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Autos

Long Beach Grand Prix: Celebrities gear up for charity race

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From left, Justin Wilson, Takuma Sato, and Graham Rahal celebrate on the podium after the IndyCar Series Grand Prix of Long Beach auto race.  (Ringo H.W. Chiu / AP)
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From left, Graham Rahal, Takuma Sato, and Justin Wilson do a parade lap after the IndyCar Series Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach on the streets of Long Beach.  (Robert Laberge / Getty Images)
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Takuma Sato of Japan drives the #14 Honda during the IndyCar Series Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.  (Jeff Gross / Getty Images)
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Takuma Sato of Japan during the IndyCar Series Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.  (Robert Laberge / Getty Images)
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Takuma Sato of Japan drives the #14 Honda through a turn during the IndyCar Series Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.  (Jeff Gross / Getty Images)
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An exhibition race for Stadium Super Trucks laps the course at the Long Beach Grand Prix on Sunday.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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An exhibition race for Stadium Super Trucks laps the course at the Long Beach Grand Prix on Sunday.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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An exhibition race for Stadium Super Trucks laps the course at the Long Beach Grand Prix on Sunday.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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An exhibition race for Stadium Super Trucks laps the course at the Long Beach Grand Prix on Sunday.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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An exhibition race for Stadium Super Trucks laps the course at the Long Beach Grand Prix on Sunday.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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An exhibition race for Stadium Super Trucks laps the course at the Long Beach Grand Prix on Sunday.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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An exhibition race for Stadium Super Trucks laps the course at the Long Beach Grand Prix on Sunday.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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Rutledge Wood gets ready for the Pro/Celebrity Race during the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach auto race on Saturday.  (Ringo H.W. Chiu / AP)
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Josef Newgarden, driver of the #67 Sarah Fisher Racing Dallara Honda is seen during practice for the IndyCar Series at the Long Beach Grand Prix.  (Robert Laberge / Getty Images)
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E.J. Viso drives during practice for the IndyCar Grand Prix of Long Beach auto race Saturday.  (Ringo H.W. Chiu / AP)
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Dario Franchitti practices for the IndyCar Series Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach on Saturday.  (Robert Laberge / Getty Images)
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Scott Dixon, of New Zealand, rounds the hairpin during practice for the IndyCar Grand Prix of Long Beach auto race Saturday.  (Ringo H.W. Chiu / AP)
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Television host Rutledge Wood, race winner in the celebrity category, celebrates during the 37th Annual Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race Saturday.  (Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images)
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The view from pit row during Saturday’s American Le Mans Series final.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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The view from pit row during Saturday’s American Le Mans Series final.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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The view from pit row during Saturday’s American Le Mans Series final.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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The view from pit row during Saturday’s American Le Mans Series final.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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The view from pit row during Saturday’s American Le Mans Series final.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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The view from pit row during Saturday’s American Le Mans Series final.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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The view from pit row during Saturday’s American Le Mans Series final.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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The view from pit row during Saturday’s American Le Mans Series final.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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The view from pit row during Saturday’s American Le Mans Series final.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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The view from pit row during Saturday’s American Le Mans Series final.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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The view from pit row during Saturday’s American Le Mans Series final.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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The view from pit row during Saturday’s American Le Mans Series final.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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The view from pit row during Saturday’s American Le Mans Series final.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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The view from pit row during Saturday’s American Le Mans Series final.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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The view from pit row during Saturday’s American Le Mans Series final.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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The view from pit row during Saturday’s American Le Mans Series final.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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The view from pit row during Saturday’s American Le Mans Series final.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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The view from pit row during Saturday’s American Le Mans Series final.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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The view from pit row during Saturday’s American Le Mans Series final.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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The view from pit row during Saturday’s American Le Mans Series final.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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Wanda Sykes and friends gather after Saturday’s Toyota Pro/Celebrity race.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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Long Beach Grand Prix  (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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The racing action from Saturday’s Toyota Pro/Celebrity race.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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The racing action from Saturday’s Toyota Pro/Celebrity race.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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The racing action from Saturday’s Toyota Pro/Celebrity race.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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The racing action from Saturday’s Toyota Pro/Celebrity race.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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The Toyota and Lexus pace cars line up at Long Beach.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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Freelance photographer Shelby Knick, of Santa Monica, gets a close-up view of Indy Lights driver Sage Karam of Nazareth, Pa., going around a corner during practice of the Firestone Indy Lights series at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Kyle Sakai, 2, squeals with delight as he watches participants in the Toyota Pro/Celebrity race go by while on the shoulders of his father, Ken Sakai, of Pasadena.   (Allen J. Schabe / Los Angeles Times)
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Drivers Gabby Chaves, left, of Bogota, Colombia, and Matthew Di Leo, of Innisfil, Canada, practice during the Firestone Indy Lights series.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Fans watch Firestone Indy Lights series racers practice.   (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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A Corvette during the ALMS qualifying race on Friday.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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A Ferrari during the ALMS qualifying race on Friday.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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A car passes by during the ALMS qualifying race on Friday.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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A car passes by during the ALMS qualifying race on Friday.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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Cars from the ALMS qualifying race are towed back to their trailers after the round is finished.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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Cars from the ALMS qualifying race are towed back to their trailers after the round is finished.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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Cars from the ALMS qualifying race are towed back to their trailers after the round is finished.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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Cars from the ALMS qualifying race are towed back to their trailers after the round is finished.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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Cars from the ALMS qualifying race are towed back to their trailers after the round is finished.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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A car passes by during the ALMS qualifying race on Friday.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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A car passes by during the ALMS qualifying race on Friday.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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A car passes by during the ALMS qualifying race on Friday.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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A car passes by during the ALMS qualifying race on Friday.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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A car passes by during the ALMS qualifying race on Friday.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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A car passes by during the ALMS qualifying race on Friday.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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A car passes by during the ALMS qualifying race on Friday.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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A car passes by during the ALMS qualifying race on Friday.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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Fred Salas of Whittier adds some protection to the ears of his 5-year-old son, Jack, at the Toyota Grand Prix.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Comedian Wanda Sykes signs autographs after participating in the Toyota Pro/Celebrity race.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Fans line up to see drivers get ready for Toyota Pro/Celebrity race.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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The scene before the final practice round for the Toyota Pro/Celebrity race on Friday. The race final is Saturday.  (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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Actor Jesse Metcalfe before the start of Friday’s final practice round of the Toyota Pro/Celebrity race.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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Actor Jeremy Sisto gets buckled into a Scion FR-S for the final practice round of the Toyota Pro/Celebrity race.  (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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Actor Jeremy Sisto gets buckled into a Scion FR-S for the final practice round of the Toyota Pro/Celebrity race.  (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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Comedian and actor Wanda Sykes puts on her helmet prior to the final practice round of the Toyota Pro/Celebrity race.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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Actor Jenna Elfman gets some final tips before the final practice round of the Toyota Pro/Celebrity race.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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Actor Jenna Elfman gets some final tips before the final practice round of the Toyota Pro/Celebrity race.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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A damaged Scion FR-S driven by actor Michael Trucco heads to the pits after a mishap during the final practice round on Friday. The final is on Saturday.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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Mechanics work on cars in the Indy pits ahead of Friday’s qualifying race.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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Mechanics work on cars in the Indy pits ahead of Friday’s qualifying race.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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Mechanics work on cars in the Indy pits ahead of Friday’s qualifying race.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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Mechanics work on cars in the Indy pits ahead of Friday’s qualifying race.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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Comedian Wanda Sykes, left, and Olympic swimmer Jessica Hardy joke after Friday morning’s practice of the Toyota Pro/Celebrity race. The final is Saturday.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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Mechanics work to hammer out a small dent in the Scion FR-S of actor Jesse Metcalfe after Friday morning’s practice race. The final is on Saturday.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
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Mechanics work on the Scion FR-S of Olympic swimmer Jessica Hardy after Friday’s practice of the Toyota Pro/Celebrity race. The final is on Saturday.   (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)
By David Undercoffler
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Wanda Sykes has one goal for the weekend: Don’t catch on fire.

