By George B. Eichorn
Get ready Detroit! The Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear is coming to the Motor City days following the Indianapolis 500.
On the heels of a hugely successful NFL Draft, auto racing enthusiasts have their place in the sun May 31 to June 2 as thousands are expected for the 34th Grand Prix event in city history. The NTT IndyCar Racing Series makes this single stop in Michigan. The 1.7-mile, 9-turn streets of Detroit race circuit runs along the Detroit Riverwalk encompassing the streets of Woodward, Atwater, Griswold and Bates. Pit lane and the finish line are near the Port Atwater and Franklin Garage areas. This is year two of the DGP running this course.
The highlight is the June 2 NTT IndyCar race scheduled to start at 12:30 p.m. and is televised nationally by USA Network. Support races: Indy NXT by Firestone race (45 laps or 55 minutes) also Sunday at 10:30 a.m. and IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship Race Chevrolet Detroit Sports Car Classic June 2 at 1 p.m. The Cadillac and Corvette corral track laps are at various times all weekend.
Detroit’s popular Comerica Bank Free Day is May 31 from 8 a.m. until 5:15 p.m. with practice, qualifications, autograph sessions and IndyCar Experience 2-seater rides, booked in advance. Tickets are available at the Renaissance Center box office, Tower 300, Monday through Friday from 9 a,m, to 5 p.m. Or call (313) 748-1850 or email tockets@detroitgp.com. The web site is detroitgp.com.
The DGP Fan Zone at Hart Plaza and the Franklin Garage tailgating are popular attractions for fans. Food trucks feature a variety of foods and local restaurants and bars have increased patrons. DGP merchandise and apparel also are sold.
Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing won last year’s Detroit Grand Prix. Heading into the Indianapolis 500 on Memorial Day weekend, the IndyCar standings: 1-Palou (1 win, 152 points), 2-Will Power (140 points), 3-Scott Dixon (1 win, 127 points), 3-Colton Herta (127), 5-Felix Rosenqvist (107), 6-Pato O’Ward (1 win, 88 points) and 6-Scott McLaughlin (88). Team Penske/Chevrolet drivers expected in the Motor City are Power, McLaughlin and Josef Newgarden.
Nolan Alaer of Grosse Pointe Woods, 22, a local connection, competes in the Indy NXT race (as a rookie) in his HMD Motorsports car. He started racing at age 6 and attends Miami University. His father, Robert, is a 2-time SCCA National Championship Runoffs champion and his uncle, J. Lewis Cooper III, is a former SCCA National champ in Formula E.
Race organizers work to connect to the Detroit community engaging local students, families, businesses and groups to “provide experiences that help educate and enrich the lives of metropolitan Detroit residents” according to spokesperson Merrill Cain.
One partnership is with the College for Creative Students as students try to create the annual official Grand Prix poster. This year’s poster winner is CCS senior Alison Lackta of Byron.Her street art-inspired design features vibrant colors to represent the excitement of the DGP and the event’s connection with our local community.
Reach George Eichorn at geichorn@yahoo.com or @Sandgsports99 on X (formerly Twitter). Order his book:
Detroit’s Sports Broadcasters: On the Air: Eichorn, George B, Introduction Harwell, Ernie.
