Long Beach Motorsports Walk of Fame

A two-time winner of the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach and two people who did as much as anyone to grow and define the 50-year-old event are the 2025 honorees for the Motorsports Walk of Fame located in Downtown Long Beach. Driver Scott Dixon, former Long Beach Mayor Beverly O’Neill and Grand Prix Association of Long Beach CEO & President Jim Michaelian will be honored at this free event, April 10, 2025, at 11 AM on the palm-lined sidewalk on South Pine Avenue in front of the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center.

The Motorsports Walk of Fame, a collaboration between the City of Long Beach and the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach, is an annual event that recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to auto racing. The April 10 ceremony serves as a prelude to the 50th Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, which will take place April 11-13.

Credit: City of Long Beach

“As the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach turns 50, we are not just celebrating the spirit of the racing world—we are honoring the legends who helped shape it,” Mayor Rex Richardson said. “It is a privilege to welcome this year’s esteemed honorees to the Motorsports Walk of Fame and pay tribute to their incredible achievements and the lasting impact they have had on Long Beach and the racing community.”

SCOTT DIXON

Now in his 25th year of racing, Scott Dixon is among the greatest IndyCar drivers of all time. With 58 career victories, he ranks second in series wins, behind the legendary A.J. Foyt (67), and his six series championships are second only to Foyt’s seven.

The New Zealand native, known as "The Iceman," is praised for his ability to stay calm and perform at his best when the stakes—and emotions—are at their highest. Dixon's victory in the 2024 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach is a perfect example of this, as he expertly combined patience and aggression to claim his second win in the race—his first was in 2015—while driving the final 34 laps of the 85-lap street race on a single tank of gas.

"It's an honor to be added to the Long Beach Motorsports Walk of Fame,” Dixon said. “Long Beach is always a marquee event. There are not many events on any schedule that people can celebrate like this. I think what we really enjoy as drivers and teams is the atmosphere. This place is wild. It's got a lot of energy. It's a lot of fun.”

JIM MICHAELIAN

Jim Michaelian, President and CEO of the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach since 2001, has been involved with the organization since its inception in 1975. He has worked in various functional areas, including finance, operations, and marketing. In his current role, Michaelian is responsible for the overall management of the annual Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.

A graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles, with a B.S. in Physics and an M.B.A., Michaelian also serves on the boards of the Grand Prix Foundation, the Los Angeles Sports Council, and Visit Long Beach. He holds a competition driver’s license and has participated in several of the world’s top endurance races, including those at Daytona, Sebring, and Watkins Glen.

"It truly was a surprise and an honor to be included in this year’s Motorsports Walk of Fame,” Michaelian said. “When we started the Walk of Fame event back in 2006, it was for the purpose of recognizing those who had achieved success here in Long Beach as well as at other major racing venues around the world. I’m very humbled to now be included with these venerable icons of the racing world.”

BEVERLY O’NEILL

A native of Long Beach, Beverly O'Neill capped off a 31-year career in education by serving as president and superintendent of Long Beach City College. Shortly after, she was elected Mayor of Long Beach in 1994, serving three terms, the last of which was won through a write-in campaign.

Mayor O'Neill's legacy and popularity were built on revitalizing the city's economy following the U.S. Navy's departure, including the redevelopment of the downtown waterfront. She utilized the Grand Prix of Long Beach as a key driver in these efforts, playing an active role in adjusting the course to accommodate redevelopment while maintaining the race's prominence.

Throughout her 12 years in public office, Mayor O'Neill never missed the Grand Prix's opening ceremonies, always addressing the crowd wearing her trademark black-and-white checkered scarf, fully embracing her role as both a cheerleader for the race and the city.

CREDIT: Thomas Cordova, LB Post

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Steve Lowery

Steve Lowery is a longtime local. Over the years he has written for the Los Angeles Times, ESPN, and others. If you're looking for the hidden gems of Long Beach, Steve is your go-to.