Jim Michaelian, the racing driver who helped launch the annual Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, has died. He was 83 years old.
The Asson Grand Prix. 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-nascent competitive race, making it one of the most popular street racing events in the world. The annual three-day event attracts thousands of race car enthusiasts and brings tens of millions of dollars to the city of Long Beach.
“Jim was the leader of a small, passionate group that believed in the concept of bringing elite open-wheel racing to Long Beach in the 1970s,” Roger Penske, president of Penske Corporation, said in a statement. “His vision and energy around this great event remained limitless for 50 years.”
Penske Entertainment acquired 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 such as Le Mans, Daytona Beach, the Nürburgring, Dubai and Sebring in Florida. He told The Times in 2019 that he was still racing sports cars at age 76.
“As long as I can achieve some level of success, I'm going to keep doing it until they tell me I can't,” he said then.
Originally from 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 earned an MBA there. Driven by his love of motor racing, Michaelian eventually made his way onto the staff of the Long Beach Grand Prix.
He served as the association's controller and chief operating officer before being named president and CEO in 2001. During his 51-year tenure, Michaelian transformed Long Beach into an iconic stop in the world of motorsports.
A variety of races take place on the city's coastal streets over the three days, culminating with a major league IndyCar Series race on Sunday. The races feature different types of cars, and one is for trucks, to appeal to a wider audience.
But the Long Beach Grand Prix is more of a festival organized around racing. There are concerts, a lifestyle expo, a kids zone with go-karts and other activities, plus a variety of places to eat and drink, all centered around the Long Beach Convention Center and Shoreline Drive.
Michaelian said he kept his pulse on the crowd by constantly walking around the track to monitor how grand prix fans were enjoying the activities. I would examine any issues that might need solving or if changes needed to be made for the following year.
“A lot of young people don't want to sit in the seats now,” he told The Times in 2019. “They're taking selfies, telling about their experience in Long Beach, and the only way to do that is to move.
“So if they're moving, I'm moving” by creating more places where they can gather, listen to music and have food options nearby, he said then.
Last year, Michaelian was inducted into the Long Beach Motorsports Walk of Fame.
“Jim was a race driver and a dear friend to IMSA and the motorsports community at large,” John Doonan, president of the International Motor Sports Association, said in a statement. “His presence in Long Beach and at racetracks around the world will be greatly missed.”
The Grand Prix Association. of Long Beach did not reveal the cause of his death.
Michaelian is survived by his wife, Mary, and sons, Bob and Mike.
Former Times staff writer James F. Peltz contributed to this report.
