{"id":230601,"date":"2026-03-21T23:58:14","date_gmt":"2026-03-21T23:58:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/230601\/"},"modified":"2026-03-21T23:58:14","modified_gmt":"2026-03-21T23:58:14","slug":"jim-michaelian-grand-prix-of-long-beachs-longtime-leader-has-died-at-83-press-telegram","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/230601\/","title":{"rendered":"Jim Michaelian, Grand Prix of Long Beach\u2019s longtime leader, has died at 83 \u2013 Press Telegram"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jim Michaelian, high-profile leader of the Grand Prix of Long Beach<\/a> for the past quarter-century, died on Saturday, March 21, just a few weeks away from the final event<\/a> he planned to oversee before his retirement, race officials announced. He was 83.<\/p>\n

Last year, Michaelian celebrated the landmark 50th anniversary<\/a> of the race, now the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. Michaelian\u2019s last day as president and CEO of the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach was scheduled to be June 30. He will be succeeded by Jim Liaw, the former general manager of \u00a0Performance Racing Industry, which hosts the largest annual motorsports trade show in the world.<\/p>\n

The cause of death had not yet been released by officials as of Saturday and Michaelian family requested privacy after his passing.<\/p>\n

\u201cJim didn\u2019t just lead the Grand Prix \u2014 he lived it,\u201d said Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson on Saturday.\u00a0 \u201cHis passion, warmth, and dedication turned an event into a tradition, and a tradition into a source of pride for generations of Long Beach residents. Under his leadership, the Grand Prix became a global event and a defining part of Long Beach\u2019s identity. He will be remembered not only for what he built, but for the relationships he nurtured and the pride he inspired.\u201d<\/p>\n

Related: Rich Archbold: Jim Michaelian has loved racing since his hot rod days<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cMore than anything, Jim was someone who led by example,\u201d said a statement from the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach, director of communications for the race. \u201cThrough his actions, his values, and the way he cared for others, he left a lasting impression on everyone fortunate enough to know him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Michaelian was involved in the race since its inception in 1975. He saw it grow from a modest curiosity \u2014 with some people initially calling founder Chris Pook\u2019s idea for a downtown street race \u201ccrazy\u201d \u2014 to an iconic motorsports event that draws around 200,000 people annually and is widely considered the second-most prestigious IndyCar Series race, behind only the famed Indianapolis 500.<\/p>\n

Under his leadership, the Grand Prix became Long Beach\u2019s biggest annual party, enjoyable for everyone from casual fans to diehard motorsports lovers \u2014 and even the competitors. He also led the event through some challenging times, notably the COVID-19 pandemic, and got to celebrate his accomplishments last year during the 50th anniversary. Last year, he was inducted into the Motorsports Walk of Fame outside the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center.<\/p>\n

\"Grand<\/p>\n

Grand Prix Association of Long Beach President and CEO Jim Michaelian describes the 2025 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach on Thursday, February 20, 2025. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram\/SCNG)<\/p>\n

\"Grand<\/p>\n

Grand Prix Association President and CEO Jim Michaelian, left, is joined by Long Beach Grand Prix founder Chris Pook and his wife, Ellen, at a pre-race celebration for the 50th incarnation of the event on Wednesday, Mar. 19, 2025, at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)<\/p>\n

\"Jim<\/p>\n

Jim Michaelian is inducted in the Motorsports Walk of Fame during a ceremony at the Long Beach Convention Center on Thursday, April 10, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Jim<\/p>\n

Jim Michaelian is inducted in the Motorsports Walk of Fame during a ceremony at the Long Beach Convention Center on Thursday, April 10, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Jim<\/p>\n

Jim Michaelian, president and CEO of the Grand Prix Association, left, gets a hug from Allen Wolfe Spirit Award recipient Rich Archbold on Saturday, Apr. 20, 2024, in the Grand Prix of Long Beach media center. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)<\/p>\n

