The ePrix hit Long Beach and was a celebration of Innovation, Green Technology, Sustainability, and the City of Long Beach. Saturday April 4, the Long Beach Formula e race was open to the public free of charge and was won by Nelson Pique Jr. Fun fact Piquet’s father won the Long Beach Grand Prix in 1980! The Long Beach street circuit has been hosting races beginning in 1975, and staged F-1, CART, Champ Car, and IndyCar races on the 1.6-mile, seven turn route. Long Beach and Miami are the only US cities Formula E cars will race in 10 stops worldwide in the Inaugural season.

Today the pedestrians had the opportunity to run, walk, or skate a closed portion of the Grand Prix track. I had a chance to take my bike for a spin along the same route as race cars with over 700 horsepower. It was a surreal sight to see all the kids off this week for spring break sprinting down the track with reckless abandon, while their parents try to keep up.

The Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach  kicks off with the gate opening at 7am friday April 17.