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Chip Ganassi
Chip Ganassi
Chip Ganassi
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Floyd "Chip" Ganassi Jr. (born May 24, 1958) 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.

Key Information

Racing driver

[edit]

Ganassi attended the Bob Bondurant Driving School in 1977 while a student at the Fox Chapel Area High School.[1] He won his first auto race in a Formula Ford at the age of 18. He began his CART (Champ Car) racing career in 1982 upon graduating from Duquesne. Though a broken camshaft kept him from completing his first CART race at Phoenix, Ganassi qualified with 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 a career best second in to 1984 Budweiser Grand Prix of Cleveland.

Ganassi's career was cut short by a huge 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 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 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.[2] Ganassi never returned to driving full-time after the accident,[3][4][5][6][7][8] 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 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 the race prior to handing the car over to Ganassi upon whom the gearbox broke.[9][10]

Team owner

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Ganassi and Lorin Ranier at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2014
Main article: Chip Ganassi Racing

Personal life

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Ganassi was formerly a vice president of FRG Group, his father's organization involved in commercial real estate, transportation and other areas.[3] 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.[11]

He attended 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.[12] He received an Honorary Doctorate from Carnegie Mellon University in 2011.

Ganassi 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.

Awards

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He was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2016.[13]

Racing record

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Career highlights

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Season Series Position Team Car
1981 Robert Bosch Formula Super Vee Championship[14][15] 6th March-Volkswagen 79/80SV
Ralt-Volkswagen RT5
1981-82 USAC Gold Crown Series[16][17] 37th First Commercial Corp. Wildcat-Cosworth
1982 PPG Indy Car World Series[18][19] 34th Rhoades Racing Wildcat-Cosworth
1982-83 USAC Gold Crown Series[20] 16th Patrick Racing Wildcat-Cosworth
1983 PPG Indy Car World Series[21][22] 9th Patrick Racing Wildcat-Cosworth
1983-84 USAC Gold Crown Series[23][24] 32nd Patrick Racing March-Cosworth 84C
1984 PPG Indy Car World Series[25][26] 20th Patrick Racing Wildcat-Cosworth
March-Cosworth 84C
1986 IMSA Camel Light Championship[27][28] 35th Spice Engineering Spice-Pontiac SE86CL

American open-wheel racing results

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(key)

CART

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Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Rank Points Ref
1981 Brayton Racing PHX1 MIL1 ATL1 ATL2 MIS RIV MIL2 MIS2 WGL MEX PHX2
DNQ 		NC - [29]
1982 Rhoades Racing PHX1
22 		ATL MIL1 CLE
11 		MIS1
31 		MIL2 POC
17 		RIV ROA MIS2
16 		PHX2 34th 10 [30]
1983 Patrick Racing ATL INDY
8 		MIL CLE
13 		MIS1
8 		ROA
21 		POC
26 		RIV MDO
25 		MIS2
6 		LVG
3 		LS
3 		PHX
5 		9th 56 [31]
1984 Patrick Racing LBH
25 		PHX1
11 		INDY
28 		MIL
11 		POR
15 		MEA
9 		CLE
2 		MIS1
27 		ROA POC MDO SAN MIS2 PHX2 LS LVG 20th 24 [32]
1985 A. J. Foyt Enterprises LBH INDY
22 		MIL POR MEA CLE 51st 0 [33]
Machinists Union Racing MIS1
22 		ROA POC MDO SAN MIS2 LS PHX MIA
1986 Machinists Union Racing PHX1
14 		LBH INDY
21 		MIL POR MEA CLE TOR MIS1 POC MDO SAN MIS2 ROA LS PHX2 MIA 43rd 0 [34]

Indianapolis 500

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Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

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Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
1987 Switzerland Kouros Racing United Kingdom Johnny Dumfries
New Zealand Mike Thackwell 		Sauber-Mercedes C9 C1 37 DNF
(Gearbox)

Complete 24 Hours of Daytona results

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Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
1986 United States RC Buick Hawk/Conte United States John Paul Jr.
Italy Ivan Capelli
United States Whitney Ganz 		March-Buick 85G GTP 310 DNF
(Engine)

