Roger Penske and Penske Leisure made large information Thursday morning, that it’s the new proprietor of the Lengthy Seaside Grand Prix.
This comes 5 years after one other shock announcement, that Penske had bought the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Indianapolis 500 and IndyCar.
By buying the Acura Grand Prix of Lengthy Seaside, Penske owns each the most important single-day paid sporting occasion on the planet with the Indianapolis 500, and the largest avenue race in North America at Lengthy Seaside.
The fiftieth Acura Grand Prix of Lengthy Seaside will probably be held on April 13, 2025.
“We’re extremely proud to be the brand new stewards of this cherished and iconic occasion,” mentioned Roger Penske, the chairman of Penske Company. “That is probably the most historic and prestigious avenue circuit race in North America, and we’re excited to work with Jim Michaelian and his nice group in Lengthy Seaside to make sure continued success and progress over the long run.
“This race and its loyal followers matter a lot to everybody throughout the IndyCar group, and we’re trying ahead to a really particular fiftieth anniversary celebration this April, as effectively.”
Penske Leisure confirmed the acquisition of the Grand Prix Affiliation of Lengthy Seaside, LLC, from longtime proprietor Gerald R. Forsythe. The affiliation administers the Acura Grand Prix of Lengthy Seaside, the longest-running main avenue circuit race in North America.
The acquisition is predicted to offer vital funding for the marquee NTT IndyCar Collection race, to additional improve this could’t-miss celebration of velocity and Southern California motorsport tradition for years to return.
“As we put together to have a good time a really outstanding milestone, the fiftieth anniversary of this superb occasion, it’s becoming that we’ve got such thrilling and essential information to share about its future,” mentioned Acura Grand Prix of Lengthy Seaside President & CEO Jim Michaelian. “Roger and the group at Penske Leisure perceive the particular historical past and distinctive qualities that give us such a robust basis and will probably be superb companions as we proceed to ship an distinctive race weekend for our followers transferring ahead.
Working alongside the Acura Grand Prix of Lengthy Seaside group, Penske Leisure plans to spend money on bolstering and enhancing the expertise for race followers, sponsors and hospitality clients.
“It is a main race weekend, not simply on our calendar however throughout the motorsport panorama,” Penske Leisure President & CEO Mark Miles mentioned. “We’re dedicated to preserving the core attributes that make it finest in school whereas additionally engaged on some thrilling and daring initiatives to make its future even greater and brighter.”
The three-day weekend usually attracts crowds of over 190,000 individuals to its 1.968-mile race course surrounding the Lengthy Seaside Conference & Leisure Middle. The 2024 version featured a supercharged environment, which included the most important attendance within the trendy IndyCar period.
The occasion brings world consideration and constructive financial affect to its house metropolis, whereas additionally sustaining a charitable group – the Grand Prix Basis of Lengthy Seaside – which has donated greater than $4.2 million to these in want inside the Lengthy Seaside group.
The information marks the continuation of an bold and productive interval for Penske Leisure, which owns and manages IndyCar and the NTT IndyCar Collection. In September, the group introduced the institution of the primary constitution system in IndyCar’s historical past, offering NTT IndyCar Collection homeowners significant and enhanced worth throughout their entries.
In October, Penske Leisure unveiled the IndyCar Grand Prix of Arlington, powered by way of a first-of-its-kind three way partnership with the Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers.