2026 IndyCar schedule news, analysis, release: Nashville, finale, Mexico
IndyCar switched out its season finale and moved Nashville to the heat of summer for TV exposure. It was one of several key changes to the 2026 schedule.
- Jim Michaelian, the long-time president and CEO of the Grand Prix of Long Beach, is transitioning to a new role at Penske Entertainment.
- Michaelian has been involved with the event since its 1975 inception and has led it since 2001.
- The Grand Prix of Long Beach is North America’s longest-running major street race and recently set an attendance record.
The person who has been involved with the Grand Prix of Long Beach since its inception in 1975, and oversaw the event since 2001 is transitioning into a position with Penske Entertainment.
The Grand Prix Association of Long Beach announced Thursday that its president and CEO Jim Michaelian will run his final event coinciding with the April 19 race before joining Penske Entertainment in a to-be-determined role effective June 30. He will work the Long Beach race weekend, typically the second-largest attended event on the IndyCar calendar, alongside Jim Liaw, who will succeed him July 1.
The 2025 race set an event attendance record with more than 200,000 fans across the three-day weekend — the most in the modern era (since the IndyCar and Champ Car unified in 2008).
“IndyCar owes an immense debt of gratitude to Jim Michaelian,” Penske Entertainment Corp. President and CEO Mark Miles said. “From Day 1, his guidance, management and exemplary leadership, has made the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach a marquee event and a beloved fan-favorite on the NTT IndyCar Series calendar. I know our paddock – past and present – and decades of racing champions and legends join me in congratulating Jim on the impactful legacy he leaves.
“As we look to the future, we believe Jim Liaw is an ideal fit to expand the recent growth and popularity of a race weekend, which is strategically important and a big priority for IndyCar. His unique background and passion for motorsports will serve this historic event in a powerful way.”
The Grand Prix of Long Beach is the longest-running major street race in North America, as it has been held annually since 1975 (minus its cancellation in 2020 due to COVID-19). Michaelian, 82, was named president and CEO in 2001.
He has a racing background, hopping in the drivers seat for many events over more than 25 years, including at tracks like LeMans, Daytona, Nürburgring and Sebring.
“Leading the Grand Prix Association and the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach has been the privilege of a lifetime,” Michaelian said. “This event and this community mean a great deal to me, and I’m 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. 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.
“I’m grateful to the City of Long Beach, our sponsor partners, participants, volunteers, and fans for their continued support, and thanks also to Chris Pook, the originator of the Grand Prix of Long Beach, and Kevin Kalkhoven and Jerry Forsythe for their invaluable support during the challenging times in the past 50 years. And with the leadership of Penske Entertainment, the new owners of the Grand Prix Association, the future of the event is in excellent hands.”
Liaw, 50, is assuming the temporary title of general manager Feb. 9. He serves as the general manager for Performance Racing Industry (PRI), a company that runs the largest annual motorsports trade show in the world. He formerly served as the president of Formula Drift, which he co-founded with Ryan Sage in 2003, to bring a popular Japanese motorsport event of drifting to the U.S.
“I’m honored to join the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach and to help lead one of the most recognized and respected events in motorsports,” Liaw said. “The Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach is incredibly meaningful to me – it was the first major race I ever attended nearly 30 years ago, and it helped spark a lifelong connection to motorsports. Southern California has been home since I was 6, so it’s truly an honor to represent Long Beach and the region while leading such a special event. I’m excited to be part of this iconic race and to help shape its future for generations to come.”
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