Long Beach Grand Prix. 1989.

[khyndart in CA]

I attended the Long Beach Grand Prix in April. 1989.
Towards the end of the race there was an incident between Mario Andretti and Al Unser junior which happened at the corner I was at and I have a few out of focus photos of that day and a You Tube video that shows what happened. Mario was not pleased !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VrmnqGGsSM






(Ken Hyndman )

[khyndart in CA]

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Check the price of these. I wish it was like that today. You could go into the garage area in the Arena and watch the mechanics and drivers mingle throughout the day and night. It was a great experience.

(KH )

[khyndart in CA]

My blurred photo of the Andretti / Unser incident as Mario came up behind Tom Sneva in the # 9 STP car he had to slow more than what "Little Al" had allowed for and got booted out of the race while leading about 3 laps from the end. Unser continued even though the left front spoiler had been broken off.

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(Ken Hyndman photo )

[khyndart in CA]

On the next lap the crowd who had Mario Andretti as their hero let Al Unser jr. know how they felt about his driving tactics !

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(Ken Hyndman photo )

[khyndart in CA]

Michael Andretti stopped after the race to give his father a ride back to the pits. Michael finished second in his K-Mart Lola Chevrolet # 6.
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Before Mario Andretti's Lola was towed away.

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( Ken Hyndman photos )

[khyndart in CA]

1989 Long Beach Grand Prix race leaders coming around on a Toyota pick up.
There is some talent on the back of this Toyota.
Michael Andretti, Al Unser. jr. and third place finisher Emerson Fittipaldi.

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(Ken Hyndman photo )

[khyndart in CA]

Even after 20 years Mario Andretti was still upset with Al Unser junior as it is discussed in this 2009 article.

http://www.espn.com/racing/racing/indycar/columns/story?id=4076946&columnist=oreovicz_john

[khyndart in CA]

This is for anyone who would like to see the complete race.
Put it on full screen and enjoy. I know I did that day as we all went on a bus and did not have to worry about the hassles of driving and parking etc. Just wish I had had a better camera. Oh well..


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylPKDmNL7L4


(ken Hyndman )

[GD66]

Thanks Ken, CART racing was good entertainment in those days.

[khyndart in CA]

GD66,
I would agree with you as there was plenty of entertainment back then.
AJ Foyt was always one to give it everything he could in all types of racing from Indy and Le Mans to midgets at Liverpool in Sydney.
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AJ Foyt, 1989 Long Beach GP.
( Hyndman Action Photo Dept. )


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Bobby Rahal in his Kraco Lola Cosworth about to pass Danny Sullivan in his Penske Chevrolet.
(Hyndman Action Photo Dept. )

[khyndart in CA]

Long Beach GP. 1989.
Al Unser in his Lola Chevrolet # 2 minus the left front wing after the Andretti incident, on his way to victory.
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(photographer unknown )


( Ken H)

[Terry S]

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Check the price of these. I wish it was like that today. You could go into the garage area in the Arena and watch the mechanics and drivers mingle throughout the day and night. It was a great experience.

(KH )

in the program cover the bottom right photo, is that Jay Leno?
Looks like his jaw line.

[khyndart in CA]

Terry,
Yes that is Jay Leno, he is a real enthusiast and he would participate in the Long Beach Pro/Celebrity races which were a fun part of the race weekend and it is close to Hollywood ! They are all raced in Toyota Celicas or Scions over the last 40 years but Toyota is moving it's headquarters to Texas so it will not be Toyota sponsoring this race at the moment.
Here is a brief clip about the event.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zzyV_JYI24

Plus this article regarding the 1989 race.

http://articles.latimes.com/1989-04-15/news/vw-1848_1_toyota-pro-celebrity-race-long-beach



(Ken H )