Behind the scenes at the 2013 Long Beach Grand Prix

From left, Graham Rahal, Takuma Sato, and Justin Wilson do a parade lap after the IndyCar Series Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach on the streets of Long Beach.  (Robert Laberge / Getty Images)

Takuma Sato of Japan drives the #14 Honda during the IndyCar Series Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.  (Jeff Gross / Getty Images)

Takuma Sato of Japan during the IndyCar Series Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.  (Robert Laberge / Getty Images)

Takuma Sato of Japan drives the #14 Honda through a turn during the IndyCar Series Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.  (Jeff Gross / Getty Images)

An exhibition race for Stadium Super Trucks laps the course at the Long Beach Grand Prix on Sunday.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

An exhibition race for Stadium Super Trucks laps the course at the Long Beach Grand Prix on Sunday.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

An exhibition race for Stadium Super Trucks laps the course at the Long Beach Grand Prix on Sunday.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

An exhibition race for Stadium Super Trucks laps the course at the Long Beach Grand Prix on Sunday.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

An exhibition race for Stadium Super Trucks laps the course at the Long Beach Grand Prix on Sunday.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

An exhibition race for Stadium Super Trucks laps the course at the Long Beach Grand Prix on Sunday.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

An exhibition race for Stadium Super Trucks laps the course at the Long Beach Grand Prix on Sunday.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

Rutledge Wood gets ready for the Pro/Celebrity Race during the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach auto race on Saturday.  (Ringo H.W. Chiu / AP)

Josef Newgarden, driver of the #67 Sarah Fisher Racing Dallara Honda is seen during practice for the IndyCar Series at the Long Beach Grand Prix.  (Robert Laberge / Getty Images)

E.J. Viso drives during practice for the IndyCar Grand Prix of Long Beach auto race Saturday.  (Ringo H.W. Chiu / AP)

Dario Franchitti practices for the IndyCar Series Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach on Saturday.  (Robert Laberge / Getty Images)

Scott Dixon, of New Zealand, rounds the hairpin during practice for the IndyCar Grand Prix of Long Beach auto race Saturday.  (Ringo H.W. Chiu / AP)

Television host Rutledge Wood, race winner in the celebrity category, celebrates during the 37th Annual Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race Saturday.  (Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images)

The view from pit row during Saturday’s American Le Mans Series final.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

The view from pit row during Saturday’s American Le Mans Series final.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

The view from pit row during Saturday’s American Le Mans Series final.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

The view from pit row during Saturday’s American Le Mans Series final.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

The view from pit row during Saturday’s American Le Mans Series final.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

The view from pit row during Saturday’s American Le Mans Series final.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

The view from pit row during Saturday’s American Le Mans Series final.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

The view from pit row during Saturday’s American Le Mans Series final.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

The view from pit row during Saturday’s American Le Mans Series final.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

The view from pit row during Saturday’s American Le Mans Series final.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

The view from pit row during Saturday’s American Le Mans Series final.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

The view from pit row during Saturday’s American Le Mans Series final.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

The view from pit row during Saturday’s American Le Mans Series final.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

The view from pit row during Saturday’s American Le Mans Series final.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

The view from pit row during Saturday’s American Le Mans Series final.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

The view from pit row during Saturday’s American Le Mans Series final.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

The view from pit row during Saturday’s American Le Mans Series final.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

The view from pit row during Saturday’s American Le Mans Series final.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

The view from pit row during Saturday’s American Le Mans Series final.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

The view from pit row during Saturday’s American Le Mans Series final.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

Wanda Sykes and friends gather after Saturday’s Toyota Pro/Celebrity race.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

Long Beach Grand Prix  (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

The racing action from Saturday’s Toyota Pro/Celebrity race.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

The racing action from Saturday’s Toyota Pro/Celebrity race.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

The racing action from Saturday’s Toyota Pro/Celebrity race.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

The racing action from Saturday’s Toyota Pro/Celebrity race.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

