Floyd Ganassi Jr. (born May 24, 1958) better known as Chip Ganassi , is an American businessman, former racing driver, current team owner and member of the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America. He has been involved with the North American auto racing scene for over 30 years. He is owner and CEO of Chip Ganassi Racing which operates teams in the IndyCar Series , WeatherTech SportsCar Championship , FIA World Endurance Championship , and Extreme E . He is the only team owner in history to have won the Indianapolis 500, the Daytona 500, the Brickyard 400, the Rolex 24 at Daytona, the 12 Hours of Sebring and most recently the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
27-561: Ganassi attended the Bob Bondurant Driving School in 1977 while a student at the Fox Chapel Area High School . He won his first auto race in a Formula Ford at the age of 18. He began his CART ( Champ Car ) racing career [Ed. at Trenton Speedway in 1978-`79—see Talk Page] in 1982 upon graduating from Duquesne. Though a broken camshaft kept him from completing his first CART race at Phoenix , Ganassi qualified with
54-428: A Lola T70 Can-Am car , and a Formula Vee . By 1970, the school relocated to the nearby Ontario Motor Speedway . Noting how the school increased Datsun's profile, Porsche began supplying Bondurant with Porsche 911s and Porsche 914s . In 1973, with the school gaining popularity, Bondurant moved the operation to a track of his own, Sears Point International Raceway (now Infineon Raceway ) near Sonoma, CA . In 1976,
81-798: A 100-voter nominating committee to determine the six finalists in each category. The second, open to all 200 voters, decides that year's inductee in each category. Each inductee receives the Hall of Fame's prestigious “Horsepower” award — an original bronze statuette by renowned Ann Arbor, Michigan sculptor Michael Curtis. Curtis sculptures have been presented both to and by United States Presidents . The inaugural Motorsports Hall of Fame of America class in 1989 featured Cannon Ball Baker (Motorcycles), James Doolittle (Aviation), A. J. Foyt (Open Wheel), Don Garlits (Drag Racing), Phil Hill (Sports Cars), Bill Muncey (Powerboats), Barney Oldfield (Historic) and Richard Petty (Stock Cars). The annual Induction Ceremony
108-488: A career best second in to 1984 Budweiser Grand Prix of Cleveland . Ganassi's career career was cut short by a crash at the 1984 Michigan 500 , the race immediately following the Grand Prix of Cleveland. In one of many major accidents to occur in that year's race, Ganassi spun his car coming off one of the banked turns, and collided with Al Unser Jr. 's car. Ganassi's car then skated across the grass run-off area, slammed into
135-526: A research organization, with a network of experts on motorsports topics. It fields a broad range of questions on motorsports topics from journalists, historians, researchers and individuals. The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America's Induction Ceremony has been attended by major names in the motorsports world throughout its history. Recent Honorary chairmen have included Formula 1 CEO Chase Carey , 1978 Formula 1 World Champion Mario Andretti and 2004 NASCAR Cup Series Champion Kurt Busch . Autoweek said of
162-532: A seventh-place finish a month early in the Löwenbräu Classic, at Road America , assisted by David Sears . Both times driving for Spice Engineering , in one for their Spice-Pontiac SE86CL . In what was to be his last international race outing, Ganassi was entered into the 1987 24 Hours of Le Mans , as a member of the Kouros Racing . One of his teammates for the event, Johnny Dumfries set the fastest lap of
189-509: A time he regained consciousness, and while initially suffered short term memory loss he would go on to feel he had made a full recovery. Ganassi never returned to driving full-time after the accident, although briefly drove in both CART and IMSA in 1986. Ganassi achieved his top sportscar result in the 1986 Kodak Copies 500 at Watkins Glen that taking the Camel Light class victory, with his race partner, Bob Earl (7th overall). He also recorded
216-460: Is hall of fame that honors motorsports competitors and contributors from the United States from all disciplines, with categories for Open Wheel , Stock Cars , Powerboats , Drag Racing , Motorcycles , Sports Cars , Aviation , at Large, Off-Road and Historic. Periodic recognition is given to specialty categories including Speed Records, Business and Technology. Its annual Induction Ceremony
243-533: Is attended by notables throughout the motorsports community and is reported on widely. The MSHFA was incorporated in 1986 as an IRS 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization by civic leaders of the City of Novi, Michigan , led by Founding Chairman Larry G. Ciancio. Its inaugural Induction Ceremony was held in 1989. Ron Watson was its founding President and continued to serve in that capacity until his untimely death in October 2019. He
270-564: Is housed within the Ticket and Tours Building at Daytona International Speedway. Admission is open daily as part of regular speedway tours. On display are vehicles and artifacts related to the Hall of Fame's inductees and achievements. Examples include historic racing vehicles, memorabilia, informational displays and plaques honoring the MSHFA's more than 260 inductees. There are also two movie theaters featuring motorsports content. The MSHFA also serves as
297-416: Is open to individuals who have participated in driving, piloting, owning, designing, building, supporting, maintaining, preparing, or promoting motorized vehicles to pursue speed, distance, or other records. To qualify for induction, candidates must either have been retired for at least three years or have been actively engaged at the highest level of their motorsports discipline for at least 20 years. Induction
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#1732873619923324-527: Is open to the public via tickets purchased in advance. The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America museum on the grounds of Daytona International Speedway welcomes more than 100,000 visitors per year. The museum was originally located in Novi, MI , birthplace of the famous Novi Special Indianapolis 500 racecars. It later moved to the Detroit Science Center before relocating to Daytona Beach. The museum
351-403: Is restricted to United States citizens or non-citizens who have achieved notable motorsports accomplishments within the U.S. Induction is decided by a straight vote among 200 racing experts: historians, experienced journalists, category experts and existing inductees. The voting process is overseen by certified accountants. Every year there are two rounds of voting. The first is conducted among
