Floyd "Chip" Ganassi (born May 24, 1958 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) is a NASCAR team owner of Chip Ganassi Racing which fields the #1 & #42 Chevrolet Camaro's in the Monster Energy Cup Series.
IndyCar driver and race team owner[]
Ganassi began his CART (Champ Car) racing career in 1981 and competed in the Indianapolis 500 five times, with a best finish of 8th in 1983. His career cut short by an injury, Ganassi purchased an interest in Patrick Racing in 1988 -- a team he had raced with before in 1984 -- and was part of the team that won the 1989 Indianapolis 500. In 1990, he split off and formed his own team, Chip Ganassi Racing, with Target as the principal sponsor. He also became active in the NASCAR circuit.
He currently operates two cars in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, two cars in the Indy Racing League, two cars in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series Daytona Prototype class and one car in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.
Ganassi has become famous for finding and grooming young talent. His CART/IRL drivers have included Michael Andretti, Jimmy Vasser, Alex Zanardi, Scott Dixon, Bruno Junqueira, Juan Pablo Montoya, Tony Renna, Tomas Scheckter, Darren Manning, Ryan Briscoe, Jacques Lazier, and Dan Wheldon. His NASCAR drivers have included Sterling Marlin, Reed Sorenson, Jamie McMurray, Casey Mears, Jimmy Spencer, David Stremme, Juan Pablo Montoya, and Dario Franchitti.
Ganassi teams have won Champ Car titles in 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999 and the IRL championship in 2003 and 2008. His teams have also won the 2000 Indianapolis 500 with Juan Pablo Montoya, the 2008 Indianapolis 500 with Scott Dixon, as well as 50 Champ Car and IRL races. His NASCAR race team is based in Concord, North Carolina, which is near Charlotte. The IRL team is located in Indianapolis, Indiana.