Complete 24 Hours of Spa results

[edit]
Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
1980 Belgium I.M.C. Toyota Belgium Emmanuel Remion
Belgium José Close 		Toyota Corolla GT ser.T1.6 DNQ

References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Chip Ganassi

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Floyd "Chip" Ganassi Jr. (born May 24, 1958) is an American businessman, former professional racing driver, and prominent team owner in motorsports, best known for founding and leading (CGR), a powerhouse organization with successes across multiple racing series. A graduate of Duquesne University's , Ganassi transitioned from driving to ownership after a career marked by competitive finishes in open-wheel racing, ultimately building CGR into a team that has secured 24 championships and over 260 race victories as of 2025. His innovative approach and long-term partnerships, such as with Target since 1990, have defined his legacy in the sport. Ganassi began his racing career in the late after attending the School of High Performance Driving, competing primarily in the IndyCar series during the 1980s. He made five starts in the from 1982 to 1986, achieving three podium finishes in his career, including a runner-up position to at the 1984 Grand Prix of . A severe crash at Pennsylvania's in 1984 prompted his shift toward team management, though he briefly returned to driving before fully committing to ownership. In 1990, Ganassi co-founded what would become with Pat Patrick, starting as a single-car team before expanding into , , and other disciplines. Under his leadership, CGR has won 17 championships, six s (in 2000, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2022, and 2025 with driver Alex Palou), eight Rolex 24 at Daytona endurance races, and class victories at the . The team achieved a historic milestone in 2010 by winning both the and the in the same season, and across 2010 and 2011, Ganassi became the only owner to claim victories in the four major U.S. races—Daytona 500, , , and Rolex 24 at Daytona. Inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2016, Ganassi's contributions extend beyond the track, including advocacy for racing's growth and innovation in team operations based in and .

Early Life

Family and Upbringing

Chip Ganassi, born Floyd Ganassi Jr. on May 24, 1958, in , , grew up in a family deeply rooted in the city's business landscape. His father, Floyd Ganassi Sr., was a prominent Pittsburgh entrepreneur who built a successful career in the and materials industry, starting with a small asphalt paving company in West Newton and expanding into commercial real estate, transportation, and aggregate production such as sand and gravel. Floyd Sr., a veteran and avid sports enthusiast, provided strong financial and emotional backing for his son's pursuits, often attending races and capturing moments with his camera. Ganassi's mother, Marie Moia Ganassi, played a pivotal role in nurturing the family's supportive environment, emphasizing discipline and encouraging her children's interests in speed and competition. Raised in Fox Chapel, a suburb of Pittsburgh known for its industrial heritage and automotive ties, young Chip was immersed in the region's vibrant culture of manufacturing and machinery, which sparked his fascination with vehicles from an early age. Ganassi's initial exposure to motorsports came through family connections to local racing scenes, facilitated by his father's business dealings in the paving and transportation sectors that intersected with Pittsburgh's automotive events and tracks. His childhood passion for cars and speed manifested early, particularly when, at around age five, his father acquired three go-karts as payment for a debt from a local track owner, allowing Ganassi and his cousins to race them and igniting his lifelong interest in the sport. This hands-on experience laid the groundwork for his later involvement in professional racing.

Education and Early Interests

Ganassi attended Fox Chapel Area High School in the Pittsburgh suburb of , where he graduated in 1978. During his high school years, he developed a strong interest in motorsports through participation in dirt-bike contests, which served as an extracurricular outlet for his competitive energy and affinity for mechanical pursuits. His passion for racing was initially sparked by his family, particularly when his father gifted him go-karts at age five, leading to early involvement in amateur karting during his childhood in the . By his late teens in the late 1970s, Ganassi had progressed to more structured amateur , competing in local events and transitioning to club-level racing starting in 1977, including SCCA-sanctioned national races around 1980. These experiences honed his driving skills and deepened his mechanical interests through hands-on participation in entry-level motorsport circuits. Following high school, Ganassi enrolled at in , where he pursued a tailored to . He graduated in 1982 with a in from the A.J. Palumbo School of Business Administration, gaining foundational knowledge in and operations that would later influence his strategic approach to racing team oversight. Although specific academic influences from peers or professors are not prominently documented, his coursework emphasized practical principles, bridging his racing enthusiasm with entrepreneurial acumen.

