Grand Prix of Long Beach betting news, odds and tips

Sky Sports F1, 9pm Sunday

There have been three different winners of the opening races of the IndyCar season and there could well be a fourth after today's Grand Prix of Long Beach.

Josef Newgarden, rookie Colton Herta and veteran Takuma Sato have stood on the top step of the podium, but title contenders Alexander Rossi and 2018 champion Scott Dixon are on the front row with strong prospects of joining the list of winners.

Rossi is 100-30 favourite after taking pole for a race which he won last season and it may be best not to look too far down the grid as the event has been won from pole, fourth, third and third in the last four years.

Dixon, a 4-1 shot, was the Long Beach victor in 2015, second in 2016 and led most laps before finishing fourth in 2017. He looks set to deliver a strong challenge after topping the times in second practice and second qualifying.

The Kiwi had looked on course to go faster on his final run but bailed out on the lap after making a small mistake.

With solid street-course performers Will Power, Newgarden, Simon Pagenaud and Graham Rahal on the second and third rows, those further back may need some luck with yellow flags to get their chance.

Those with the speed to impress if they get such an opportunity include rookies Felix Rosenqvist, who crashed in Q2 when already well set to make the Fast Six, and Pato O'Ward, along with the more experienced Ryan Hunter-Reay and last week's surprise winner Sato.

Rosenqvist, Dixon's teammate, starts 12th when he could have been right at the front, but he looks worth a small interest to make ground in the race.

Leading standings: 1 J Newgarden 125, 2 S Dixon 98, 3 T Sato 91, 4 A Rossi 84, 5 C Herta 81.

Leading grid positions: 1 A Rossi, 2 S Dixon, 3 W Power, 4 J Newgarden, 5 S Pagenaud, 6 G Rahal.

Recommendations
S Dixon
2pts 4-1 bet365, BoyleSports
F Rosenqvist
0.5pt e-w 25-1 bet365

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