The start/finish line for the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach has a new look this year.
And it’s a bit spooky — but in a good way.
Each year, Grand Prix workers paint a small, rectangular portion of Shoreline drive in a checkered pattern to denote the starting and finishing line for the various races that compete on Long Beach streets each April. This year’s event will take place from Friday to Sunday, April 14-16.
For the last several years, that paint job has featured a white background with the words “Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach” written on two lines on either side of a checkered middle area. The checker pattern has been white and orange.
But not this year.
Jim Michaelian, the president and CEO of the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach, said he wanted to change things up this year.
For starters, the background is now black. That change was made to align with title sponsore Acura, which has incorporated more black into its various designs, Michaelian said in a Tuesday evening, April 11, interview.
The words “Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach” still adorn either side of the checker pattern. But the last three words are smaller now — making “Acura Grand Prix” far more prominent.
And the orange-and-black checker pattern makes the design more vibrant, Michelian said.
“I was tired of the same start/finish line we’ve had for the last four years,” Michaelian said. “I think it makes it pop more.”
It remains to be seen, however, whether the darker hue will make life easier for those tasked with touching up the paint job after each day’s races.
“They will still be out there on Friday and Saturday nights,” Michaelian said. “They have to touch it up before Saturday, too, because that’s when IMSA races.”
The IMSA SportsCar Grand Prix, a 100-minute race, is the headliner on the eve of the weekend’s marquee event — Sunday’s titular Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.
Both those races, as well as five others, will all…
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