The Toyota and Lexus pace cars line up at Long Beach.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

Freelance photographer Shelby Knick, of Santa Monica, gets a close-up view of Indy Lights driver Sage Karam of Nazareth, Pa., going around a corner during practice of the Firestone Indy Lights series at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Kyle Sakai, 2, squeals with delight as he watches participants in the Toyota Pro/Celebrity race go by while on the shoulders of his father, Ken Sakai, of Pasadena.   (Allen J. Schabe / Los Angeles Times)

Drivers Gabby Chaves, left, of Bogota, Colombia, and Matthew Di Leo, of Innisfil, Canada, practice during the Firestone Indy Lights series.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Fans watch Firestone Indy Lights series racers practice.   (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

A Corvette during the ALMS qualifying race on Friday.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

A Ferrari during the ALMS qualifying race on Friday.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

A car passes by during the ALMS qualifying race on Friday.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

A car passes by during the ALMS qualifying race on Friday.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

Cars from the ALMS qualifying race are towed back to their trailers after the round is finished.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

Cars from the ALMS qualifying race are towed back to their trailers after the round is finished.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

Cars from the ALMS qualifying race are towed back to their trailers after the round is finished.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

Cars from the ALMS qualifying race are towed back to their trailers after the round is finished.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

Cars from the ALMS qualifying race are towed back to their trailers after the round is finished.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

A car passes by during the ALMS qualifying race on Friday.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

A car passes by during the ALMS qualifying race on Friday.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

A car passes by during the ALMS qualifying race on Friday.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

A car passes by during the ALMS qualifying race on Friday.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

A car passes by during the ALMS qualifying race on Friday.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

A car passes by during the ALMS qualifying race on Friday.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

A car passes by during the ALMS qualifying race on Friday.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

A car passes by during the ALMS qualifying race on Friday.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

Fred Salas of Whittier adds some protection to the ears of his 5-year-old son, Jack, at the Toyota Grand Prix.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Comedian Wanda Sykes signs autographs after participating in the Toyota Pro/Celebrity race.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Fans line up to see drivers get ready for Toyota Pro/Celebrity race.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

The scene before the final practice round for the Toyota Pro/Celebrity race on Friday. The race final is Saturday.  (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

Actor Jesse Metcalfe before the start of Friday’s final practice round of the Toyota Pro/Celebrity race.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

Actor Jeremy Sisto gets buckled into a Scion FR-S for the final practice round of the Toyota Pro/Celebrity race.  (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

Actor Jeremy Sisto gets buckled into a Scion FR-S for the final practice round of the Toyota Pro/Celebrity race.  (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

Comedian and actor Wanda Sykes puts on her helmet prior to the final practice round of the Toyota Pro/Celebrity race.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

Actor Jenna Elfman gets some final tips before the final practice round of the Toyota Pro/Celebrity race.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

Actor Jenna Elfman gets some final tips before the final practice round of the Toyota Pro/Celebrity race.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

A damaged Scion FR-S driven by actor Michael Trucco heads to the pits after a mishap during the final practice round on Friday. The final is on Saturday.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

Mechanics work on cars in the Indy pits ahead of Friday’s qualifying race.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

Mechanics work on cars in the Indy pits ahead of Friday’s qualifying race.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

Mechanics work on cars in the Indy pits ahead of Friday’s qualifying race.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

Mechanics work on cars in the Indy pits ahead of Friday’s qualifying race.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

Comedian Wanda Sykes, left, and Olympic swimmer Jessica Hardy joke after Friday morning’s practice of the Toyota Pro/Celebrity race. The final is Saturday.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

Mechanics work to hammer out a small dent in the Scion FR-S of actor Jesse Metcalfe after Friday morning’s practice race. The final is on Saturday.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

Mechanics work on the Scion FR-S of Olympic swimmer Jessica Hardy after Friday’s practice of the Toyota Pro/Celebrity race. The final is on Saturday.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)