The comedian and actress is one of 21 people participating in this weekend’s Toyota Pro/Celebrity race at the Long Beach Grand Prix.

The actress joined her fellow drivers Friday morning in Long Beach for a final practice session on the course before the afternoon’s qualifying race. The final is 11:40 a.m. Saturday.

Photos: Behind the scenes at the 2013 Long Beach Grand Prix

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Sykes said that although she’d like to do well in Saturday’s race, it’s not her main concern.

“I’m competitive but I usually like sports where you can’t possibly end up on fire,” Sykes said, decked out in the fireproof racing suit all the racers were issued. “No one has ever ran out and hosed off Shaq, you know?”

Finishing the race with herself and her car in one piece would be foremost on her mind, Sykes said.

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Meanwhile, actor Jesse Metcalfe said he was out to win the whole thing.

Metcalfe, best known for his roles on “Desperate Housewives” and “Dallas,” said this wasn’t his first foray into motor sports. A “Dallas” storyline had his character, Christopher Ewing, get into stock car racing.

“I kind of caught the bug there,” Metcalfe said after the morning’s practice round. “This opportunity presented itself, and here I am.”

Friday’s practice session was the first time the drivers got to pass one another, an outing Metcalfe relished.

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“The intensity of everyone being out there, being at full competition level, was pretty intense and exhilarating at the same time,” Metcalfe said.

He experienced this firsthand in the final laps of the practice round when a pass attempt found him trading paint with the tire barriers on the side of the track. His Scion FR-S had cosmetic damage, but mechanics were able to hammer out the dents in time for the afternoon’s qualifying race.

Metcalfe and Sykes are competing against other celebrities such as actors Jeremy Sisto from “Law & Order” and “Six Feet Under,” Jenna Elfman from “Dharma & Greg” and Jackson Rathbone from the “Twilight” films.

The Toyota Pro/Celebrity race puts everyone into identical Scion FR-S cars that have been specifically tweaked and tuned for the rigors of racing. Toyota said that since 1991, the race has raised more than $2 million for Racing for Kids, a program that raises money for children’s hospitals.

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David Undercoffler

David Undercoffler no longer works for the Los Angeles Times. Previously, he was an auto writer. Primarily responsible for reviewing new cars, he also covered industry news, auto shows, classic cars, and anything else the motorized world of Southern California had to offer.

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