Racing Career as Driver

Professional Debut

Chip Ganassi began his racing career in amateur events in 1977, shortly after attending the School of High Performance Driving, where he secured his first auto race victory at age 18 while still in high school. His background in dirt bike provided a foundation for transitioning to four-wheeled competition, though the shift required adapting to the technical demands of circuit . Ganassi made his professional debut in the Champ Car series in 1982, fresh from graduating with a degree from , which aided in negotiating his initial sponsorship and team affiliation. Driving for Rhoades Racing in the No. 12 Wildcat-Cosworth entry sponsored by First Commercial Corp., he competed in select events, including his rookie appearance, where he qualified 11th as the fastest novice but finished 15th after an engine failure. In 1983, Ganassi transitioned to Pat Patrick Racing for his first full CART season, piloting the No. 60 Wildcat-Cosworth with Sea Ray Boats sponsorship. He achieved an eighth-place finish at the Indianapolis 500, completing 195 laps while running, a solid result amid the series' intense competition. Early challenges included acclimating to the high-speed handling of open-wheel cars and the pressures of qualifying in a field dominated by veterans, where mechanical reliability often determined outcomes.

Key Victories

Ganassi's entry into the series as a in 1982 was highlighted by his strong showing at the , where he qualified as the fastest with a four-lap average speed of 197.704 mph, securing the 11th starting position before finishing 15th due to engine failure after completing 147 laps. This performance marked a promising debut despite mechanical setbacks in his initial national open-wheel races. In 1983, Ganassi reached a career peak in , achieving his best finish at the with an eighth-place result while driving for Boats. He also recorded third-place finishes at the and the Cribari Wines 300 at , contributing to a ninth-place standing in the season points championship. These results demonstrated his growing competitiveness in the series. The 1984 season brought Ganassi's highest single-race achievement in when he finished second at the Grand Prix of for , trailing winner . This was part of a campaign that included consistent top-10 qualifying efforts, though limited by injury later that year. Beyond open-wheel racing, Ganassi earned notable successes in GT events during the , including finishes in the series. A standout result came in 1986 at the Kodak Copies 500 at Watkins Glen, where he secured victory in the Camel Light class driving a Spice SE86CL GTP alongside . Over his five-year CART tenure from 1982 to 1986, Ganassi accumulated 27 starts, with his result standing as his best at the event across five appearances.

Retirement

Ganassi's driving career was dramatically altered by a severe crash during the of the 1984 Michigan 500 at . On July 22, a cut tire caused his March Wildcat-Cosworth to veer left into the path of Al Unser Jr.'s car, resulting in a violent collision where Ganassi's vehicle flipped, struck the guardrail top-first, and slammed into Unser's machine. He sustained critical injuries, including swelling, a broken , a fractured right hand, a , cuts, bruises, and was unconscious for over 12 hours. Ganassi remained in serious condition initially but remarkably walked out of the hospital on his own after three days, marking the immediate aftermath of an incident that nearly cost him his life. Following a gradual health recovery that allowed partial rehabilitation, Ganassi attempted a limited comeback, driven by his prior successes such as podium finishes in . In 1985, he made a single appearance at the for A.J. Foyt's team, finishing 22nd despite ongoing effects from the crash. By 1986, at age 27, he competed in four additional races, including a 25th-place start at the , and made limited appearances in the Camel Light Championship, where he co-drove a Spice SE86CL to victory at the Kodak Copiers New York 500 at Watkins Glen alongside . These outings, however, highlighted persistent physical challenges, culminating in his full retirement from driving after the 1986 . At the time of his retirement, Ganassi reflected on a driving career that, though abbreviated, had established him as a promising talent in and , with 27 starts and notable endurance efforts. He later described the 1984 crash as a "BIG crash" from which he was "lucky to survive," crediting it with shifting his focus away from the cockpit due to the inherent risks.

