Two of the most iconic names in motorsport history, Mario Andretti and Al Unser Jr., will serve as co-Grand Marshals for the 50th Anniversary Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, April 11-13, 2025. The milestone race weekend will celebrate 50 Years at Full Speed with special fan experiences, thrilling racing and a celebration of racing legends who have starred on the iconic streets of Long Beach.

Mario Andretti is a motorsports icon whose career accomplishments span multiple decades and disciplines. Andretti’s extensive resume includes a victory at the 1977 Formula 1 United States Grand Prix West in Long Beach, solidifying his status as an international star and the race’s status as a major international event. Among his many achievements are the 1978 Formula 1 World Championship, four Indy Car titles, and victories in the Indianapolis 500, Daytona 500, and 24 Hours of Le Mans. When Long Beach switched to Indy cars in 1984, Andretti won that race, again establishing Long Beach as a world-class event and went on to win twice more over the next three years. Andretti is widely regarded as one of the greatest racing drivers of all time.

“I’m happy to be serving as Co-Grand Marshal for the 50th Anniversary,” said Andretti. “I participated in the first-ever race in Long Beach in 1975.  The Formula 5000 race was hugely successful, paving the way for Formula One officials to place Long Beach on the 1976 schedule just six months after the inaugural race.

“The fondest memories I have racing on the streets of Long Beach are my victories.  And for my son Michael, Long Beach has the distinction of being his first career Indy Car win (1986) and his final victory as a driver, his 42nd and final career IndyCar win (2002). 

“This track obviously is a family favorite,” Andretti continued. “I retired at the end of 1994 after racing for four decades on just about every course imaginable.  Long Beach is by far the most successful street race ever staged in American motor racing history.  It is truly amongst the best I’ve ever seen.”

Al Unser Jr., affectionately known as "Little Al," is the winningest driver in Long Beach history, with six victories (1988-91 and 1994-95) over a dominant eight-year span. Unser also boasts two Indianapolis 500 wins (1992 and 1994) and is a two-time Indy Car champion (1990 and 1994). A 2009 inductee into the Long Beach Motorsports Walk of Fame and Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, Unser’s dominance on the streets of Long Beach earned him the nickname, "King of the Beach."

“I’m extremely honored to be Co-Grand Marshal at Long Beach with Mario Andretti,” said Unser. “It’s always been one of my most favorite races, and certainly it’s the most popular race on the circuit next to the Indianapolis 500. I always tried hard to do well at Long Beach and while we were often very fast there, it was also a lucky track for me – the ball ‘bounced my way’ a lot over the years. We were always so excited to win in Long Beach!”

“It’s an incredible honor to have Al and Mario as part of this historic celebration,” said Jim Michaelian, President and CEO of the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach. “Their accomplishments on and off the track are legendary, and their presence will make the 50th-anniversary event truly unforgettable for fans and participants alike.”

The Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach will be headlined by the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, as well as the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. In addition, the weekend will include the Super Drift Challenge under the lights on Friday and Saturday nights, plus doubleheader action from Robby Gordon’s SPEED Energy Stadium Super Trucks, GT America Powered by AWS and the unique Historic Formula Exhibition, featuring cars from the three racing eras at Long Beach – Formula 5000, Formula 1 and Indy Car – racing together for the first time.

Sunday ticket prices start at $97 for a General Admission ticket which does not include grandstand seating and go up to $205 for a three-day ticket that includes Sat./Sun. reserved seating in grandstand upper levels.  Pre-paid parking packages are also available, along with handicapped seating, NTT INDYCAR SERIES Paddock passes, Super Photo tickets and a wide variety of hospitality packages. Continuing a longstanding policy at the Grand Prix, children 12 years and under will be admitted free with a ticketed adult.

Fans can select and pay for their 2025 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach seats, parking and paddock passes online at gplb.com. Ticket orders can also be placed by calling the toll-free ticket hotline, (888) 827-7333.

Fans can also follow the 2025 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach on Facebook at GrandPrixLB, X at GPLongBeach (#AGPLB50), Instagram at GPLongBeach and YouTube at GPLongBeach, as well as via the official Grand Prix app available on Google Play and the Apple App Store.