INDYCAR Long Beach Grand Prix: FOX Super 6 Predictions and Tips
- The NTT INDYCAR Series is heading to California for the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, with the race scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m.
- In conjunction with the race, FOX Sports is hosting the FOX Super 6 INDYCAR Contest.
- FOX Motorsports Insider Bob Pockrass has provided a detailed breakdown of the contest questions to assist participants in making their picks.
The NTT INDYCAR Series is heading to California for the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, with the race scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, April 19, 2026. This event marks the 50th auto racing event and the 41st INDYCAR SERIES event held at the Long Beach venue.
In conjunction with the race, FOX Sports is hosting the FOX Super 6 INDYCAR Contest. This free-to-play prediction game allows fans to answer six specific questions regarding the race outcomes for a chance to win cash prizes, provided they finish in the top six.
Bob Pockrass’ Analysis and Predictions
FOX Motorsports Insider Bob Pockrass has provided a detailed breakdown of the contest questions to assist participants in making their picks. His analysis focuses heavily on recent street course performance and historical data from the Long Beach circuit.
Regarding the best finishing position among four specific drivers—Pato O’Ward, Scott McLaughlin, Marcus Ericsson and Marcus Armstrong—Pockrass identifies Marcus Ericsson as the favorite. This prediction is based on Ericsson’s performance at the most recent street race in Arlington and the general strength of Andretti Global on street courses.
For the question regarding the most laps led, Pockrass ranks the drivers in the following order: Kyle Kirkwood, Christian Lundgaard, Alex Palou, and David Malukas. He notes that Kirkwood led 46 laps at Long Beach in the previous year and is coming off a victory at the Arlington street course.
Pockrass also analyzed the likelihood of specific drivers winning the event. He suggests that the group containing Kyle Kirkwood, Christian Lundgaard, and Will Power is a strong choice. He highlights Kirkwood as a favorite and mentions that Power previously won the Long Beach race in 2008.
Driver and Team Outlooks
The analysis for Will Power’s finishing position suggests a range of 5-12. Pockrass observes that Power is currently adapting to the nuances of the Andretti car, though he remains a top-five threat if he avoids incidents during the race.
When evaluating rookie performance, the contest asks which rookie—Dennis Hauger, Caio Collet, or Mick Schumacher—will finish in the top 15. Pockrass predicts none of the above
, noting that all three drivers finished between 21st and 25th at the most recent race at Barber Motorsports Park and lack experience at the Long Beach circuit. However, he suggests Hauger as the preferred option if a rookie must be selected.
Regarding overall race dynamics, Pockrass predicts that two or more Honda cars will finish in the top three. He bases this on the expected strength of the Andretti and Ganassi teams.
Context and Competition
The 2026 INDYCAR season has seen significant movement and strong early performances. Alex Palou is described as the overall class of the series, having won the first two races of the season, although street courses are noted as being less of a specialty for him than permanent road courses.
Additional roster changes for the 2026 season include David Malukas joining Team Penske as a replacement for Will Power.
The broader FOX Super 6 Challenge began on March 25, 2026, and is scheduled to run through May 26, 2026. The challenge consists of five periods, starting with the Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix on March 29, 2026.