(Jan. 2006)--Following a strong career as a driver, Chip Ganassi created his own one-car IndyCar™ team in 1990 and established a partnership with a new sponsor, Target Stores. Today, his teams include two cars in the Indy Racing League, three cars in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, two Daytona Prototypes in the world of Grand American Sportscar racing and one entry in the NASCAR Busch Series.

Success is no stranger to Ganassi. As a team owner, his open wheel IndyCar teams have amassed five championship titles and 46 wins since 1994; his NASCAR teams have five wins and a "Rookie of the Year" title; and the Grand Am team won the 2004 Rolex Series Daytona Prototype championship with 11 pole positions and four wins in 12 races and was runner-up in the 2005 Championship. Ganassi also boasts two state-of-the-art race shop facilities in Indianapolis, Ind., and Concord, N.C., and a head office in Pittsburgh, Penn.

Ganassi solidified his place in open wheel Indy racing history, becoming the first owner to lead his team to four consecutive championships with Jimmy Vasser (1996), Alex Zanardi (1997-98) and then with rookie driver Juan Montoya's championship in 1999. In 2000, Target Chip Ganassi Racing's Montoya blew away the competition in the Indianapolis 500, claiming the title for his team which had not raced at the famed Brickyard since 1995. Then in 2003, following a switch from the CART Series to the Indy Racing League, Ganassi and Team Target driver Scott Dixon proved they could meet the challenge of a new series and new competition by capturing the 2003 IndyCar Series Championship. In 2004, defending series champion Dixon was joined by Darren Manning, and together the duo set the stage for a talented, stronger and more experienced team. Dixon highlighted the 2005 IRL season for Ganassi with a trip to the winner's circle at Watkins Glen International.

The 2006 season marks Ganassi's sixth season in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series. His three NEXTEL Cup Series teams amassed one pole, nine top-five finishes and 25 top-10 finishes in 2005 with drivers Sterling Marlin, Jamie McMurray, Casey Mears and Scott Pruett, with McMurray bringing home the team's highest overall points finish (12th). In August the organization announced its 2006 NEXTEL Cup Series driver lineup to include David Stremme (No. 40 Coors Light Dodge, No. 40 Lone Star Dodge), Reed Sorenson (No. 41 Target Dodge) and Mears (No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge).

Marlin and the No. 40 team gave Ganassi his first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup victory in 2001, and the team remained in the top 10 in driver points all season long to finish third in the standings. Marlin kicked off 2002 with two wins and led the driver standings for 25 consecutive weeks before an accident sidelined him for the remainder of the season. McMurray, replaced Marlin for the balance of that year, and in just his second Cup start, won his first-career NASCAR race at Lowe's Motor Speedway, setting a NASCAR record by earning his first career victory in just two starts.

In 2003, Ganassi became the first owner to have three "Rookie of the Year" awards in stock car racing in the same season with McMurray in the NEXTEL Cup Series, Stremme in the NASCAR Busch Series and Sorenson in the ASA Series.

In 2004, in the No. 41 Target Dodge, Mears captured consecutive poles at Pocono Raceway and the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Brickyard 400. McMurray led the team in the championship points standings, missing the newly formatted "Chase for the NEXTEL Cup" by just 15 points. McMurray was the highest finishing Ganassi driver in points, finishing 11th in the final standings. Together, the three NASCAR Ganassi drivers amassed two pole positions, nine top-five and 35 top-10 finishes in the 2004 season.

Ganassi made his foray into the NASCAR Busch Series in 2004 with Sorenson, Mears and McMurray running in eight races. The trio amassed one win, two poles and six top-10 finishes. Their success led the way for a full-time Busch Series entry in 2005 with rookie Sorenson. Sorenson finished fourth in the championship standings while racking up impressive numbers: two wins, two poles, 12 top-five and 19 top-10 finishes.

In 2004, Ganassi also expanded his racing team to include two Lexus/Riley Daytona prototype entries in the Grand American Sportscar Series and four more talented drivers. In keeping with Ganassi Racing's tradition of excellence, veteran drivers Pruett and Max Papis won the Rolex Series Championship with 11 pole positions and four wins in 12 races to their credit. Mexican drivers Jimmy Morales and young talent Luis Dias added to the success with a pair of third-place finishes and six top-fives in 11 races. For the season finale, a third car was added with Dixon and Manning bringing it home for a third-place finish in the race.

The 2005 Grand Am entries driven by Pruett, Diaz, Stephan Johansson and Cort Wagner finished second (no. 01) and fifth (no. 02) in the overall series standings, and included three wins by Pruett and Diaz. Ganassi will once again field two cars in 2006, kicking off the season with their third attempt at victory at the prestigious 24 Hours at Daytona.

With two new drivers competing for rookie-of-the-year honors (Stremme and Sorenson) and Mears, who established himself as a consistent front runner late in 2005, the '06 NEXTEL Cup Series season is sure to have its share of highlights. That coupled with returning IndyCar champ Dixon, the acquisition of 2005 IRL Champion Weldon, the return of Pruett and Diaz in a Daytona prototype, and Chip Ganassi Racing is sure to be a contender on all fronts.

Ganassi's interests do not lie solely in auto racing. He has expanded his horizons to include several other sporting and business pursuits. The 1982 Duquesne University graduate was formerly part owner of Major League Baseball's Pittsburgh Pirates and is currently vice president of the FRG Group, a Pittsburgh holding company with interests in telecommunications and manufacturing. Ganassi is also a supporter and promoter of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, to which his team has donated more than $375,000 over the years.