Paul Newman had strong links with Long Beach Grand Prix

Fly the checkered flag above Shoreline Drive at half-staff today. The Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach has lost a legend of the circuit with the death of Paul Newman, 83.

[Dan Stiel]

I met Paul Newman twice, both times during the Long Beach Grand Prix. The first time was a formal introduction and a handshake at a pre-race party.

The second meeting was far more memorable. I remember he was humble, gracious, and humored by the adulation ladled onto him by the college girls working for me on a promotion at the 1996 race. I had taken my team to Mum’s for a post-race celebration dinner, where the girls figured out Paul, who was in his 70s, was dining between our table and the Women’s restroom.

Knowing I wouldn’t approve of disturbing the legendary race-team owner, the girls, all in their teens and early 20s and certainly attractive by every measure, declared they were going to the restroom. At which point they approached him at his table, where they asked about his wife, chatted it up, then gave him a Union 76 Racing hat. I decided their visit was over-extended and shooed the girls along towards the restrooms and apologized to Paul and his dinner guests for their interruption. He laughed and wore the Union 76 hat through his dinner.

I found out from one of his guests at that table, who I met years later, he was dining with executives of Texaco, the sponsors of his race team. I consider the hat trick to be one of the funniest, if only unintended, guerilla marketing stunts of my career.

Paul was a favorite actor and a role model in many ways to me. I’ll miss him, as will the world, I’m sure.

[Radrobinlb]

R.I.P. Paul Newman. You will be missed.

[Anon]

what a wonderful man ... he put his fame and fortune to work and rasied a lot of money for charities.

"Newman's Own Lemonade" -- simply the best!

[LB single mom]

grew up enjoying his movies in the late 60's and 70's. though i never met him i've enjoyed seeing interviews with him over the years where he always struck me as one of the rare stars with grace , humor, and integrity.
i will continue raise my bottle of dressing to you paul!

[Christiano Da Matta]

grew up enjoying his Race Teams in the late '90s, Newman-Haas Racing forever!!!

[andrew from chicago]

HEARING THAT PAUL NEWNEN PASSED I REMEBER I WAS AT ELCART LAKE IN WISCONSIN AN I WON A HOT LAP IN A PPPG PACE CAR SO IM WALKING WITH MY GROUP AN THERE'S
MARIO ANDRETTI SITTING ON SCOTTER SO WE WHERE TALKING WITH HIM WHEN ALL OF SUDDEN HERE COMES PAUL COMING OUT OF THE TRUN ON THE TRACK AN PULLED IN THE AREA IT'S ENDS UP HE'S ONE OF THE DRIVERS FOR ONE GROUP AN MARIO IS FOR ARE GROUP IT"S SOMETHING I WILL NEVER FORGET HOW NICE THEY BOTH WHERE AN HOW THEY WANTED YOU TO HAVE THE MOST FUN RACING AS LOST SOMEONE VERY SPEICAL

[andrew from chicago]

Christiano Da Matta wrote:

grew up enjoying his Race Teams in the late '90s, Newman-Haas Racing forever!!!

christiano i was with the team for a week when you won your last champ car title in fontana you where awsome by the way how you feeling