Photo courtesy of visitlongbeach.com.
Prolific racing team Penske and legendary Bruce Flanders—known as “The Voice of the Grand Prix”—will be inducted into the Long Beach Motorsports Walk of Fame, officials with the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach announced.
The 11th annual induction ceremony will be held on Thursday, April 14 at 11:00AM on South Pine Avenue in front of the Long Beach Convention Center.
“Team Penske and Bruce Flanders have made legendary contributions to the field of motorsports, and truly earned their place on the Motorsports Walk of Fame,” said Mayor Robert Garcia, who will be presenting medallions to the honorees. “These two honorees have thrilled race fans for years here in Long Beach and around the world, and it’s a pleasure to recognize their outstanding accomplishments.”
Penske Racing is the most successful IndyCar racing team in history, officials stated in a release. It has accumulated five victories at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach and enters the year with 177 race wins, 13 IndyCar championships and 16 Indianapolis 500 victories.
Flanders has announced every Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach race since 1978. In 1973 he set a record on the Bonneville Salt Flats for the fastest production motorcycle at 141.704 miles per hour, which was eventually broken seven years later.
He began announcing in 1969 at the Orange County Fairgrounds and has announced at Irwindale Speedway, the Caesars Palace Grand Prix, Wembley Stadium in England, Daytona Motor Speedway and California Speedway.
“We’re delighted to be able to induct Team Penske and Bruce Flanders into the Long Beach Motorsports Walk of Fame,” said Jim Michaelian, president and CEO of the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach. “They have both contributed mightily to the success of our event and join an illustrious list of honorees who have preceded them over the past 10 years.”
The Walk of Fame medallions include renditions of the racers’ cars and their major achievements in motorsports. Flanders’ medallion will include a microphone. For more information, visit www.lbmotorsportswof.com. The induction ceremony kicks off the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach weekend. For more information, visit www.gplb.com, call 888.827.7333.