Grand Prix Association of Long Beach president and CEO Jim Michaelian died Saturday, just four weeks before the street race was scheduled to roar again along the city’s shoreline, association officials said.
Michaelian was 83. His cause of death was not released.
Michaelian wore increasingly larger hats during the past 51 years of the annual race, serving first as the Grand Prix Association’s controller, chief operating officer and then being named president and CEO in December 2001.
The race has had multiple sponsors, the most recent is Acura.
Michaelian graduated from UCLA with a BS in Physics and an MBA. He was a competitive sports car racer for more than 25 years and competed in endurance events at tracks including Le Mans, Daytona, Nürburgring, Dubai and Sebring.
Penske Entertainment acquired the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach in November 2024.
Penske Corporation chairman Roger Penske reflected on Michaelian’s contributions. “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,” Penske said.
“His vision and energy surrounding this great event remained boundless for 50 years, as no task was too small for Jim even while he served in numerous leadership roles,” Penske said.
The Grand Prix Association announced in January that Michaelian would lead the 2026 race before assuming a new role in Penske Entertainment June 30.
He is survived by his wife, Mary, and sons Bob and Mike.