Chip Ganassi, who fields 14 cars for 18 drivers in six major series worldwide, was named the 2017 recipient of the Road Racing Drivers Club’s Phil Hill Award for outstanding service to road racing. The award, which recognizes the racing accomplishments of Phil Hill, America’s first Formula One World Champion, was presented by RRDC president Bobby Rahal at the club’s annual members’ dinner in Daytona Beach last weekend. (Brian Cleary photo above courtesy of the RRDC.)
Ganassi’s team, fresh from scoring Ford’s triumphant return to Le Mans last June, responded by winning the GTLM class of last weekend’s Rolex 24 at Daytona as well. Over the years since he curtailed his own driving career to become a team owner, Ganassi’s team have won countless races and 18 championships, and made him the only team owner to have won the Indianapolis 500, Daytona 500, Brickyard 400, Rolex 24 At Daytona, 12 Hours of Sebring and 24 Hours of Le Mans.
“As a lot of you know,” Ganassi said in accepting the award, “I’m filled with a passion for motorsports and, most importantly, for road racing and for the cars themselves. Although I couldn’t be more honored to get this award tonight, I will also congratulate the RRDC for the tireless work of so many people who help maintain the history of road racing. ”
For complete information, please visit www.rrdc.org
