LONG BEACH, CA. - I attended the 2012 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, and it was a great race weekend! After a pouring downpour the Friday before the weekend, the skies cleared up and it was a warm and clear weekend, perfect for the 1.9 mile street race that this year celebrated its 38th year.

On Saturday, we enjoyed the Tecate American Le Mans Series, and visited Level 5 Motorsports - by far the best set up in the paddock. On Sunday, we watched the IndyCar Series from start to finish, and it was excellent racing from the first green flag to the checkered-flag. This was my first Long Beach Grand Prix, and I was especially impressed with the scale of the entire event - huge, including a complete Expo area, entertainment, and Family Fun Zone. We'll be back next year for sure!

Winners of the 2012 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach take a parade lap in the Toyota Tundra Pacetruck. The podium finishers are Will Power, Dallara-Chevrolet (winner), Simon Pagenaud, Dallara-Honda (2nd), and James Hinchcliffe, Dallara-Chevrolet (3rd). The Weekend Drive photo by Phil Shuyler.