Grand Am Racers Will Be Thrown a Curve

The exotic-looking prototype cars of the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series will race on the streets of Long Beach for the first time Saturday, in a format its drivers say should make for a compelling race.

One of several races leading to Sunday’s Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, the Grand Am race features the so-called “Daytona prototype” cars that ran in the Rolex 24-hour endurance race at the Daytona International Speedway in January.

But on Saturday, the field will race for only 90 minutes on the 1.97-mile course, and each team must make one mandatory pit stop and change drivers at least once.

The narrow Long Beach course, with its concrete walls and multiple blind turns, also presents a different test for many drivers who normally tackle racetracks where they can better see what’s ahead.

Drivers include Scott Pruett of Auburn, Calif., a veteran of open-wheel and stock-car racing; Bill Auberlen of Redondo Beach; Memo Gidley of Novato, Calif., and Irvine’s Alex Gurney, son of legendary driver Dan Gurney.

“You’ll see quite a bit of contact” in the race, partly because the cars are relatively wide, Alex Gurney said, adding, “I’m a little worried about the hairpin and making it around there” at Turn 11, just before they streak down Shoreline Drive.

Gurney, 31, is in his second year in the Rolex Grand Am Series for Gainsco/Blackhawk Racing. Other team drivers are Rocky Moran Jr. of Ladera Ranch, Calif., team owner Bob Stallings and veteran Jimmy Vasser.

Earlier in his career, Gurney raced open-wheel cars and had hopes of competing in Formula One. But by 2003, “there really wasn’t any opportunity to move up,” he said.

“I was on the sidelines in ’03 and ’04 and worked with a couple of teams, doing engineering and driver coaching,” said Gurney, who earned a business degree from the University of Colorado in 1997.

He returned last year to drive in the Grand Am series. “I’m happy that I’m in a competitive car,” he said.

His team finished 13th in its class at Daytona and Mexico City, then placed sixth at Homestead-Miami.

“We’re much more competitive than the results show so far,” he said. “And we have a legitimate chance of winning this weekend.”

Some Slippage

California Speedway’s owner confirmed Thursday what everyone already had guessed: Weekend attendance at the Auto Club 500 and other NASCAR races in February was down from a year earlier.

International Speedway Corp., which owns the Fontana speedway and several other tracks, made the disclosure in its financial report for its fiscal first quarter ending Feb. 28.

The company did not provide exact attendance figures -- the track’s seating capacity is 92,000, with room for thousands more in its infield -- but said the drop in spectators was one reason its admissions revenue was flat compared with the same quarter a year earlier, at $55.5 million.

John Saunders, the company’s chief operating officer, told analysts Thursday that the company remained committed to the speedway, which plays host to a second NASCAR Nextel Cup race on Labor Day weekend. The track is trying to boost attendance by offering better seats and parking to fans who buy tickets early and for multiple days.

“We’re very, very confident that in time ... both Cup events will achieve sellouts,” he said.

Last Laps

* After practicing for the pro/celebrity race set for Saturday on the seaside street course, actor William Shatner was asked how he expected to finish.

“Win,” he replied.

Asked if he were serious, the 75-year-old star of “Star Trek” and “Boston Legal” fame said, “Absolutely. I can win this thing.”

* As a rookie in Formula One and the series’ first American in 13 years, Scott Speed had said his main goal this year was simply to score a few championship points. Last Sunday, the Manteca, Calif., native did earn his first point -- only to see it taken away.

Formula One awards points to the top eight spots, and Speed finished the Australian Grand Prix in eighth place, good for one point for his Scuderia Toro Rosso team.

But after the race, officials penalized him for illegally passing another driver while the race was under caution. He was dropped to ninth place and his point vanished.

“It was a surreal day to say the least,” Speed said, but added it would “only increase our drive and focus to be serious point contenders during the remainder of the season.”

* Jesse James, host of the TV series “Monster Garage,” is scheduled to make his 2006 debut at Irwindale Speedway in a figure-8 race Saturday night.

The five-race card also includes super late model, super stock, mini stock and super truck races.

Tickets for last Saturday’s rained-out program will be honored, said speedway General Manager Bob De Fazio.

* Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong will drive the Corvette Z06 pace car in this year’s Indianapolis 500 on May 28.

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Times correspondent Steven Herbert contributed to this report.