The Long Beach Motorsports Walk of Fame will get three new inductees this April — a day before the 50th anniversary of the Grand Prix of Long Beach gets underway.

Jim Michaelian, the longtime president and CEO of the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach; former Long Beach Mayor Beverly O’Neill; and pro driver Scott Dixon, a six-time IndyCar Series champion, will be this year’s inductees, according to a Wednesday city news release.

“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 in the release. “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.”

The Walk of Fame induction ceremony is scheduled for April 10 on South Pine Avenue in front of the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center. The event will be free and open to the public, the city said.

The Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach will run from April 11 to April 13. This year’s Grand Prix will mark a massive milestone for both the event and the city — since it’s the 50th anniversary.

Construction is already underway for this year’s event.

And the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach, which organizes the three-day spectacle, has already announced several special additions meant to celebrate the milestone anniversary, including a Saturday performance from rock band Foreigner and racing legends Mario Andretti and Al Unser Jr. serving as grand marshals.

The city and GPALB, meanwhile, have partnered to honor historic contributors to motorsports in Long Beach via the Walk of Fame since 2006.

Dan Gurney and Phil Hill were the first two inductees into the Walk of Fame.

There’s perhaps no one more fitting for the honor than Michaelian, who has served as the GPALB’s president and CEO since 2001. But his contributions to local racing date back to the Grand Prix’s inception in 1975.

Under his leadership, the Grand Prix has fielded numerous challenges — including the loss of its title sponsor in 2018 and, of course, the coronavirus pandemic.

Those challenges aside, the Grand Prix has been a major fixture in motorsports for five decades, with drivers and fans alike widely considering it the second-most prestigious IndyCar race — behind only the Indianapolis 500.

It’s also a significant contributor to Long Beach’s and Southern California’s economies, with the 2024 event drawing a record 194,000 visitors and generating $100 million worth of economic impact in the region.

“It truly was a surprise and an honor to be included in this year’s Motorsports Walk of Fame,” Michaelian said in the news release. “When we started this 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.”

O’Neill is also being inducted for her contributions to the Grand Prix — as well as Long Beach in general.

“(O’Neill) led the remaking of the city’s economy after the U.S. Navy’s departure, including rebuilding of the downtown waterfront, with the Grand Prix of Long Beach at its center,” the city said about the three-term mayor. “She was directly involved in adjusting the course to accommodate redevelopment while keeping the spotlight on the Grand Prix.”

During her 12 years as mayor, the city’s news release added, O’Neill never missed the opening ceremonies for the Grand Prix — at which she addressed the crowds while donning her “trademark black-and-white checkered scarf.”

“She embraced the role of biggest cheerleader,” the release said, “for the city and the race.”

And finally, Dixon will get his own spot in the Motorsports Walk of Fame this year.

The New Zealander is among the most accomplished IndyCar Series competitors — and is the defending champion of the Grand Prix of Long Beach. He took home the 2024 trophy in thrilling fashion, having to conserve fuel for about the final 30 laps while those behind him made strong pushes to overtake him.

Dixon also claimed the checkered flag in Long Beach in 2015.

“It’s an honor to be added to the Long Beach Motorsports Walk of Fame,” Dixon said in the news release. “The first time I came here was 1999 in Indy Lights. It’s 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.”

Dixon, who drives for Chip Ganassi Racing, will also set his sights on the Long Beach crown again this year.

“It’s a lot of fun,” he said. “Hopefully, the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda team can get another victory there this season.”

During the ceremony, Long Beach will unveil 22-inch bronze medallions honoring each of the new inductees, enshrining on the Walk of Fame their major achievements and contributions to racing.

“We are honored to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach by recognizing (their) wonderful contributions to the world of motorsports,” said Councilmember Mary Zendejas, whose 1st District includes the Convention Center and the Grand Prix route. “With these beautifully crafted medallions in the heart of our scenic downtown shoreline, their legacies will live on and inspire the racing community for generations to come.”

The honorees will also sign autographs for those who attend the induction ceremony, the city said.

For more information about the Motorsports Walk of Fame, go to lbmotorsportswof.com.