Long before the cheering crowds enter the grandstands at a motor speedway on race day, the racing team and key executives must arrive amid an array of logistical challenges. Cars and their drivers, racing organization senior staff, and other key personnel must get to the racetrack, and sometimes from another track on the same day, all before the green flag is waved, signaling the start of a major national auto race. (CGR) competes in the major national and international auto racing series such as the NTT IndyCar Series, IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, and the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) World Endurance Championship.
In 2016, CGR won its first-ever victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Ganassi has won six of the seven most iconic races in the world of auto racing, with five wins in the Indianapolis 500 and victories in the Daytona 500, Brickyard 400, Le Mans, Rolex 24 At Daytona, and Sebring. Founded in 1990 by race driver Chip Ganassi, the team has established a solid winning record across multiple racing disciplines.
Central to CGR’s operational success is its strategic use of aviation, particularly its , which enables and supports the team’s logistical capabilities and competitive edge. CGR operates its Bombardier Challenger 350 out of the Concord Regional Airport (JQF) in North Carolina. This location is ideal for its proximity to the many racing venues in the southeastern U.
S. and the team’s headquarters, allowing for fast and efficient travel and operations. The airport serves as a hub for the team’s logistical movements, facilitating quick and seamless access to various racing events across the United States and beyond.
The Challenger 350 is used to transport Ganassi and his team members, drivers, and key personnel to racing events. The aircraft’s long-range capability, with a range of more than 3,000 nautical miles, allows the team to travel to distant locations, often nonstop. Also, the aircraft has the ability to reach many international destinations from the company’s North Carolina HQ.
Passengers on the Challenger typically include: This group uses the aircraft for transportation and as a mobile office and meeting space, where critical decisions and strategies are often discussed en route to events. The Challenger 350 is not Ganassi’s first private jet. He had previously operated other aircraft, including a Lear 24 and a Learjet 45.
Ganassi was to have been a launch customer for the aborted Learjet 85. The Learjet 45 is no longer in service, but the G300 is now the principal workhorse due to its superior range and luxurious amenities. Key specifications of the CHallenger 350 include: These features make the Challenger 350 an ideal choice for the high demands of professional racing teams, providing both comfort and efficiency.
The integration of the aircraft into CGR’s operations has sometimes enabled Ganassi to double up on major races. He has been known to use his aircraft to attend multiple major racing events on the same day. For example, he has flown from the Indianapolis 500 to the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte, showcasing the flexibility and speed that private aviation offers.
The use of the jet significantly allows Chip Ganassi Racing to achieve a competitive edge by ensuring that Ganassi, his key business executives, and drivers can overcome logistical hurdles to get to races and other important engagements. The aircraft’s luxurious amenities and long-range abilities make it an ideal choice for the high demands of a professional racing team. This travel capability allows the team to maintain peak performance and the preparedness essential in the highly competitive world of motorsports.
CGR competes at various tracks across multiple racing series, primarily in the NTT IndyCar Series. Some of the key tracks where the team appears include: 1. : Home of the Indianapolis 500, one of the most prestigious races in motorsports.
2. : A 4-mile road course in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, where CGR has enjoyed significant success. 3.
: Located in Lexington, Ohio. 4. : An oval track known for its doubleheader events.
5. : A street circuit in Toronto, Canada. 6.
: The season-opening street circuit race in Florida. 7. : Another prominent street course on the IndyCar calendar.
8. : A road course in Birmingham, Alabama. 9.
: A new street course layout in Detroit for 2024. 10. : The site of the season finale in Monterey, California.
Additionally, CGR competes in other series like the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and the FIA World Endurance Championship, which include tracks such as Daytona International Speedway in Florida for the Rolex 24 at Daytona and Circuit de la Sarthe for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The team’s schedule typically includes a mix of oval tracks, road courses, and street circuits across North America, with occasional international events depending on the racing series. Chip Ganassi Racing’s Challenger 350 is more than just a mode of transportation; it is an asset that helps to ensure the team’s logistical efficiency and competitiveness.
By providing fast and luxurious travel abilities, the aircraft allows racing personnel to focus on what they do best: competing and winning races. Despite the older airframe, the design makes use of many new technologies..
