INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Fresh from his win at the Desert Diamond West Valley Casino Phoenix Grand Prix, Rising Star Racing’s (RSR) Josef Newgarden (Team Penske) will compete this weekend in the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.

RSR’s founder and CEO, Art Wilmes, is hopeful Newgarden’s momentum will continue this weekend.

“We’re looking forward to Josef carrying his momentum from Phoenix to this race,” Wilmes said. “He has run well at Long Beach in the past and I expect to see him near the front on Sunday.”
RSR’s second driver, Spencer Pigot, is also competing at Long Beach.
“Spencer had one of the fastest Chevys at St. Petersburg,” Wilmes continued. “He had a hiccup in qualifying that prevented him from qualifying up front. He loves the track at Long Beach and I look forward to seeing a very aggressive Spencer Pigot this weekend.
The Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, one of Verizon IndyCar’s biggest events of the season, will take place on a 1.968-mile, 11-turn street course in Long Beach, California. This year marks the 44th year for the popular street race. Newgarden and RSR’s Spencer Pigot (Ed Carpenter Racing), will be competing against 22 other entries this weekend.
Following Newgarden’s win Saturday night at ISM Raceway, he is first in the points standings with 77 points, and Pigot is in 16th with 31 points so far this season.
“What a win for Team Penske at Phoenix,” Newgarden said. “We feel that coming off that win, we’re going to be strong heading into Long Beach. The crew has worked hard on our street course program since St. Petersburg and we’re ready for the challenge. I know that it’s a race my team and I really want to win and we’re ready to put the No. 1 Verizon Chevy in the best spot to make that possible. Street courses are always fun but Long Beach is really special with the history of that place.”
“I’m very excited to head back to Long Beach,” Pigot said. “This race has so much history and it’s an honor to be a part of it. We had a lot of positives to take away from the first street race in St. Pete and we’re looking forward to continuing that form this weekend. We are going to have a lot of guests from Preferred Freezer Services at the track and are ready to give them a good show.”
This weekend’s practice session will be available on; the Advance Auto Parts IndyCar Radio Network, Race Control, INDYCAR YouTube channel and on the Verizon Mobile App.
In addition to, the IndyCar Radio Network, Race Control, YouTube and the Verizon Mobile App. qualifying for the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach will be telecasted on NBCSN beginning at 6:30 p.m. (ET).
The Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach may be heard on the Advance Auto Parts IndyCar Radio Network, SIRIUS/XM 209-214, on radio stations nationwide and on the Verizon Mobile App. The Phoenix Grand Prix will be telecasted on NBCSN beginning at 4 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, April 15.
For more information regarding the race this coming weekend, please visit Verizon IndyCar Series’ website.