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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)
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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.
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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)
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"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.
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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)
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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.
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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