Jim Michaelian, longtime Long Beach Grand Prix CEO, dies at 83
Michaelian had been with the street race since the beginning and was weeks away from his 51st and final event before leaving his president and CEO roles.
Jim Michaelian dedicated the majority of his life to putting on the best street race he could in Long Beach. He died Saturday at 83 years old — weeks before the 51st Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.
More than five decades ago, Michaelian helped Chris Pook bring street racing to Long Beach and he never looked back. At the time, Pook brought Formula One to the city, with Michaelian as one of his first hires for the newly-formed Grand Prix Association of Long Beach.
On Sept. 28, 1975, a Formula 5000 race marked the beginning of a decades-long tradition, which Michaelian made his life. After the first race, F1 sped through the streets of Long Beach until 1984 when the race switched to IndyCar.
In a statement Saturday, Mayor Rex Richardson said he was “deeply saddened” by Michaelian’s death, calling him a “beloved figure” in Long Beach.
“Jim didn't just lead the Grand Prix — he lived it,” Richardson wrote. “His passion, warmth, and dedication turned an event into a tradition, and a tradition into a source of pride for generations of Long Beach residents. His legacy will live on in the sound of the engines, the roar of the crowd, and the spirit of Long Beach.”
During the early years, Michaelian served as controller and then chief operating officer. When Pook left the organization in 2001, Michaelian stepped into the president and CEO roles, which he held until his death.
His cause of death was not released.
The Long Beach event is the longest-running major street race in North America and has grown into an economic juggernaut for the city. Each year the event brings just shy of 200,000 people to the city over three days, making it the largest event in Long Beach.
Last year, the race celebrated its 50th anniversary — and Michaelian was ecstatic.
“It certainly is a sense of accomplishment when you look back on some of the challenges … over the years,” he told the Watchdog a week before the milestone race weekend last year. “I don’t think anybody imagined that it would turn out to be quite the production that it is today.”
In January, Michaelian announced he would be leaving the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach for a new role at Penske Entertainment, which acquired the association in 2024.
“[Jim's] 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," Roger Penske said in a statement Saturday. "Penske Entertainment is committed to honoring Jim’s legacy of putting fans and competitors first as we continue to build on the strong foundation he and his staff created for a half-century in Long Beach."
Michaelian was staying on as CEO until June 30, at which point Jim Liaw would assume the CEO role. In the January announcement, Michaelian said leading the association “has been the privilege of a lifetime.”
“This event and this community mean a great deal to me, and I’m proud of what our team has built together,” he said. “For 50 years, I 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.”
A graduate of UCLA with a bachelor of science in physics and an MBA, Michaelian lived and breathed racing — and not just as an organizer. He also was a competitive racer for more than 25 years, according to the association, and competed in endurance racing at Le Mans, Daytona, Nürburgring, Spa, Watkins Glen, Dubai and Sebring.
Away from the track, Michaelian enjoyed spending time with his wife, Mary, and their two sons, Bob and Mike, the association said in Saturday’s announcement.
“A loving and devoted husband, nothing meant more to Jim than his family,” the association wrote. “One of the ways he brought everyone together was through Sunday family dinners, which became a cherished tradition. Around that table were lively and passionate discussions about motorsports, finance, and politics – 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,” the association continued. “But more than anything, Jim was someone who led by example. Through his actions, his values, and the way he cared for others, he left a lasting impression on everyone fortunate enough to know him.”
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