Team Ownership

Founding Chip Ganassi Racing

Following his retirement from driving in 1987, Chip Ganassi transitioned into team , marking a pivotal shift in his motorsports career. In 1990, he founded as a one-car operation in the CART IndyCar World Series, acquiring full control of the former assets after serving as co-owner from 1988 to 1989. The team debuted with as its initial driver in the No. 15 Target-sponsored Lola chassis, competing in its first full season that year. The team's early sponsorship came from Target, which became its primary partner starting in 1989 during Ganassi's co-ownership of and continued seamlessly into the 1990 launch of , forming one of the longest-running partnerships in motorsports history. This alliance provided crucial financial backing for operations, enabling the team to establish a competitive presence in from the outset. Initially based in Pittsburgh, —Ganassi's hometown and tied to his family's construction roots—the operation reflected his personal investment in the venture. Funding for the team's inception drew from Ganassi's personal resources, bolstered by connections to his family's longstanding Pittsburgh-based businesses in asphalt paving and aggregates, such as the acquired Davidson Gravel company originally built by his father. As the team grew, it relocated its primary racing facilities to in the early 1990s to better align with the ' epicenter, while maintaining a corporate office in . This strategic move supported early operations, including engineering and logistics for the single-car effort.

Expansion Across Series

In the 1990s, Chip Ganassi Racing solidified its dominance in CART open-wheel racing through strategic partnerships and talent acquisition. The team was established in 1990 when Ganassi purchased and secured a sponsorship deal with Target, transforming it into a competitive force in the series. This merger enabled rapid growth, culminating in four consecutive championships from 1996 to 1999, driven by in 1996 and 1997, Alex in 1998, and in 1999. Ganassi's signing of Montoya, a champion, in 1998 was pivotal, as the Colombian driver delivered 10 wins and the 1999 title, including a dominant victory in 2000 that marked the team's first win in the race. Following the CART/IRL split and the series' evolution into Champ Car and then the unified , Ganassi Racing diversified into other disciplines in the early to broaden its operations. In , Ganassi acquired an 80% stake in NASCAR's Sabco Racing, rebranding it as with and aligning with as the manufacturer starting in , which introduced the team to with entries in the Cup Series. This move expanded the organization's footprint beyond open-wheel, leading to 44 NASCAR wins across the Cup and Series, including victories in the and Brickyard 400. Simultaneously, Ganassi ventured into , entering the and in the early 2000s with partnerships like . The team fielded prototypes at the in 2000, 2001, and 2002 using Cadillac's Northstar LMP engines, marking its international endurance racing debut. In IMSA-sanctioned events, Ganassi achieved multiple wins starting in the mid-2000s, such as the 2009 overall victory with a , contributing to eight triumphs in the event overall. These expansions included evolving founding sponsorships like Target into multi-series support, enhancing resource sharing across disciplines. Operationally, the team's growth involved scaling to multi-car entries in , reaching up to four full-time cars by the late 2000s, alongside and programs. This diversification led to significant employee expansion, with the organization employing over 200 staff by the 2010s to manage its cross-series operations, including engineering, logistics, and driver development.

Recent Successes

In the 2025 NTT season, secured its 17th team , a record-breaking achievement surpassing the previous all-time record, with driver Alex Palou clinching his fourth consecutive driver's title after a dominant performance that included multiple wins and podiums throughout the year. The team's lineup featured Palou in the No. 10 , six-time champion Scott Dixon in the No. 9, and rookie Kyffin in the No. 8, contributing to a strong points haul that solidified CGR's position as a perennial contender. Chip Ganassi Racing expanded its sustainability initiatives following its entry into in 2021, emphasizing eco-friendly practices across its operations. In 2025, the team earned 13 Medals from the Green Operations and Leveraging Sustainability () program, recognizing achievements in areas such as health and wellness, diversity, and environmental impact, highlighting CGR's commitment to reducing its carbon footprint in motorsports. A notable partnership development in 2025 saw become the primary sponsor for Palou's No. 10 car at the , marking the AI company's first livery position in and underscoring growing ties between technology and racing. Following the conclusion of the 2024 season, ended its partnership with Cadillac Racing, ceasing operations in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and Hypercar classes. The team had previously built on a third-place finish in the Hypercar class at the with its entry.

