INDYCAR: Long Beach notebook

Maybe it was the final celebrity race or the gorgeous weather or the fact the 100th Indianapolis 500 is a month away. Or maybe it's just because it's Long Beach. But attendance for the 42nd Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach was noticeably stronger all three days.

"Very good, one of the best Fridays I can ever remember and obviously a solid Saturday and Sunday looks fantastic," said Jim Michaelian, president and CEO of the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach (at left, with IndyCar's Mark Miles). "You know we don't give out official attendance numbers but you can say we were quite pleased."

An estimate of 180,000 for three days (made by Michaelian during Thursday's Walk of Fame ceremony) seemed more than reasonable and he was asked if he was worried that losing the Saturday staple with the Pro/Celebrity race could impact the future?

"It could hurt a little but the IMSA race is popular and we've got Robby Gordon's trucks and IndyCar practice and qualifying so we'll be OK," he replied. "I'm more concerned about next year's date – we're going to have to run a week earlier because of Easter."

Which could impact the amazing stat that it's NEVER rained on race day for 42 consecutive runnings. The inaugural Formula 5000 race in 1975 was held in September but the rest have been in the glorious spring weather of Southern California – usually the third weekend in April.

"There's a reason we like this time of the year," said Michaelian with a grin.

With Toyota moving its headquarters from Torrance, Calif. to Dallas, Texas and dropping its Pro/Celebrity show, there has been some question about the continuation of its title sponsorship in IndyCar's second biggest race besides the Indianapolis 500.

"We've got a multi-year contract with Toyota and it started this year," said Michaelian, who didn't offer any specifics other than it wasn't expiring in 2017.

LITTLE HERTAMANIA WINS

Colton Herta continued his impressive ways overseas on Sunday by winning the British Formula 3 race at Brands Hatch from the pole position.

As a substitute.

The 16-year-old-son of IndyCar owner and former racer Bryan is competing full-time in the Euro Formula F3 Open series but it doesn't start until next week in Portugal.

"He got a call Wednesday wanting to know if he'd like to sub for Lando Norris in British F3 and, naturally, he jumped at it," said Herta, who is campaigning American Alex Rossi this season in the Verizon IndyCar series. "I haven't talked to him yet but it's pretty cool to think about all the big names that have won in British F3 over the years. We have a tradition that after one of his race wins we have tacos so I got to King Tacos here at 10 a.m.

"I'm really proud of him. He's been living in London for two years without his mom and dad and he's obviously a serious little racer."

OKLAHOMA CITY UPDATE

The report that IndyCar is negotiating with Oklahoma City for a street race isn't exactly accurate.

"We want the mayor and city fathers to know everything about IndyCar, so we will be contacting them with that information but there's been no contact yet."

Mark Perrone, whose attempt to stage an IndyCar race in Providence a few years ago failed and who was originally involved with this year's inaugural IndyCar race in Boston, has reportedly asked to exclusively negotiate an IndyCar race in 2017 or 2018. But it doesn't sound like he's doing it with IndyCar's blessings.

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