in yet for me. But I feel how special it is coming into this, to win the 50th anniversary is huge.

“And to be a multiple-time winner here is absolutely massive, right? It’s turning into a shorter list for me that I put my name on and I’m proud to do it. I’m proud to do it in an Andretti car. Andretti’s got huge history here and to add to that history is big for me, big for the team and everyone involved.”

It was an impressive victory, to be sure. Kirkwood led Palou by 2.5 seconds after 74 laps. Even with the talented Palou – who already has three series titles in his first five seasons – behind him, Kirkwood kept increasing the lead. On Lap 87, it grew to 4.5 seconds.

“It’s a special one, to go out and dominate like this,” Kirkwood said. “It might have made it a little bit boring to most of the media, the announcers, etc. But … this is exactly what, as drivers, we want to see happen.”

Palou, who started third, didn’t sound like he was too bummed out about not winning the first three races of the season. He won the season-opener at St. Petersburg and then won in Thermal, which was an exhibition race in 2024 but became full points race this year.

“Obviously, it’s disappointing because you know you cannot do it again this year,” said Palou, 28, of Spain. “In another way, it’s amazing to be the only person that had that chance. Honestly, I’m super happy to be here (on the podium).”

He praised Kirkwood.

“Kyle, he did an awesome job throughout the weekend, in qualifying and the race he was managing,” Palou said. “And every time I was having a small chance, he just had a little bit more pace.”

Lundgaard, of Arrow McLaren, started 12th. He made a late pass on Felix Rosenqvist, who finished fourth, to make it to the podium. He used his push to pass – which gives drivers an extra blast of 50 horsepower – to help get that done.

He was thrilled with the work of his team, especially since it had to do quite a bit of work to his car that got beat up during qualifying Saturday.

“For everybody to rebuild the car, put it out on the track this morning. She ran effortless today, so I’m extremely happy for everybody,” Lundgaard said.

Lundgaard, just 23, is now in third place in points with 96.

Team Penske’s Will Power, a two-time winner here, finished fifth after starting 13th. Scott McLaughlin (Penske) was sixth, Santa Clarita’s Colton Herta (Andretti) was seventh, then Dixon, Sting Ray Robb (Juncos Hollinger Racing) was ninth and Kyfffin Simpson (Ganassi) took 10th.

Mario Andretti and Al Unser Jr. were on hand. Andretti won this face four times. Unser is the most successful driver here, with six victories.