1. Chip Ganassi has been involved with the North American auto racing scene for over 30 years.
18 Facts About Chip Ganassi
1. 2.
Chip Ganassi won his first auto race in a Formula Ford at the age of 18.
3.
Chip Ganassi was voted the Most Improved Driver in 1983, and took 9th position in the CART standings.
4.
In one of many major accidents to occur in that year's race, Chip Ganassi spun his car coming off one of the banked turns, and collided with Al Unser Jr.
5.
When CART doctor Stephen Olvey reached Chip Ganassi he found him unconscious and unresponsive, and initially feared that Chip Ganassi had been killed in the accident.
6.
Chip Ganassi was airlifted to the University of Michigan Hospital.
7.
Chip Ganassi never returned to driving full-time after the accident, although briefly drove in both CART and IMSA in 1986.
8.
Chip 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.
9.
Chip Ganassi recorded a seventh-place finish a month early in the Lowenbrau Classic, at Road America, assisted by David Sears.
10.
In what was to be his last international race outing, Chip Ganassi was entered into the 1987 24 Hours of Le Mans, as a member of the Kouros Racing.
11.
Chip Ganassi was formerly a vice president of FRG Group, his father's organization involved in commercial real estate, transportation and other areas.
12.
Chip Ganassi is a strong supporter of St Jude Children's Research Hospital, to which his teams have donated over US$500,000.
13.
Chip Ganassi attended the Monessen School district prior to his family moving to the Fox Chapel.
14.
Chip Ganassi graduated from the Fox Chapel Area High School in 1978 and with a degree in finance from Duquesne University in 1982.
15.
Chip Ganassi received an Honorary Doctorate from Carnegie Mellon University in 2011.
16.
Chip Ganassi appeared in Sylvester Stallone's movie Driven, the film took place in fictionalized 2001 season.
17.
Chip Ganassi is credited as "Team Owner" and fielded Til Schweiger played as Beau Brendenburg.
18.
Chip Ganassi was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2016.