Summary
- Chip Ganassi Racing operates a Bombardier Challenger 350, based in North Carolina, to optimize logistics for racing events with high efficiency.
- The aircraft transports the owner, key personnel, l and drivers to races, acting as a mobile office en route.
- The Challenger 350’s luxury and long-range capabilities give CGR a competitive edge by enabling quick travel to various racing venues.
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.
Chip Ganassi Racing (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.
Photo: Bombardier
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 Bombardier Challenger 350, which enables and supports the team’s logistical capabilities and competitive edge.
Base of operations
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.
Deployment
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.
Photo: Chip Gnassi Racing.
Frequent flyers
Passengers on the Challenger typically include:
- Chip Ganassi, the team owner
- Drivers from the IndyCar and Grand-Am series
- Crew members and engineers
- High-level team executives
- Team Sponsors
- Guests
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.
Photo: Chip Ganassi
Aircraft details
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:
- Engines: 2x Honeywell HTF7350 turbofans
- Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW): 40,600 lbs
- Maximum Operating Speed: Mach 0.83
- Service Ceiling: 45,000 ft
- Range: Approximately 3,200 nautical miles
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.
Competitive edge and efficiency
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.
Photo: Bombardier
Races and tracks
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. Indianapolis Motor Speedway: Home of the Indianapolis 500, one of the most prestigious races in motorsports.
2. Road America: A 4-mile road course in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, where CGR has enjoyed significant success.
3. Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course: Located in Lexington, Ohio.
4. Iowa Speedway: An oval track known for its doubleheader events.
5. Streets of Toronto: A street circuit in Toronto, Canada.
6. Streets of St. Petersburg: The season-opening street circuit race in Florida.
7. Long Beach Street Circuit: Another prominent street course on the IndyCar calendar.
8. Barber Motorsports Park: A road course in Birmingham, Alabama.
9. Detroit Street Circuit: A new street course layout in Detroit for 2024.
10. WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca: 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.
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