All proceeds from silent and live auctions benefit The Mark Donohue Foundation
and The Grand Prix Foundation of Long Beach
LONG BEACH, Calif. (April 11, 2025) – The Road Racing Drivers Club, in cooperation with the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach, celebrated the Grand Prix’s 50 years of racing through the streets of this port city, at a gala held Thursday at the Westin Hotel in Long Beach.
A record crowd of nearly 600 racing luminaries representing a variety of racing series, including INDYCAR, IMSA, NHRA, SRO and others, were in attendance at the dinner presented by Firestone.
The evening featured TV commentator Ralph Sheheen as M.C. and RRDC president Bobby Rahal as host and interviewer of the honored guests representing the half-century of competition in Long Beach:
Mario Andretti – victor at Long Beach four times and credited with establishing the race as a world-class event, winning the 1977 Formula 1 U.S. Grand Prix West and the 1984 race when the event switched to Indy cars.
Al Unser Jr.– the winningest driver at Long Beach, with six victories (1988-91 and 1994-95) over a dominant eight-year span.
Brian Redman – winner of the inaugural Long Beach race in 1975, an SCCA/USAC Formula 5000 event, which set the stage for Formula 1 to race on the city streets for the next eight years.
Jim Michaelian, Grand Prix Association of Long Beach President and CEO, was recognized for his many years of success with the Grand Prix by the incoming new owners of the GPLB, Penske Entertainment. Bud Denker, President of Penske Corporation, presented Michaelian with a helmet signed by all the current INDYCAR drivers and a photographic montage of the event’s rich history, saying, “We’re going to invest in this event. We’re going to be here for another 50 years, we hope, as well…. Jim, your amazing team here has put this event on and it’s incredible what you’ve created here.”
Denker also gave a shout-out to Chris Pook, whose brainstorm initially helped launch the GPLB in 1975: “I think it’s respectful to honor the person that’s been really driving the train here and, Chris, thank you for all your leadership for all these years.”
Said Michaelian: “I want to thank our staff, our volunteers, and quite frankly, those who have come along in the past and contributed to our success. Because, without them, we never would’ve been able to achieve what we have. And quite frankly, the promise of the future is very bright.”
Rahal, in his usual “Late Night with David Letterman” style, then interviewed the legendary drivers and co-Grand Marshals of this year’s Grand Prix, eliciting amusing stories of not only their time racing in Long Beach but at other venues around the world throughout their legendary careers. Laughter filled the room.
The party ended with a live auction of famed artist Bill Patterson’s 60×42 original painting – which he completed during the two-hour reception – depicting the race cars from Formula 5000, Formula 1 and INDYCAR, driven by the honorees to victory at Long Beach, with the city as a backdrop. The bidding was fierce, resulting in a promise of a second painting being commissioned, each going for $20,000.
“This was a wonderful event for all of us,” said Andretti. “And to have been able to participate [at Long Beach] right from the very beginning, having the success that we had, my own son winning his first, and his very last INDYCAR race here, it’s got something very special that it’s hard to even express properly. It’s a marquee event for all of us. Thank you.”
From Brian Redman: “It’s great to be back here for the 50th anniversary. I was rather lucky to win in 1975, because Mario Andretti, Tony Brise, and Al Unser Sr. all broke down. I had a mechanical problem and I had to take it easy, relatively. It’s wonderful to be recognized for that accomplishment 50 years ago. I wish Penske Entertainment all the best.”
“It was a great evening,” said Unser Jr. “It was something that comes only once in a lifetime, and for me to be included with legends like Brian Redman and Mario Andretti was just a true honor and a dream come true.”
“This is really the granddaddy of street circuits in this country, despite many, many efforts of other cities to have something like it,” said Rahal. “This is the one that made it. It was two people here tonight who truly saw something that nobody else did. The one in particular that made this happen was Chris Pook. Of course, he had great help with people like Dan Gurney, who was a big fan of the event. Phil Hill and others jumped on board Chris’s train that was taking this event to where we are today.
“I’d also like to thank tonight and recognize Jim Michaelian. I believe Jim started initially as the CFO and then eight years later took over management and CEO of the race. That Jim worked here all 50 years is pretty amazing. Thank you, Jim. It’s great having leadership that’s being directed by you. Thank you for everything.”
Al Unser Jr., Brian Redman, Mario Andretti and Bobby Rahal enjoy a laugh during the interview. (Albert Wong photo)
Al Unser Jr., Brian Refman, Mario Andretti and Bobby Rahal. (Albert Wong photo)
Jim Michaelian, center, with Bud Denker of Penske Corporation (right), and Bobby Rahal, as Michaelian is presented a photographic montage commemorating his longtime success with the Grand Prix of Long Beach. (Albert Wong photo)
Artist Bill Patterson puts the finishing touches on his original painting commemorating the three cars driven at Long Beach by the honorees. (Albert Wong photo)
All proceeds of the dinner benefit The Mark Donohue Foundation, which supports the RRDC’s SAFEisFAST initiative, and the Grand Prix Foundation of Long Beach, which supports charities in the Long Beach area, including the Long Beach City College’s Automotive Technology Program.
In previous years, the RRDC has honored individual icons of the sport: Dan Gurney, Parnelli Jones, Roger Penske, Jim Hall, Brian Redman, Mario Andretti, Bobby Unser, George Follmer, Emerson Fittipaldi, Johnny Rutherford. David Hobbs, Rick Mears, Jacky Ickx and Sir Jackie Stewart. These RRDC galas are acknowledged as highlights of the auto-racing social calendar, drawing fans and luminaries from all forms of motorsports.
The RRDC thanks its sponsors and supporters of the gala, which include SEMA/PRI; Yamaava’ Casino & Resort; SRO; Performance Tire Service Co.; Robert and Pamela Funari Family; McLaren Newport Beach; Michael Bealmear Family; Club Wheelhouse; West Coast Stock Car Motorsports Hall of Fame; O’Neill Vintners & Distillers; V-12 Vineyards; Pruett Vineyard; Omologato; and Bring a Trailer.
