Vasser won the CART championship in 1996. Zanardi won back-to-back CART titles in 1997-’98. Juan Pablo Montoya joined the team and won the CART title as a rookie in 1999 and the Indianapolis 500 in 2000 when Ganassi became the first full-time CART team to return to the Indy 500 after the split started in 1996.
Dixon joined the team in 2002 and won his first IndyCar Series championship in 2003. He won the 2008 Indianapolis 500.
Dan Wheldon, Franchitti and Tony Kanaan are among the others who have driven for Ganassi.
“There are some other guys in there that won races, like Franchitti,” Ganassi noted. “People look back and talk about Dixon’s championships. I remember Dixon losing the championship in 2007 on the final corner of the final lap of the final race of the season. We lost the championship when his car ran out of fuel.”
There are many reasons why Ganassi has built a successful team.
“Part of it is standing on the solid ground of sponsorship,” Ganassi said. “For so many years, we had Target. Now we have a good foundation with PNC Bank and NTT Data. Having a solid foundation helps any business, especially these days. Being able to go into a season and be racing cars and not be trying to cover the budget midseason, that’s always a plus.
“Over the years, we have taken our lumps. We’ve been at it for 30 years and will probably be at it for 30 more.”
In 2001, Ganassi added a NASCAR Cup Series team to the fold.
“I knew Felix Sabates and he was looking to slow down in his participation,” Ganassi explained. “I ran into him and told him I was interested in getting a team. He said, ‘Let’s do a deal.’ It took us about 10 minutes to do the deal.
“I talk to Felix once a week or so. It turned out to be one of the great friendships in my life, as well as a great partnership.”
Ganassi has won numerous NASCAR races but has yet to win a series title.
“I don’t know if it is any harder than I expected,” Ganassi said. “These teams are miniature businesses all to themselves. We’ve have wins from time to time but haven’t strung together a championship yet. We’ve had a few good runs at it.
“One thing or another seems to hit us when we get all of our ducks together down there, whether it’s a financial crisis or sponsor going away on us or the Kyle Larson situation this past spring,” Ganassi continued. “Just about the time we start to get our act together, something out of left field comes out and hits us, and we aren’t prepared for it and we take it on the chin.”
The “Kyle Larson situation” was an iRacing event where the talented driver was heard using a racial slur on his broadcast feed.
Ganassi had no choice but to terminate Larson, who has publicly apologized and taken diversity training.
Ganassi said it was difficult to fire Larson, who has been the hottest driver of the summer in winged sprint car racing, because he personally likes the driver.
“Sure, it was hard,” Ganassi admitted. “Kyle is out winning sprint car races. He was at Lernerville here in Pittsburgh and I was texting him back and forth telling him to go get some wins.
“Nobody is happier seeing Kyle Larson winning races in whatever he is driving than me. I hope he keeps winning,” Ganassi said. “The door is open for him to come back to NASCAR whenever he wants, if he wants to. I don’t know what his plans are and haven’t talked to him. He has a seat with me and with his talent, he probably has a seat with anyone that he wants.”
Kurt Busch and Matt Kenseth, who replaced Larson, are Ganassi’s current NASCAR drivers.
Chip Ganassi Racing has enjoyed long relationships with sponsors, team members and drivers.
What is the secret to Ganassi’s success?
“Winning,” Dixon said. “That’s what it comes down to, man.
“He has great personal relationships with these people that go far beyond racing. It’s about putting B and B’s together. There is a lot of work between these companies. It’s never one thing. It’s about activation. Ganassi does it very well on the personal side, especially looking after the people involved and community outreach.
“A lot of it goes under the radar, which is how and why the sponsors enjoy it. It’s not splashed in your face.
“Chip is good at what he does,” Dixon continued. “He is good at these relationships with sponsors. What it comes down to is making sure Ganassi cars are up front, winning races, winning championships, winning Indy 500s.
“That goes a long way.”
It has been 30 years since Ganassi formed Chip Ganassi Racing, and he remains as committed to success as ever.
“Some days it seems like 30, some days it seems like 60 and some days it seems like 10,” Ganassi reflected. “I’m just blessed that I’ve been able to work with great people over the years. I’m blessed I’m able to do this as a living and be part of it and look forward to more.
“I’ve had 30 great years of winning races, and giving the sponsors a bang for their buck, building a winning team with great groups of people and being a part of some great people’s lives along the way.
“It has been a lot of fun.”