378-613: Is the MSHFA's premier event and takes place every March in Daytona Beach, Florida . The event incorporates motorsports legends past and present, just as it features new inductees on the main stage. Traditionally, each inductee is presented for induction by another prominent figure in the motorsports community. In 2019, multi-time champions Jimmie Johnson , Jack Beckman , Don Prudhomme and Scott Dixon , Indianapolis Motor Speedway President Doug Boles, former American Suzuki Vice President Mel Harris and automotive designer Peter Brock took
405-530: The 2019 induction, “Emceed by the best in the business, broadcaster, former driver and 2009 inductee David Hobbs... it was arguably the smoothest, best-run ceremony in the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America’s history.” The announcements of each new class of inductees are covered by TV outlets, magazines and websites, including ESPN , Forbes , INDYCAR , Autoweek , and Racer . Other publications such as Autocar and Car and Driver have lauded
432-587: The Heroes of Horsepower reception held in the MSHFA museum the night before the black-tie ceremony at which the new inductees unveil their permanent Hall of Fame sculptures. Additionally, the Heritage Luncheon spotlights the induction of the honorees in the Historic category. The Inductee Breakfast allows the incoming class and returning Hall of Famers to open up in a lively Q&A session. Admission to all events event
459-658: The Monessen School district prior to his family moving to the Fox Chapel. He graduated from the Fox Chapel Area High School in 1978 and with a degree in finance from Duquesne University in 1982. He received an Honorary Doctorate from Carnegie Mellon University in 2011. Ganassi was appeared in Sylvester Stallone 's movie Driven , the film took place in fictionalized 2001 season. He is credited as "Team Owner" and fielded Til Schweiger played as Beau Brendenburg. He
486-575: The chance to build the world's first purpose-built driver training facility. However, land limitations only allowed a downsized version of his dream training facility. In late 2018, citing financial troubles and infrastructural damage, the school and company were forced into Chapter 11 protection . As a result, the school’s assets were sold off in 2019. Motorsports Hall of Fame of America 29°11′8″N 81°4′10″W / 29.18556°N 81.06944°W / 29.18556; -81.06944 The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America ( MSHFA )
513-626: The fastest speed, 197 mph, and competed in the Indianapolis 500 five times, with a best finish of 8th in 1983. He was voted the Most Improved Driver in 1983, and took 9th position in the CART standings. During that season, he took Patrick Racing ’s Wildcat onto the podium twice, the first at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas , then again at Laguna Seca . The following season, he would go on and finish
540-480: The inside Armco barrier, tumbled multiple times and broke apart. Unser was uninjured, but Ganassi suffered serious head injuries. When CART doctor Stephen Olvey reached Ganassi he found him unconscious and unresponsive, and initially feared that Ganassi had been killed in the accident. When Olvey was about to start administering CPR, Ganassi resumed breathing. He was airlifted to the University of Michigan Hospital . After
567-549: The movie " Winning ". The school was founded in 1968 by World Champion and ten-time hall of fame inductee Bob Bondurant , and was located at the Orange County International Raceway . Bondurant initially approached Porsche for funding and support, but his request was turned down due to the uncertainty of the endeaver. Bob then approached Datsun , which agreed to support his plans. The starting lineup of cars included Datsun 240Zs, 510s , 2000 convertibles,
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#1732873619923594-526: The president of Ford Motor Company convinced Bondurant to abandon Datsun's backing and work with Ford, with whom he had won the World Championship during his racing years. Ford offered Bondurant a full sponsorship of cars, parts, and marketing until 2003. In 1989, Bondurant was invited to Firebird Raceway (now known as Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park ) in Chandler, AZ to consider an offer which promised
621-553: The race prior to handing the car over to Ganassi upon whom the gearbox broke. Ganassi was formerly a vice president of FRG Group, his father's organization involved in commercial real estate, transportation and other areas. In addition to his racing interests, he is also a former minority owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates major league baseball team. Ganassi is a strong supporter of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital , to which his teams have donated over US$ 500,000. He attended
648-643: The stage and presented Tony Stewart , Don Schumacher, Linda Vaughn , Dario Franchitti , Augie Duesenberg , Kevin Schwantz and Phil Remington respectively for induction at the black-tie ceremony. The Class of 2020 includes Red Byron (Historic), Chris Carr (Motorcycles), Floyd Clymer (At Large), Wally Dallenbach (Open Wheel), Rick Hendrick (Stock Cars), Jacky Ickx (Sports Cars), Tiny Lund (Historic), “Ohio George” Montgomery (Drag Racing) and Ivan “Ironman” Stewart (Off-Road). The two-day induction experience includes several other events as well, including
675-593: The world. It featured a 15-turn, 1.6-mile road course, an eight-acre asphalt pad for advanced training with more than 100 race-prepared vehicles. Bob Bondurant 's copyrighted Bondurant Method taught competition driving , police pursuit driving, evasive driving for chauffeurs and bodyguards , stunt driving, and other courses. The school graduated over 500,000 drivers since its opening in 1968. Many NASCAR drivers were trained at Bondurant's school for road course training, along with many celebrity actors for driving scenes, including Paul Newman and Robert Wagner for
702-543: Was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2016. ( key ) Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving The Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving was an American performance driving school located in Chandler, Arizona at the Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park . At the time of its founding, the school was the largest purpose-built driving school in
729-476: Was succeeded as president at his request by noted motorsports author and historian and longtime MSHFA board member George Levy . The mission of the MSHFA is to “further the American core values of leadership, creativity, originality, teamwork and spirit of competition embodied in motorsports.” The MSHFA is operated by the nonprofit Motorsports Museum and Hall of Fame of America Foundation Inc. Induction eligibility
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