One of the more unique elements of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach weekend is the annual Pro/Celebrity race that features professional racers and entertainment figures going head-to-head in identically prepared cars on the legendary Long Beach street circuit. At the least, it’s interesting to see who’s on the entry list every year and how the celebs navigate the temporary course in their machines.
This year’s Pro/Celebrity event will go off at 1:40 p.m. ET and leading the celebrities will be Zachary Levi, star of NBC’s “Chuck.” The actor threw down a lap of 1 minute, 47.141 seconds in his Scion tC to claim the class pole. He and his fellow celebs will get a 30-second head start on the six pro drivers. Leading that class will be current IZOD IndyCar Series team co-owner (and former Long Beach Champ Car winner) Jimmy Vasser, who earned the pro pole with a time of 1 minute, 45.666 seconds.
Making up the rest of the pro field are drifting star Tannen Foust, BMX vert rider Jamie Bestwick, sports car champion Steve Millen, cyclist-turned-NHRA driver Marty Nothstein, and actor Keanu Reeves, who’s moving up after winning the Celebrity class in last year’s event. The celebrities comprise of Levi and fellow actors Adrien Brody, Christian Slater, Patrick Warburton and Brian Austin Green; actresses Megyn Price and Tika Sumpter; comedian Adam Carolla; recording artist Jesse McCartney; and skateboarding icon Tony Hawk.
Also on the grid are a pair of charity auction winners, Dave Pasant and Jerry Westlund, as well as North Hollywood Toyota vice president Chris Ashworth, who is representing the Southern California Toyota Dealers.
