Organizers of the annual Grand Prix of Long Beach event have announced that President and CEO Jim Michaelian will step down from his roles later this year.
Michaelian will take a new role within Penske Entertainment at the end June, with Jim Liaw named as the new president and CEO of the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach.
At 82 years old, Michaelian has been part of the historic race since its founding in 1975. He helped shape the event into what it is today, and presided over the event’s 50th anniversary celebration last year.
“Leading the Grand Prix Association and the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach has been the privilege of a lifetime,” Michaelian said.
“This event and this community mean a great deal to me, and I’m proud of what our team has built together.
“Coming off our very successful 50th celebration, I feel this is the right time to make this transition. For 50 years, I have been given the unique opportunity to merge my passion for motorsports with involvement with the longest-running street race in America, which has been a distinct privilege.
“I’m grateful to the City of Long Beach, our sponsor partners, participants, volunteers and fans for their continued support, and thanks also to Chris Pook, the originator of the Grand Prix of Long Beach, and Kevin Kalkhoven and Jerry Forsythe for their invaluable support during the challenging times in the past 50 years.
“And with the leadership of Penske Entertainment, the new owners of the Grand Prix Association, the future of the event is in excellent hands.”
Smooth Transition
Penske Entertainment purchased the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach just over a year ago, bringing one more iconic event under Roger Penske’s already extensive purview.
The purchase surely helped make the connections that led to Michaelian’s new role at Penske, where he will draw from his extensive resume to help push the organization further.
Michaelian will continue to lead this year’s Long Beach event, but will actively involve Liaw so that a smooth transition can be made.
Liaw has extensive motorsport industry experience of his own. His most recent role has been as general manager of Performance Racing Industry (PRI), which runs the largest motorsports trade show in the world each December in Indianapolis among other endeavors.
“I’m honored to join the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach and to help lead one of the most recognized and respected events in motorsports,” Liaw said.
“The Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach is incredibly meaningful to me – it was the first major race I ever attended nearly 30 years ago, and it helped spark a lifelong connection to motorsports.
“I’m excited to be part of this iconic race and to help shape its future for generations to come.”
The 2026 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, which hosts both IMSA and IndyCar in the same weekend, runs April 17-19.
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