Achievements and Awards

Driver Honors

Ganassi earned the Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year award in 1982 after qualifying 11th overall with the fastest speed among newcomers at 197.704 mph, marking a strong debut in open-wheel racing. This honor recognized his rapid adaptation to the demanding 500-mile event, where he finished 15th despite mechanical challenges. In 1983, Ganassi was voted the CART Most Improved Driver by his peers, reflecting his progress from a rookie season to achieving a career-best eighth-place finish at the Indianapolis 500 and ninth in the overall CART standings. This accolade highlighted his consistent top-10 results across multiple races that year, including strong performances at tracks like Michigan and Road America, which solidified his reputation as a promising talent in the series. Ganassi's driving career also included track-specific recognitions, underscoring his speed on ovals. These performance-based honors from the emphasized his competitive edge in events, even as injuries curtailed his full-time in later years.

Ownership Accolades

In 2016, Chip Ganassi was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in recognition of his enduring legacy as one of the most successful and innovative team owners in motorsports history. This honor highlighted his contributions across multiple racing disciplines, including championships and victories achieved through (CGR). Ganassi holds the distinction of being the only team owner in racing history to secure victories in the , , , Rolex 24 at Daytona, , and . This unprecedented "Chip Slam" underscores his teams' versatility and dominance in open-wheel, stock car, and endurance racing, with the final piece—the win—achieved in 2016. Under Ganassi's ownership, CGR has captured 17 NTT team championships as of the 2025 season, when Alex Palou clinched the title to mark the organization's 17th crown and tie for the series record. These titles, spanning from 1996 to 2025 and won by six different drivers, represent a 56.6% success rate in the 30 seasons since Ganassi's entry. In addition to competitive accolades, CGR has earned recognition for sustainability efforts, receiving 13 GOAL Medal Awards in 2025 for initiatives in areas such as environmental strategy, , and . These honors reflect Ganassi's commitment to integrating green practices into high-performance racing operations.

Personal Life

Family and Relationships

Chip Ganassi married Cara Small in 1995, and the couple remains together as of 2025. They have one daughter, , who has participated in family-oriented racing traditions, including drawing the first qualification pick for the in 2015. The family maintains a primary residence in , a suburb of , while Ganassi also has significant ties to , , where his racing operations are based. Ganassi's transition from active racing driver to team owner was influenced by his family's longstanding support for his pursuits, particularly from his father, Floyd Ganassi, who provided early encouragement through go-karts and backed his career until a severe 1984 crash prompted retirement from driving.

Philanthropy and Business Ventures

Chip Ganassi held a minority ownership stake in the , Major League Baseball's franchise based in his hometown, from the late 1990s until approximately 2004. Ganassi's early business experience stemmed from his family's construction firm, where he worked after earning a degree from in 1982, gaining foundational skills in operations and management that later informed his entrepreneurial pursuits. His initial role involved the family's asphalt paving company, Westmoreland Paving, which he helped expand before transitioning to other ventures. In philanthropy, Ganassi has been a longtime supporter of , with his racing teams contributing over $1 million since 1997 through victory bonuses, lap-led donations, and special events, including a $50,000 check presented in 2013. He has also backed youth development in motorsports via the Journie Driving Academy, launched in partnership with Journie Rewards in 2024, which provides financial aid, equipment, and mentorship from to promising young karting talents, resulting in 15 race wins and 27 podiums for its inaugural class by late 2024. Ganassi's business interests extend to sustainability efforts through Chip Ganassi Racing's "One Team, One Planet" platform, introduced in 2024 and expanded in 2025, focusing on adoption, waste reduction, and ESG governance to enhance operational efficiency and community environmental impact in . This initiative earned the team 13 Green Operations and Leadership (GOAL) Medals in 2025, more than doubling the previous year's achievements across sustainability categories. Ganassi maintains strong community ties in , where he received the 2025 Daniel M. Rooney Ambassador's Award from The Ireland Funds for his leadership and contributions to local causes, and in , supporting educational outreach like mentoring Carnegie Mellon University's racing team for over two decades.

