Words & Images By: Brandon J. O'Brien

There were to be three distinct honors handed out. The foremost was for who would be the 2021 NTT IndyCar Series Champion.  Going into the race weekend the points leader was Alex Palou. Following him were Pato O'Ward (-35 points) and Josef Newgarden (-47 points). Only O'Ward and Newgarden had any mathematical chance of besting Palou. This is the 16th consecutive season where the Championship has been decided in the final race. 

Vying for the 2021 NTT IndyCar Rookie of the Year award was former F1 driver Romain Grosjean and New Zealander Scott McLaughlin. 

Coming off a solid win at Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca the previous weekend Colton Herta was attempting to end his season with two wins in a row. In practice he showed that he had the car that could go the distance for the win. 

Long Beach has never been a forgiving track and during qualifying many cars accelerating out of Turn 8 would brush the outside wall. Herta did this one to many times damaging the suspension putting him out of contention for the pole. Josef Newgarden was able to top the "Fast Six" taking the pole and gaining one extra point toward the Championship. 

The first two rows were filled by Newgarden, Dixon, Castroneves, and Pagenaud. Herta would start mid-pack in 14th. After the start of the race, having the fastest car all weekend, Herta was able to carve his way through traffic and by the 15th lap he was solidly in fifth-place and the race for the lead was truly on. Newgarden, Dixon, and Castroneves were still holding the first three positions. 

On lap 31 Herta made his pass on Dixon and followed that two-laps later by passing Newgarden who was technically in second due to pit stops. After a full course yellow on lap 66 Herta was able to get a jump on the restart holding off Newgarden. 

From that point to lap 85 Herta stayed in front while diligently holding off his charging rivals. This was made more difficult as he was on the harder compound "Black" tires while the others were on newer softer compound "Reds".  

It was electrifying to watch him skillfully charge to the front of the field and take the checkered flag for the second straight weekend and his sixth IndyCar win. 

The Championship went to Alex Palou who finish the race in fourth and Rookie of the Year honors went to Scott McLaughlin. 

    

2021 NTT IndyCar Series Champion Alex Palou with his trophy talking with the media after the Long Beach Grand Prix. Image Credit: 2021 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

Next year the "Rites Of Spring" Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach will return to its normal place and times April 8-10, 2022.

TAGS: Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, Alex Palou, Brandon O'Brien, Colton Herta,  Dallara, DW-12, IndyCar, Josef  Newgarden, Motor Driven Images,  MotorSports Journal, NTT IndyCar Series, Pato O'Ward, Romain Grosjean, Scott McLaughlin