Thirty years.
That reflects how long Chip Ganassi has fielded championship-level cars in motorsports, and it is still difficult for him to believe. And, it includes these numbers:
Two hundred twenty-three race wins
Eighty-eight drivers employed
Nineteen series championships, including 12 in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES
Four Indianapolis 500 victories
A Daytona 500 victory
A Brickyard 400 victory
24-hour wins at Daytona and Le Mans
“It’s hard to believe it’s been 30 years,” Ganassi said. “I’ve been lucky to have great people, great partners and great drivers work with me in that time. I always tell people I had a fossil fuel-fired youth having raced karts, motorcycles, Indy cars and sports cars.
“I could have never in my wildest dreams imagined owning a race team back then, and now it’s incredible to see where it is now. I’m not going anywhere, and I think we have a lot of wins and championships left in us. I can’t wait for the 2020 season to open for us in Daytona (NASCAR) and St. Petersburg (INDYCAR).”
The NTT INDYCAR SERIES season begins Sunday, March 15 with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Five-time series champion Scott Dixon, Felix Rosenqvist and the newest member of the team, Marcus Ericsson, will be driving Hondas for Ganassi.
Ganassi, a former Indy car driver, started his race team in 1990, building it into one of the most successful teams in motorsports history. Beginning with its first race win in 1994 – Michael Andretti won CART’s race in Surfers Paradise, Australia – the organization has scored historic victories in some of the most iconic races in the world.
In addition to the Indianapolis 500, Chip Ganassi Racing has won the Rolex 24 At Daytona on eight occasions and had victories in the 12 Hours of Sebring and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In 2011, his IMSA team completed the “Chip Slam” by adding the Rolex 24 victory to the Daytona 500, Indianapolis 500 and Brickyard 400, making Ganassi the first team owner to hold all four titles at one time.
Over the years, the team has won races and championships with eight different manufacturers in seven touring series.
To celebrate the success, a year-long, multi-car exhibit titled “Chip Ganassi Racing: Fast Tracks to Success” is ongoing in the legendary Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. CGR plans to roll out a season-long social media campaign with elements including a commemorative logo, a special edition prize pack for fans and a CGR Memorable Moments vide series.
CGR will test with the rest of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES competitors next week, Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb. 11-12, at Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas.