DRKCYDE
To Punish and Enslave
It not Champ car, or F1 but I'll take it. ALMS is good.
Officials say Grand Prix's return to Belle Isle on Labor Day weekend shows city is still a major league venue.
Kilpatrick and Roger Penske want to keep Detroit's momentum as a sports town going. "We can't be hosting all sorts of big events like we have and then return to a small town," says Kilpatrick, referring to events like the 2006 Super Bowl, which Penske helped make a success. See full image
DETROIT -- A Detroit Grand Prix tentatively scheduled for Labor Day weekend will build on the city's reputation as a big-event sports town, officials said in announcing their plans Friday.
A race next year on Belle Isle will mark Detroit's return to the Grand Prix circuit for the first time since 2001.
"This city is rebounding and to proceed in that direction it must have annual events," said Roger Penske, who fields his own racing teams and spearheaded Detroit's 2006 Super Bowl efforts.
Two days of racing are planned, Penske said.
The first day will feature an American Le Mans Series race, which features several classes of sports cars, including Corvettes. The second day would be for the Indy Racing League race.
The races will run the Saturday and Sunday before Labor Day, and the park will be open to normal use on the holiday itself.
About two-thirds of the park, mostly on the east side, will remain open during the Grand Prix.
The event will be organized by the nonprofit Downtown Detroit Partnership, of which Penske is a chairman, and profits will go to the city's recreation department for Belle Isle improvements.
"It needs attention, it needs help and it needs revitalization," Penske said, explaining the plan to the Detroit City Council Friday.
Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick said his staff should have a contract for council approval next week.
The deal will guarantee racing through 2011, but the agreement can be extended for an additional three years.
Kilpatrick said the race will continue to build on the city's recent successes with the 2005 All-Star Game and this year's Super Bowl.
"We can't be hosting all sorts of big events like we have and then return to a small town," he said.
Penske estimated the city will have to make a one-time investment of $1.5 million to improve parts of Belle Isle for the race.
The last Detroit Grand Prix was held on Belle Isle in 2001, as a Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) event.
The Detroit Grand Prix began in 1982 and initially was run on downtown streets until 1992, when it was moved to Belle Isle.
But fans griped that the location -- there's a single bridge linking the island and the mainland -- was inaccessible and racers were dissatisfied with the track, pits and paddock.
Penske said a recent walk-through of the roughly two-mile course by Indy Racing League officials appears to have satisfied most of their concerns.
The area for crews and cars -- known as the paddock -- will be paved, Penske said. That's a blessing to competitors because previously they were in an unpaved area that became muddy and water-logged after rains.
More walkways over the route will be added and spectator viewing areas will be increased, Penske said.
The Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix Inc., which will organize the race, has agreed to reimburse the city for police and fire protection.
The announcement was met with cautious enthusiasm by the City Council.
"Anything that will bring people to Detroit as a destination I'm excited about," Councilwoman JoAnn Watson said. "Hallelujah."
Officials say Grand Prix's return to Belle Isle on Labor Day weekend shows city is still a major league venue.
Kilpatrick and Roger Penske want to keep Detroit's momentum as a sports town going. "We can't be hosting all sorts of big events like we have and then return to a small town," says Kilpatrick, referring to events like the 2006 Super Bowl, which Penske helped make a success. See full image
DETROIT -- A Detroit Grand Prix tentatively scheduled for Labor Day weekend will build on the city's reputation as a big-event sports town, officials said in announcing their plans Friday.
A race next year on Belle Isle will mark Detroit's return to the Grand Prix circuit for the first time since 2001.
"This city is rebounding and to proceed in that direction it must have annual events," said Roger Penske, who fields his own racing teams and spearheaded Detroit's 2006 Super Bowl efforts.
Two days of racing are planned, Penske said.
The first day will feature an American Le Mans Series race, which features several classes of sports cars, including Corvettes. The second day would be for the Indy Racing League race.
The races will run the Saturday and Sunday before Labor Day, and the park will be open to normal use on the holiday itself.
About two-thirds of the park, mostly on the east side, will remain open during the Grand Prix.
The event will be organized by the nonprofit Downtown Detroit Partnership, of which Penske is a chairman, and profits will go to the city's recreation department for Belle Isle improvements.
"It needs attention, it needs help and it needs revitalization," Penske said, explaining the plan to the Detroit City Council Friday.
Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick said his staff should have a contract for council approval next week.
The deal will guarantee racing through 2011, but the agreement can be extended for an additional three years.
Kilpatrick said the race will continue to build on the city's recent successes with the 2005 All-Star Game and this year's Super Bowl.
"We can't be hosting all sorts of big events like we have and then return to a small town," he said.
Penske estimated the city will have to make a one-time investment of $1.5 million to improve parts of Belle Isle for the race.
The last Detroit Grand Prix was held on Belle Isle in 2001, as a Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) event.
The Detroit Grand Prix began in 1982 and initially was run on downtown streets until 1992, when it was moved to Belle Isle.
But fans griped that the location -- there's a single bridge linking the island and the mainland -- was inaccessible and racers were dissatisfied with the track, pits and paddock.
Penske said a recent walk-through of the roughly two-mile course by Indy Racing League officials appears to have satisfied most of their concerns.
The area for crews and cars -- known as the paddock -- will be paved, Penske said. That's a blessing to competitors because previously they were in an unpaved area that became muddy and water-logged after rains.
More walkways over the route will be added and spectator viewing areas will be increased, Penske said.
The Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix Inc., which will organize the race, has agreed to reimburse the city for police and fire protection.
The announcement was met with cautious enthusiasm by the City Council.
"Anything that will bring people to Detroit as a destination I'm excited about," Councilwoman JoAnn Watson said. "Hallelujah."
