Formula E electric cars race in Long Beach (pictures)

The sixth race in the all-new Formula E series was held in Long Beach, and was free to spectators. This race is unique because it is run with electric cars.

All teams are required to use the same car, the Spark SRT_01e. An open-wheel car, it has an electric motor driving the rear wheels and a battery pack behind the driver.

As with modern racing cars, the steering wheel holds paddles for shifting and an instrument panel.

Formula E uses a BMW i8 as its pace car.

The cars use wireless charging with inductive pads. Charging one of the racing cars takes about 45 minutes.

The paddock is filled with the team tents, with space for each driver's cars.

The e.dams-Renault team holds the most points at the start of the Long Beach race.

The technicians from team Trulli ready one of their cars for race day.

The Audi Sport ABT team has one of the top drivers in the series, Lucas di Grassi.

After qualifying laps, handlers from team Venturi, cofounded by actor Leonardo Di Caprio, push one of their cars back to the paddock.

Cars from team Amlin and Mahindra get pushed back to the paddock for recharging and maintenance before the race.

Team Andretti driver Jean-Eric Vergne hit a wall during qualifying laps, doing serious damage to his car. Surprisingly, technicians were able to fix it before the race.

While teams get their cars ready for the race, drivers aged 11 to 16 compete in their own electric cars as part of the FE School Series.

Car cockpits are kept cool with umbrellas on pit lane just before the start of the race.

And they're off! China Racing chases Venturi on the second straight.

China Racing comes out of turn 6.

This China Racing car, driven by Charles Pic, rides the apex on turn 7.

Team Mahindra goes into turn 7.

A driver from team Trulli comes down the front straight.

An Andretti driver comes out of turn 4.

Virgin racing on the front straight. Catch fences line the track, preventing parts from crashed cars from flying into grandstands.

Halfway through the race and its time to change cars. Here, a Venturi team driver is ready to go in a freshly charged car.

A Trulli driver makes his way, as quickly as possible, to his freshly charged car.

Three cars come out of turn 6, into turn 7's hairpin.

Fans watch from the grandstands as another car comes  around turn 6.

China Racing's Nelson Piquet heads towards the finish line on the front straight.

At the podium, it's Nelson Piquet in first, Jean-Eric Vergne in second and Lucas di Grassi in third.