Everything you to know about the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach

It’s April in Long Beach, which means the city’s biggest event has arrived.

The 42nd aual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach runs Friday to Sunday, featuring the third round of the 2016 Verizon IndyCar Series.

The featured race is Sunday afteoon’s Verizon IndyCar Series event, which includes an inteational field of world-class drivers expected to include: defending Series champion Scott Dixon; Long Beach wiers Will Power, Takuma Sato, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Helio Castroneves and Sebastien Bourdais, along with Graham Rahal and Marco Andretti.

Here’s all you need to know about the races and attractions that are expected to draw 180,000 fans and visitors over the weekend.

TICKETS

General admission tickets for all three days cost $85. Friday-only passes are $30, Saturday is $53 and Sunday is $60.

Seating packages run from $95 to $142 for all three days for adults, and $76-$110 for children under 12.

To purchase tickets, call 888-827-7333 or 562-981-2600, email [email protected] or visit gplb.com.

GETTING THERE

The racetrack is located at 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach. Parking passes can be purchased at a cost of $15 to $50. Disabled parking is also available. Spaces must be reserved in advance, and cars must display a reserved parking pass and a valid blue Califoia disabled placard.

Private and public lots will also offer parking downtown, but organizers strongly suggest taking public transportation. Long Beach Transit (lbtransit.com, or call 562-591-2301) will be making schedule changes to accommodate visitors and relieve some of the congestion. Transit officials will also staff the Transit and Visitor Information Center at 130 E. First St. all weekend.

RACE INFO

Gates open at 7 a.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Some of the highlights of each day include:

10 a.m., Friday: IndyCar practice P1

11:30 a.m., Friday: Pro/Celebrity practice

12:20 p.m., Friday: Stadium Super Trucks practice

2 p.m., Friday: IndyCar practice P2

3 p.m., Friday: Pro/Celebrity qualifying

3:45 p.m., Friday: World Challenge practice

4 p.m., Friday: IndyCar autograph session

6:45 p.m., Friday: Tecate Light Fiesta Friday Concert

8:15 a.m., Saturday: World Challenge Practice

8:55 a.m., Saturday: World Challenge Qualifying

10:00 a.m., Saturday: IndyCar Practice P3

11:40 a.m., Saturday: 40th Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race (10 Laps)

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1:05 p.m., Saturday: Speed Energy Stadium Super Tricks Race No. 1

2:00 p.m., Saturday: IndyCar Qualifying & Firestone Fast 6

4:05 p.m., Saturday: BUBBA burger Sports Car Grand Prix at Long Beach (IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race - 100 minutes)

6 p.m. Saturday, Rock-N-Roar Concert Starring Cheap Trick

7 p.m., Saturday: Motegi Racing Super Drift Challenge Finals

9 a.m., Sunday: IndyCar Warm Up

10 a.m., Sunday: Pierlli World Challenge Race

Noon, Sunday: Mothers Exotic Car Parade

12:30 p.m., Sunday: IndyCar Pre-Race Ceremonies

1:30 p.m., Sunday: Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach (Race No. 3 of the 2016 Verizon IndyCar Series)

4:05 p.m., Sunday: Stadium Super Trucks Race No. 2

LIFESTYLE EXPO

Hours are from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

The expo includes more than 130 exhibitors with the latest automotive, home, recreation, travel and entertainment products and services. The Green Power Prix View will feature extensive, cutting-edge green technology that include hybrid, hydrogen and biodiesel cars.

The Family Fun Zone will include rock climbing walls, games, racing simulators and action sports demonstrations. Kids age 3 to 6 can also race in their own cars.

DON’T

Racing fans are allowed to bring food, plastic bottles and ice chests smaller than 14 inches wide to the event. But they’re not permitted to bring the following items to the track:

• Alcoholic beverages

• Glass bottles and cans

• Stadium seats

• Bikes and skateboards

• Skates and rollerblades

• Fireworks

• Pets (except service animals)

• Ladders and step stools

• Large umbrellas

• Lawn fuiture

• Baers/signs

• Ice chests larger than 14 inches

DO

Wear comfortable walking shoes and consider using earplugs, especially for children. The various cars racing during the weekend are loud, particularly in confined areas of the circuit near underpasses.

MORE INFO

To get more information on the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, go to www.gplb.com.