Automotive
Honda Dominates Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach with 1-5 Sweep, Kyle Kirkwood Takes Maiden Victory
Honda drivers dominated the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, with Kyle Kirkwood taking his maiden NTT INDYCAR SERIES victory in a 1-5 sweep. Kirkwood drove the #27 Andretti Autosport Honda and led for 53 laps of the 85-lap event, with a dominant performance by Honda power.
Long Beach, CA – On April 16, 2023, Honda drivers dominated the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, finishing first through fifth, with Kyle Kirkwood taking his maiden NTT INDYCAR SERIES victory. Kirkwood drove the #27 Andretti Autosport Honda and led for 53 laps of the 85-lap event, taking charge after the second round of pit stops. He executed a quick final pit stop to take the lead, which he held on to until the end. It was a 1-2 finish for Andretti Autosport, with Romain Grosjean finishing second. Marcus Ericsson finished third and is now back in the championship points lead.
Colton Herta and 2021 series champion Alex Palou completed the Honda 1-5 sweep. Honda-powered drivers and teams have won the Grand Prix of Long Beach 16 times in 23 appearances, with victories in nine of the last 14 races. This includes a seven-year victory streak from 1996-2002 in Championship Auto Racing Teams competition.
Honda’s dominance was clear, with the top five drivers all Honda-powered. This was the 280th race win for Honda in North American open wheel racing and the 170th win in competition with other manufacturers. This win was especially significant for Honda, as it was achieved at their home race.
David Salters, President and Technical Director of Honda Performance Development, praised their teams and drivers for the 1-5 result, saying “We didn’t just sweep the podium here at Long Beach, we swept the top five. It was certainly a dominant performance for Honda power and fuel efficiency. We did not suck!”
Kirkwood, on his first win, said “To win the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach isn’t just a big deal, it’s a massive deal. It’s something I’m still trying to soak in.” He also praised Honda’s power, saying “I feel like we have a massive advantage now, especially on the road and street courses.”
Overall, it was a remarkable performance by Honda and their drivers, demonstrating their strength and dominance in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.
https://www.motorsport.com/indycar/results/2023/long-beach-632825/
https://hondanews.com/en-US/honda-racing/releases/kirkwood-honda-conquer-the-streets-of-long-beach
https://stmdailynews.com/sleeves-senior-pickleball-report/
Source: American Honda Motor Co.