\"FILE<\/p>\n

FILE | Grand Prix Association CEO Jim Michaelian and driver Danica Patrick along with her pit crew were on hand to compete in the Pit Stop Competition at the “Tecate “Thunder Thursday on Pine. ” Stephen Carr \/ Press-Telegram<\/p>\n

\"Then-Long<\/p>\n

Then-Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia and Grand Prix Association of Long Beach President & CEO Jim Michaelian kick off the first full day of construction for the then-Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach temporary race circuit through the downtown streets of Long Beach. FILE PHOTO \n<\/p>\n

Show Caption<\/p>\n

1 of 7<\/p>\n

Grand Prix Association of Long Beach President and CEO Jim Michaelian describes the 2025 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach on Thursday, February 20, 2025. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram\/SCNG)<\/p>\n

Expand<\/a><\/p>\n

Michaelian\u2019s tireless efforts to promote \u2014 and sometimes defend \u2014 the annual event truly paid off, with the Grand Prix\u2019s audience continuing to build over the years. For the past several years since the pandemic, the event\u2019s attendance numbers have increased annually \u2014 with the 2025 weekend bringing in a record 197,000 visitors.<\/p>\n

The race, since its founding, has also become a crucial cornerstone of the local and regional economy. In 2024, the event generated about $100 million worth of economic impact in Southern California.<\/p>\n

\u201cLeading the Grand Prix Association and the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach has been the privilege of a lifetime,\u201d Michaelian said in a statement when he announced his retirement. \u201cThis event and this community mean a great deal to me, and I\u2019m proud of what our team has built together. Coming off our very successful 50th celebration, I feel this is the right time to make this transition.<\/p>\n

Related: Here are some key moments from Jim Michaelian\u2019s Grand Prix of Long Beach career<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cFor 50 years,\u201d he added, \u201cI have been given the unique opportunity to merge my passion for motorsports with involvement with the longest-running street race in America, which has been a distinct privilege.\u201d<\/p>\n

Away from the race, Michaelian was known as a private man who enjoyed spending time with his wife, Mary, and two sons, Bob and Mike.<\/p>\n

\u201cA loving and devoted husband, nothing meant more to Jim than his family. He especially treasured the time he spent with his two boys, creating memories that will be carried forever,\u201d said the statement from the race.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the ways he brought everyone together was through Sunday family dinners, which became a cherished tradition,\u201d the statement added. \u201cAround that table were lively and passionate discussions about motorsports, finance, and politics \u2013 topics Jim loved and brought to life with insight and enthusiasm. He was an avid reader, a thoughtful man, and someone people naturally turned to for advice and guidance.\u201d<\/p>\n

After this year\u2019s Grand Prix, the GPALB said, Michaelian was scheduled to transition into a new role with Penske Entertainment, which acquired the Long Beach street race in November 2024 from its longtime owner Gerald R. Forsythe.<\/p>\n

Michaelian was in the midst of what he aimed to be a seamless transition to the race\u2019s new leader, he said. \u201cI, of course, initially will be helping Jim Liaw in his transition to the presidency of the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. Jim is an excellent choice.\u201d<\/p>\n

Penske owns a three-car team in the IndyCar Series, with Josef Newgarden, Will Power and Scott McLaughlin as drivers. Penske teams have won 17 IndyCar Series championships and five NASCAR championships. The company\u2019s teams have won the Indianapolis 500 a record 20 times \u2014 and it owns the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.<\/p>\n

After Penske acquired the Grand Prix, the company said it intended to preserve the event\u2019s core attributes \u2014 while working to enhance and bolster race weekends offerings for fans of all kinds.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s really important to note,\u201d Mayor Richardson said earlier this year, \u201cis that he ensured that the race was in good hands under the new ownership of Penske Entertainment, ensuring that the race is positioned for continued growth on the world stage.\u201d<\/p>\n

Liaw was Michaelian\u2019s first choice to succeed him, he said earlier this year.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know him well.\u00a0 He was my first choice to move into my position. He\u2019s been involved in our event for years,\u201d Michaelian said. \u201cI want to remain active and involved in racing. I love the sport.\u201d<\/p>\n

