The countdown is on for the second stop on the 2010 American Le Mans Series season, the Grand Prix of Long Beach. 

This is the happening event this week in Southern California, a big double-header race weekend with the ALMS and Indy car, plus the Toyota Pro Celebrity race.

Now in its 36th year, Long Beach is the granddaddy of street circuits in the United States, kind of the American version of Monaco. There are lots of people, cars, palm trees, boats, the Queen Mary and it all adds up to a big festival with lots of atmosphere.

Ace photographer Rick Dole serves up a few shots of Long Beach 2009 to help set the scene.

Palm trees, sunshine, the Queen Mary, and fast cars, must be Long Beach.