Petersen Automotive Museum Rites Of Spring So. Cal. Motor Culture Experience - Chip Ganassi

Scott Dixon nails down his sixth NTT INDYCAR SERIES season championship during a time when this fabulous exhibit on the successes of Chip Ganassi Racing was placed on hiatus due to health event protocols. Ganassi represents a sporting motor culture one can taste and it is on display at the Petersen Automotive Museum. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2021)  

Petersen Automotive Museum Rites Of Spring So. Cal. Motor Culture Experience - Chip Ganassi

Opening March 25, 2021, after being closed due to the recognition of our nationwide response to the pandemic virus invasion termed COVID-19, The Petersen Automotive Museum continues to pay tribute to the incredible motorsports career of driver and most famously renowned racing team owner through the exhibit, "Chip Ganassi Racing: Fast Tracks To Success | 30th Anniversary Tribute."

This exhibit, that is located on the second floor to one's left, as they exit the elevator, on the right of the center aisle motorcycle display in the Charles Nearburg Family Gallery of the museum, opened mid-December 2019. The exhibit features a video expose displayed on the walls behind some of the most winning cars fielded by this pillar of American Motorsports history. Yes, the exhibit has been updated to reflect the fact Scott Dixon is now a six-time season series champion of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES which happened in the COVID-19 protocol enhanced 2020.

Entrance to "Fast Tracks To Success" and there have been many of them. Here's just a thumbnail sketch (by no means a highlight reel) on Chip Ganassi and its incredible contribution to the American/World arena of motorsports - the only team to win the Indianapolis 500 (four times), the Brickyard 400, the Rolex 24-Hours of Daytona (seven times), the 12 Hours of Sebring, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans - such a winning tradition. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2021)

"The new exhibit tells a visual story of Chip Ganassi Racing’s success over the last 30 years," said Petersen Automotive Museum Executive Director Terry L. Karges at the opening presentation. "Once they step inside the gallery, see the cars and watch the accompanying 180-degree video, visitors will truly be able to feel the excitement and appreciate the history behind each of the vehicles."

When one enters the Charles Nearburg Family Gallery, the display of 10 vehicles include the 1983 Patrick Wildcat MK9B raced by Chip Ganassi to his best finish at the Indianapolis 500; the Lexus-powered 2006 Riley MK XI raced by Scott Dixon at the 24 Hours at Daytona; the 2010 Dallara IR-05 driven to victory at the Indianapolis 500; the 2016 Ford GT that finished first in the LM GTE Pro category 50 years after Ford’s iconic first-, second- and third-place victories in 1966; and the 2019 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 driven by Kurt Busch.

A new NASCAR platform will join the 2001 Coors Light Dodge Intrepid, driven by Sterling Marlin at Michigan International Raceway for Chip Ganassi Racing's first NASCAR victory and the 2010 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet Impala, driven by Jamie McMurry which delivered the Daytona 500 & Brickyard 400 wins in the 3 car NASCAR portion of the exhibit. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2021)

Following a strong career as a driver, Ganassi created his own one-car IndyCar team in 1990. The team’s track record includes 16 championships and 200 victories. It is the only team to win the Indianapolis 500 (four times), the Brickyard 400, 24 Hours at Daytona (seven times), 12 Hours of Sebring and 24 Hours of Le Mans. Adding to the prestige, it is also the only team to win 24 Hours at Daytona three times consecutively and the only team to win 24 Hours at Daytona, the Daytona 500, the Indy 500 and the Brickyard 400 in one 12-month span.

Last year, Los Angeles had to do without its long-standing motor culture "rites-of-spring" experience when the Acura Grand Prix Of Long Beach was cancelled due to this health event originating from Wuhan, China. In 2021, the event isn't cancelled, but moved off to become the season finale of the 2021 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season SEPT. 24-26, 2021. This still leaves quite a void for motor culture enthusiasts needing to feel the year kick off in a proper way since the Long Beach Grand Prix, which was always traditionally run in the March/April timeframe for the better part of 45 years.

Sports Cars may be one of the toughest racing environments to compete in since the vehicles entered are so varied in terms of concept and support from the different manufacturers/privateers. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2021)

Eight special exhibit collections will be there to greet you - “Supercars: A Century of Spectacle and Speed,” which showcases the evolution of the supercar; “Extreme Conditions,” which highlights 11 custom competition, recreational, and utilitarian off-roading vehicles; “Redefining Performance,” which features Porsche’s most innovative road and race vehicles; “Hollywood Dream Machines: Vehicles of Science Fiction and Fantasy,” with repositioned presentations; “Reclaimed Rust: The James Hetfield Collection,” a Petersen Museum donated exclusive; “Building an Electric Future” presented by Volkswagen; and, of course “The Aesthetic of Motoring: 90 Years of Pininfarina,” which will make for a very full and thought provoking visit.

Recommendation? Get a fanny, or a group of fannies, over to the Petersen Automotive Museum where one can spend an easy three hours slowly walking, photographing, and reading about Human transportation devices that add to the expansion of one's living and life experiences.

“Chip Ganassi Racing: Fast Tracks to Success | 30th Anniversary Tribute” was originally set to close January 31, 2021, but since the museum was closed for the pandemic, this wonderful tribute has been extended to the end of 2021. It is the intention of Petersen Automotive Museum to have all current exhibits run through the end of 2021 (check status when reserving your admission). To learn more about the Petersen Automotive Museum, please visit https://www.petersen.org/tickets.

The Petersen Automotive Museum will reopen to the public on Thursday, March 25, 2021 on a new schedule of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Tickets for all visitors must be purchased in advance on the Petersen website, and all guests will be required to wear masks during their visit.

To express its gratitude to all those on the front line during this challenging time, the museum will offer verified health care workers and first responders complimentary admission for themselves and up to three immediate family members for the rest of 2021.

Let the new tradition of Southern California's rites of spring begin with an annual visit (or two) to the Petersen Automotive Museum. Pretty cool.

... notes from The EDJE

TAGS: #petersenmuseum, Building an Electric Future, Extreme Conditions, Hollywood Dream Machines, Reclaimed Rust, Redefining Performance, Supercars, Chip Ganassi, The EDJE