Picture this. It’s 1984 and Chip Ganassi is driving at the Michigan 500. Driving in search of his first win, Ganassi keeps pushing the car until a crash with Al Unser Jr. sends him straight into the ARAMCO barriers. The impact is so brutal that race officials initially thought Ganassi had died! Yet, he persevered. Although he stopped racing, the spark in him that defined his love for cars never died. Fans always wondered what kept Ganassi going even after that. What led to the foundation of Chip Ganassi Racing and the moments it has brought to the sport?

Well, Chip Ganassi now has an answer for it.

In a clip from the Racers Roundtable series, hosted by Danny Sullivan and Tony Stewart, Ganassi recounted how an 8mm film of the 1963 Indianapolis 500 sparked his admiration for Jones as a child and how fate later turned that admiration into an unexpected friendship. The video, shared on X by @MAVTV, showcases how motorsports has a way of creating stories that transcend generations.

For Ganassi, it all started in 1963, when he was just five years old. His father, recognizing his growing interest in cars and racing, brought home an 8mm film of the 1963 Indianapolis 500, where Parnelli Jones made history by securing a dominant victory. “So he came back with an eight-millimeter film of the 1963 Indianapolis 500 when Parnelli won. And I must have watched that tape 750 times. The best part of that story is when I became a driver, you had to get four veterans to sign off on your rookie thing. Parnelli was one of the guys who watched me and signed off on my thing.”

The win for Jones was even more special considering the fashion in which he finished. Although he led in the start, his car ran into trouble as smoke emerged from his car with just 20 laps to go! A crack in the oil tank also meant he was leaking fuel on the track, something that caused a crash for another driver. With the USAC determining if a black flag was needed, Jones’ shot at victory was nearly lost. It was only when the owner of Jones’ car, J. C. Agajanian, argued with the USAC chief about their case was the threat rescinded. That was all the team needed to hear. Jones pulled a 21-second lead to win the race, but it wasn’t just a win for Jones, it was the foundation for Chip Ganassi’s NASCAR success. This wasn’t just another race for the young Ganassi; it became a childhood obsession.

Fast forward to 1981, when 23-year-old Chip Ganassi finally got his shot at the Indianapolis 500. After climbing the ranks in racing, he was preparing to make his debut in the legendary event that had captured his imagination as a child. However, before he could officially compete, he had to complete an Indy 500 rookie orientation, a process that required four veteran drivers to sign off on his ability to race. As fate would have it, one of those veterans was none other than Parnelli Jones himself.  

Ganassi went on to have a modest racing career in the 1980s, with notable moments like securing pole position at the 1983 Indianapolis 500. However, his true legacy would be built as a team owner, leading Chip Ganassi Racing to over 23 championships across multiple racing disciplines. But his connection with Jones didn’t end with that rookie orientation. Decades later, long after Ganassi had retired from driving, he found himself in yet another unexpected moment with his childhood hero. 

“And then when I was 55 years old, believe it or not, I had Thanksgiving dinner with him and PJ (Parnelli’s son) at PJ’s house. You know, I just thought to myself, something you did when you were five years old to when you’re 55 connected like that. You never think this could possibly happen” Ganassi recalled. 

And while Ganassi pursued his own racing career, making his IndyCar debut in 1982, his journey as a driver was short-lived due to an accident in 1984. Instead of stepping away from the sport, he shifted to team ownership, where he built a legacy that rivaled Jones’ impact. Chip Ganassi Racing became a dominant force, securing victories in the Indianapolis 500, Daytona 500, and endurance classics like the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Though he didn’t match Jones’ achievements behind the wheel, Ganassi followed his philosophy of pushing limits and winning across different disciplines. 

Ganassi redefines motorsports with a new partnership

Chip Ganassi is not someone who sits back and waits for change to take place. He wants to make it happen, and that’s evident with the team’s newest partnership. In a landmark moment, the team announced a partnership with OpenAI for their software engineering and research capabilities. The company has already partnered with NASCAR for the last six months for a partnership similar to Ganassi.

Speaking about the new partner, Ganassi said, “Sam [Altman] and his team have been amazing at helping us try to maximise the power of artificial intelligence to make us better both on and off the racetrack. We look forward to continuing to attack business and racing challenges with the folks at OpenAI, some of the smartest and most creative people around.”

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI said, “Racing has always been a proving ground for innovation, and we’re excited to explore how our AI technology can contribute alongside the incredible talent at Chip Ganassi Racing.”