Honda continues IndyCar sweep with home race win in Long Beach

Three IndyCar Series races down and three trips to victory lane by Honda Corporation US, with the latest coming at the auto manufacturer’s home event which is sponsored by its luxury and performance brand Acura.

A perfect start to the season, coupled with Kyle Kirkwood’s unparalleled performance to capture the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach in the No. 27 Honda, made for a fairytale weekend.

“I just want to give a hats off to them,” Kirkwood told RACER. “Honda has done a phenomenal job over the off-season to adjust for the changes that needed to be done. We came out swinging this entire season thus far. I think that's going to continue to be the case. We had a very honest conversation. It was the first time I ever sat down with a manufacturer and spoke with them in detail about everything that happens with the power unit.

"They really listened to us. They're a huge part of our organization, right? They come in. They bring their engineers in. They know everything about us, and we know everything about them. It's very transparent. Really cool to see. This is a huge weekend for them to win at the 50th Grand Prix of Long Beach presented by Acura, right? To win it in a Honda-powered car is so special.”

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A unified relationship between the brand and its drivers was on display days prior to the race in nearby Torrance where Honda’s North American base is located. Just north, HRC makes its IndyCar engines in Santa Clarita.

It’s become a tradition for all Honda-powered IndyCar drivers and Acura-powered IMSA drivers to visit either HRC or Honda and take part in a day dedicated to its employees where the drivers have lunch with the group and sign autographs for the employees.

“We came out here at the beginning of the week,” Kirkwood continued. “We actually went to their main facility in Torrance and toured it, got to meet all the employees, the associates, and spent a lot of time with them. They're all wonderful people.

“To do it at home, I know there's a ton of Honda people here. To do it in front of them where they can see where their efforts go is absolutely massive for the morale of Honda and the longevity of them, as well. Very thankful for the product that they've given us. It's because of them that we're able to come out here and get these wins.”