Liaw took on the temporary role of general manager for the upcoming Grand Prix of Long Beach, and was working closely with Michaelian to make sure the leadership transition went smoothly.<\/p>\n

Truly a household name in Long Beach, Michaelian was well known for his passion for auto racing \u2014 a love he stoked ever since he was a child,\u00a0 learning how to drive a car on the backroads of his grandmother\u2019s vineyard in Fresno during summers.<\/p>\n

As a teenager back at his home in Alhambra, he graduated to driving hot rods.\u00a0 His love of fast cars brought with it speeding tickets through his college days at UCLA and his early years working at different jobs.<\/p>\n

\u201cDriving around Southern California, I got my fair share of tickets,\u201d Michaelian told Press-Telegram columnist Rich Archbold in an interview a few years ago. In fact, instead of driving a car to a key meeting in 1975 to hear about a proposal to start a Formula 1 Grand Prix race on Long Beach streets, Michaelian, then 32, rode a bike.\u00a0 It\u2019s not that he didn\u2019t want to drive a car to the meeting at the Port of Long Beach.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t because his license had been suspended because of the speeding tickets.<\/p>\n

But, nothing was going to keep him from hearing about this proposed race, the brainchild of Pook, an Englishman who had come to the United States and was running a travel agency in downtown Long Beach.<\/p>\n

In a book by Gordon Kirby, \u201cChris Pook & the History of the Long Beach GP,\u201d Pook rode up with two colleagues in an elevator to the sixth floor of the port building for a meeting of the Coastal Commission.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey were joined at the last minute by a short man with long dark hair,\u201d Kirby wrote.\u00a0 \u201cHe arrived on his bicycle and stood it up on its rear wheel as he joined them in the elevator.\u201d<\/p>\n

That man with a bike was Michaelian who didn\u2019t know Pook then, but he interviewed with Pook two days later and asked Pook if there was anything he could do to help the race project move forward.<\/p>\n

Michaelian had a bachelor\u2019s degree in physics and a master\u2019s degree in business administration. It was a time when many young men were going into engineering because of the U.S. space race with Russia, which had launched Sputnik.<\/p>\n

Michaelian decided he wasn\u2019t cut out to save the world as a space engineer.\u00a0 He tried different jobs, including working for a motor supplier and operating some bookstores.<\/p>\n

Nothing really interested him until he heard about Pook\u2019s Grand Prix proposal. Pook was looking\u00a0 for a chief financial officer to manage the financial operations of the hoped for first Grand Prix.<\/p>\n

Michaelian eventually became CEO and president of the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach when Pook left to take a racing job in Indianapolis, Indiana.<\/p>\n

During a recent interview, Michaelian acknowledged the impact the race has had on the city over five decades. \u201cLooking back, the race changed the image of Long Beach. Back then, as a Navy town, it was in the shadow of Los Angeles. The Grand Prix created a new vitality in the city which has grown where we had more than 200,000 attendants last year.\u201d<\/p>\n

Michaelian was fiercely proud the event and how it evolved over the decades. \u201cWe wanted to provide an exciting racing event and one that was also entertaining and safe for everyone,\u201d he said earlier this year.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been a genuine thrill to have this opportunity I\u2019ve had,\u201d he said. \u201cIt was the opportunity of a lifetime. I have no regrets.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added: \u201cI love racing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Staff writer Christina Merino contributed to this report.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Jim Michaelian, high-profile leader of the Grand Prix of Long Beach for the past quarter-century, died on Saturday,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":230602,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[7,179,131,28942,133,132,137,100,10238,10374,136],"class_list":["post-230601","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-long-beach","tag-california","tag-community","tag-long-beach","tag-long-beach-grand-prix","tag-long-beach-headlines","tag-long-beach-news","tag-los-angeles-county","tag-news","tag-obituaries","tag-obituary","tag-top-stories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/230601","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=230601"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/230601\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/230602"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=230601"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=230601"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=230601"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}