Two more stars will be added to the Long Beach Motorsports Walk of Fame this April, when racing legends Bobby Rahal and Al Unser Jr. are inducted and honored for their place in Long Beach Grand Prix history.

Both heralded as members of some of racing’s most legendary lineages, both Rahal and Unser have won the Indianapolis 500 and enjoyed great success in the Long Beach Grand Prix.  Unser Jr. won at Indy twice as a driver and was crowned in Long Beach an amazing six times, while Rahal won the 500 once as a driver and once as an owner while four times finishing second in fifteen starts at the Long Beach Grand Prix.

During a sit-down interview with me during last year’s Grand Prix weekend, Rahal explained his fondness for racing in Long Beach:

This race has so much history, the Long Beach Grand Prix has been one of the bigger events for the last 30 years.  It’s a very big deal in my mind.  One of the greatest disappointments in my career — and people often say, “How can you have any disappointments?” — is that I never won here.  But I always loved coming here and I’m flattered to be named Grand Marshall.

“This year’s inductees represent not only great drivers, but individuals that have contributed much to the success of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach over the years,” Jim Michaelian, CEO of the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach, said in a press release.  ”That’s why ‘Little Al’ is known as the ‘King of the Beach’ and Bobby has achieved great success at Long Beach not only on the track but also as an owner.”

Both have storied racing pedigrees beyond the Indy 500 and Long Beach Grand Prix, competing and winning in auto races of all shapes, sizes and competition.  Those stories are sure to be out in full force when the two are inducted, as tradition is to give the honorees a little good-natured ribbing while acknowledging their contributions to build Long Beach as a jewel of American racing.

Last year, honorees included legends Mario Andretti, Parnelli Jones, and the late Gary Gabelich.  This year’s ceremony will take place at 11:00am on April 16, at the steps of the Convention Center on South Pine Ave.