Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach CEO/President Jim Michaelian passes
The heart of the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach stopped beating Saturday, March 21. Jim Michaelian, 83, who had been part of Chris Pook’s magic dream to transport “Iowa by the Sea” from a sleepy naval town to a destination city, died on Saturday, March 21, less than a month before the 51st edition of the race that he helped make into one of the most storied events in motorsports.
Michaelian originally joined Pook’s small organizational group on the financial side, serving as controller, COO, CEO and president since 2001, and his love of the sport and his enthusiasm for this event soon saw him take on more responsibilities. Once Pook left the Grand Prix Association, the race had Jim’s imprint as he helped make it CART’s, Champ Car’s and finally the NTT INDYCAR SERIES’ second-most popular event after the historic Indianapolis 500 Mile Race.
The news of Michaelian’s death – no details were given – came from INDYCAR and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Roger Penske, who co-owns the Speedway, INDYCAR, the Long Beach race and his Team Penske INDYCAR and IMSA teams noted, “Everyone at Penske Entertainment and within the INDYCAR community is deeply saddened by the passing of Jim Michaelian. 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, worked tirelessly to make it happen despite steep odds and then helped nurture the Grand Prix of Long Beach into becoming America’s premier street race.
“His vision and energy surrounding this great event remained boundless for 50 years,” Penske said, “as no task was too small for Jim even while he served in numerous leadership roles,” including as president and CEO of the Grand Prix Association. “Penske Entertainment,” which is the current owner of this race, “is committed to honoring Jim’s legacy of putting fans and competitors first as we continue to build the strong foundation he and his staff created for a half-century in Long Beach. Our deepest sympathies are with his wife, Mary, and their sons, Bob and Mike.”
Even as the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring continued on the airport circuit in Florida, IMSA President John Doonan had to stop and remember the man who championed sports car racing and who drove in many IMSA competitions over the years, including both races that constitute IMSA’s “36 Hours of Florida,” the Rolex 24 at Daytona and this weekend’s Sebring race: “All of us here at IMSA are shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of longtime Grand Prix Association of Long Beach President and CEO Jim Michaelian,” Doonan remarked.
“Jim was a racer’s racer and adware friend to isa and the motorsports community at large. In addition to his stewardship of the Long Beach event, Jim was a frequent competitor in IMSA races over the years,” Doonan reminded. “We will sorely miss his presence at Long Beach and racetracks everywhere (Michaelian could be seen in videos at last weekend’s INDYCAR race in Arlington, TX). Our thoughts and prayers are with Jim’s family, friends and colleagues. This is a devastating loss for our motorsports family.”
Michaelian, who intended to pass the baton to Jim Liaw after this 51st, was omnipresent at each Long Beach race, using a scooter to get around the tough circuit. He was intimately involved in most every aspect of the event, and always made time to speak with anyone, a fan, a worker, team owners, crew members and drivers. He would come to the Dan Gurney Media Center post-race each year to thank the media for its contributions. When this writer thanked him for his work at the Grand Prix, Michaelian said he intended to consult with Penske Entertainment. “I’m staying here in Long Beach; can’t get rid of me that easily!” If only.