Racing Record

Career Highlights

Chip Ganassi began his professional driving career in the (CART) series in 1982, making his debut at the where he qualified as the fastest rookie and finished 15th overall. In 1984, he achieved his best career result with a runner-up finish at the Grand Prix, though the season was marred by a severe crash at that sidelined him for much of the year. Ganassi competed in 27 CART races through 1986 before retiring from driving to focus on team ownership. Transitioning to ownership, Ganassi founded in 1990 as a single-car team in partnership with Target, marking the start of a dominant era in open-wheel racing. The team secured four consecutive championships from 1996 to 1999 with drivers , (twice), and , establishing Ganassi as a powerhouse in the series. A pivotal moment came in 2000 when Montoya delivered Ganassi's first victory, leading 167 laps in a dominant performance. Ganassi expanded into sports car and stock car racing, achieving a historic "Grand Slam" in 2010–2011 by becoming the first owner to win the Indianapolis 500, Daytona 500, Brickyard 400, and Rolex 24 at Daytona within a 12-month period. The signing of Scott Dixon in 2003 proved instrumental, with the New Zealand driver's long-term loyalty contributing to six of Ganassi's IndyCar titles and solidifying the team's culture of continuity and success. As of 2025, Chip Ganassi Racing has amassed 24 championships across multiple series, including a record-tying 17th NTT IndyCar Series title won by Alex Palou.

Open-Wheel Results

Chip Ganassi began his racing career as a in the PPG IndyCar World Series, competing from 1982 to 1986 across 27 starts with teams including Rhoades Racing and . During this period, he recorded no wins or poles but achieved three podium finishes, highlighted by a second-place result at the 1984 Budweiser Grand Prix of . His strongest season came in 1983, when he finished ninth in the drivers' championship standings after consistent top-10 performances. Ganassi also qualified for the five times, with his best result an eighth-place finish in 1983; other finishes included 15th in 1982, 11th in 1984, 22nd in 1985, and 21st in 1986 after completing 151 laps.
YearStarting PositionFinishing PositionLaps CompletedStatus
19821115189Running
1983168197Running
19842311190Running
19852522170Running
19862121151+49 laps
Ganassi transitioned to team ownership in 1990, initially fielding entries under and partnering with outfits like Galles-Kanowski Racing in the early 1990s to build competitiveness. This collaboration contributed to strong results, including Arie Luyendyk's pole at the and second-place championship finish, Michael Andretti's third in points in 1993, and the team's first win with Andretti in 1994 at Surfers Paradise. The partnership helped establish Ganassi as a rising force in open-wheel racing before the team achieved dominance with four consecutive drivers' championships from 1996 to 1999, secured by (1996), (1997–1998), and (1999). Following the open-wheel split, Chip Ganassi Racing entered the Indy Racing League (now ) in 2000, immediately winning the with Montoya. The team has since become one of the most successful in American open-wheel history, amassing 17 drivers' championships (4 in , 13 in ), 145 race wins (40 in , 105 in ), 72 poles, and 283 podiums as of the end of the 2025 season. Key IndyCar titles include Scott Dixon's six (2003, 2008, 2013, 2015, 2018, 2020), Franchitti's three consecutive wins (2009–2011), and Álex Palou's four (2021, 2023, 2024, 2025), with the latter clinching the 2025 championship to tie the series record held by . The team also captured five victories (2000, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2025). Chip Ganassi Racing has maintained strong contention across seasons, often finishing in the top three in team standings. In 2025, the team dominated with Palou winning the drivers' title and the squad securing first in the team championship, powered by engines and featuring Palou, Dixon, and rookie . Earlier highlights include 19 total wins across series in the landmark 2010 season and a 1-2 championship finish in 2023 with Palou and Dixon.
YearDrivers' Championship Winner (CGR)Team Championship PositionWinsNotes
1990N/A10th0Team debut with
1991N/A8th0-
1992N/A ( 2nd)3rd1Merger with Galles-Kanowski
1993N/A ( 3rd)4th2-
1994N/A (Andretti 2nd)2nd3First team win with Andretti
1995N/A5th1-
1996 (1st)1st4First championship
1997 (1st)1st5-
1998 (1st)1st6-
1999 (1st)1st7-
2000N/A (IRL debut)4th2Indy 500 win with Montoya
2001N/A6th1-
2002N/A5th2-
2003 (1st)1st4-
2004N/A3rd3-
2005N/A4th2 joins
2006N/A2nd5-
2007N/A2nd6-
2008 (1st)1st7Indy 500 win
2009 (1st)1st5-
2010 (1st)1st6Indy 500 win; 19 series wins total
2011 (1st)1st4-
2012N/A3rd3Indy 500 win with Franchitti
2013 (1st)1st5-
2014N/A4th2-
2015 (1st)1st3-
2016N/A3rd4-
2017N/A2nd5-
2018 (1st)1st6-
2019N/A3rd4-
2020 (1st)1st7-
2021 (1st)1st5-
2022N/A (Dixon 3rd)3rd2-
2023N/A (Palou 2nd, Dixon 3rd)2nd91-2 in standings
2024 (1st)1st6-
2025 (1st)1st817th title; Indy 500 win

