With Bryan Herta in his corner providing guidance, Kyle Kirkwood earns his first IndyCar Series win in a dominant showing at the Grand Prix of Long Beach.
Kyle Kirkwood was a phenom on training wheels, perhaps the most successful driver ever along the Road to Indy — what amounts to the bush leagues of racing. Yet after a little more than one year in the IndyCar big leagues, his reputation had turned.
“To have my first win at Long Beach is incredible and Bryan did a fantastic job on strategy,” he said. “Besides [the Indianapolis 500], this is our most prestigious race. When I won, I was trying to hold tears back in the car. I’ve never felt that before.”The Grand Prix of Long Beach will be featured in a CW Network docuseries patterned after the hit ‘Formula 1: Drive to Survive’ that will premier April 27.
Grosjean, who finished second at Long Beach last year as well, didn’t try to pass Kirkwood, even though he’d conserved fuel and during the last few laps could have utilized push-to-pass — a button on the steering wheel that provides a driver with the ability to give his car a short burst of speed if he has sufficient fuel.
“Kyle is easy because despite his relative inexperience, he’s probably the most successful junior career of any American driver ever,” Herta said. “What I told him before the race was, ‘You’ve won so many races, you know how to win, and this is no different.’Patrick Long was all of one year old when Keke Rosberg won the Monaco Grand Prix in 1983 driving the Williams FW08C Formula One car.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Kyle Kirkwood captures first IndyCar win after first pole in Acura Grand Prix of Long BeachAfter giving up his lead from pole mid-race to Josef Newgarden, Kyle Kirkwood rode a strong final pit stop to his first-career IndyCar win on Sunday.
Read more »
Kyle Kirkwood Grabs First IndyCar Win at Long BeachKyle Kirkwood grabs first IndyCar win at Long Beach.
Read more »
Photos: Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach 2023, the 200-mph beach party has startedFriday’s practice laps make for a thrilling day 1
Read more »
Stream the Grand Prix of Long Beach Preview NowA festival atmosphere with a playlist featuring the engine notes of INDYCAR, sports cars and more is coming to Long Beach this weekend.
Read more »
Kings of Chaos rock the Acura Grand Prix of Long BeachAll-star band gives “Sublime” performance to close out Day 2 of the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach on Saturday night, April 15.
Read more »
Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach features race cars of the past and the futureIt's not just about the past at this year's Acura GrandPrix of Long Beach, the future is out competing on the track too. For the first time, every GTP class car has hybrid power this year.
Read more »