Graham Rahal is expecting the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach to potentially feature alternate strategies and see the drivers push a lot harder, with this year’s race scheduled for 85 laps instead of 80.
This change in the lap count is the first since 2013, when the event was actually shortened from 85 to 80 laps and was won by Japanese racer Takuma Sato.
Historically speaking the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach has had a varied lap count, with the Formula 1 race back in the 1970s and 1980s between 75 and 80 laps long.
However, when the event became an IndyCar race in 1984, the lap count increased to between a high of 112 laps in 1984 and a low of 74 laps in 2006.
Despite only a small amount of laps being added to the race, Rahal is adamant that it could spark an entirely different mentality from some teams and drivers when it comes to planning race strategies.
"I think that is going to make it a lot better for the fans,” enthused Rahal, who has never won at Long Beach.
“You are going to see guys pushing a lot harder because if it's green like last year, there is no way anybody will make it on fuel [on two stops].”
Last season the race ran completely caution-free for only the fourth time in history, with eventual series champion Simon Pagenaud securing victory for Team Penske.
“You might see some different strategies because it's probably going to be firmly a three-stopper, so you will stick to that and have pretty big [pit] windows and see drivers try to pit at different times.
“It should make it a lot more exciting for everyone.”
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