Jim Michaelian, Long Beach Grand Prix founder and president, dies at 83
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Jim Michaelian, the race car driver who helped launch the annual Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, has died.He was 83.The Grand Prix Assn.
of Long Beach confirmed his death on Saturday, just weeks before this year’s race, which is scheduled for April 17-19.Michaelian joined the Grand Prix Assn.of Long Beach in 1975, a then-fledgling competitive race, and grew it into one of the most popular street racing events in the world.
The annual three-day event draws thousands of race car enthusiasts and brings tens of millions of dollars into the city of Long Beach.Sports The Long Beach Grand Prix is considered the biggest race of the IndyCar season after the Indy 500, and the drivers would like nothing more than a win Sunday.“Jim was a leader of a small, passionate group who believed in the concept of bringing elite open-wheel competition to Long Beach in the 1970s,” said Roger Penske, Penske Corporation chairman, in a statement.
“His vision and energy surrounding this great event remained boundless for 50 years.”Penske Entertainment acquired the Grand Prix Assn.of Long Beach in 2024.
Michaelian was a competitive sports car racer for more than 25 years, competing in endurance events at tracks including Le Mans, Daytona Beach, Nürburgring, Dubai and Sebring in Florida.He told The Times in 2019 that he was still racing sports cars at 76.
“As long as I can achieve some level of success, I’m going to continue doing it until they tell me I can’t anymore,” he said then.A native of Monterey Park, Michaelian (pronounced meh-KAY-lee-un) graduated from UCLA with a bachelor’s degree in physics.But he turned his attention to business and went on to earn an MBA there.
Driven by a love of motor racing, Michaelian eventually talked his way onto the staff of the Long Beach Grand Prix.He served as the association’s controller and chief operating officer before being appointed ...