Endurance Racing Results

Chip Ganassi Racing entered endurance racing in 1997 with a Riley & Scott GT program, expanding to prototypes by 1999 and competing in the Grand-Am from its inception in 2000, initially with Lexus-powered . The team quickly established dominance, securing its first Daytona Prototype manufacturers' championship that year. Over the subsequent years, Ganassi's program amassed five Grand-Am championships in the series, including drivers' and teams' titles in 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013 with BMW-powered entries driven by and , who together won multiple class championships. These successes laid the foundation for the team's transition into the unified WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in 2014. The pinnacle of Ganassi's endurance achievements is its record eight overall and class victories at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, more than any other team in the event's history. These triumphs span from the early through the late , showcasing versatility across prototypes and GT cars. Notable performances include a one-two finish in 2011, completing a rare "Grand Slam" of major U.S. endurance and victories within a 12-month period, and back-to-back GT class wins in 2017 and 2018 with the , the latter marking the team's 200th overall racing victory.
YearClassCarKey DriversNotes
2000DPRiley & ScottVariousFirst overall win
2001DPRiley & ScottVariousRepeat victory
2002DPRiley & ScottVariousThird consecutive win
2011DP, , etc.One-two finish; part of Grand Slam
2013DP, , , Pruett's fifth win, tying record
2015PRiley-Ford, , , Record sixth overall win
2017GTLMVariousFirst GT-class win; defended prior title
2018GTLM, , Richard WestbrookSwept top two in class; 200th team win
Beyond Daytona, Ganassi has excelled in other endurance events. The team claimed its first overall victory at the in 2014 with a Riley-Ford prototype driven by , , and , becoming the first owner to win both Sebring and the Rolex 24 in the same era of prototypes. A second Sebring triumph came in 2022 with the No. 02 DPi-V.R, led by , , and Richard Westbrook, finishing just ahead of a fellow entry. At the Motul , Ganassi secured consecutive overall wins in 2023 and 2024 with the No. 01 V-Series.R, driven by Renger van der Zande and Sebastien Bourdais, capping strong seasons that contributed to 's GTP manufacturers' championships in those years. Internationally, Chip Ganassi Racing achieved a significant milestone at the in 2017, winning the Pro class with the No. 68 driven by , Dirk Müller, and . This victory highlighted the team's global reach during its factory Ford partnership, which also yielded multiple GT Le Mans class wins and the 2017 GTLM drivers' championship for the No. 67 entry. Ganassi's endurance program concluded its GTP era after the 2024 season, having amassed over 20 victories across Grand-Am and platforms.

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