Detroit Indy Grand Prix
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Venue | Belle Isle |
|---|---|
| Corporate sponsor | Firestone |
| First race | 1982 |
| First IndyCar race | 2007 |
| Distance | 188.64 miles |
| Number of laps | 90 |
| Previous names | Detroit Grand Prix (1982)
Detroit Grand Prix II, III, IV, V, VI (1983-87) EniChem Detroit Grand Prix (1988) Valvoline Detroit Grand Prix (1989-1991) ITT Automotive Grand Prix of Detroit (1992-1998) Tenneco Automotive Grand Prix of Detroit (1999-2001) |
For the Formula One event, see United States Grand Prix East
The Detroit Indy Grand Prix presented by Firestone is a weekend of professional racing featuring competition from both the ALMS and the IndyCar Series, along with several support races. Held on the Saturday and Sunday of Labor Day weekend, the races run at The Raceway on Belle Isle in Detroit.
Open wheel racing in Detroit dates back to the 1920's-1950's, when AAA held the Detroit 100 at the Michigan State Fairgrounds. AAA also held one five-mile, non-championship race at Grosse Pointe in 1905.
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[edit] Formula One
The current race has its origins dating back to 1982 when it was a Formula One World Championship event held on the Detroit street circuit encompassing the Renaissance Center. The original circuit was 2.493 miles with seventeen corners, and proved to be even slower than Monaco. The rough, demanding, course even included a railroad track crossing and mimicked Monaco, with a tunnel on the main straight. While it was advertised as the Detroit Grand Prix, it also has been referred to under the monikor of United States Grand Prix East, because there were multiple Grands Prix in the U.S. at the time. For 1989, the race was planned to be moved to Belle Isle, a city park in the Detroit River, but an agreement could not be established. Instead, in 1989 Formula One left Detroit permanently, and the U.S. Grand Prix moved to Phoenix.
[edit] CART
For 1989, the race in Detroit was replaced by a CART event. Instead of moving the race, CART utilized a slightly modified version of the street circuit, eliminating the chicane on the main straight. The race was held on this 2.52 mile layout for three years. Beginning in 1992, the race was moved to the previously planned temporary course on Belle Isle. The first layout measured 2.1 miles. After a subtle reconfiguration, and due to CART remeasuring all circuits in 1997, the track then measured 2.346 miles.
From 1984-2001, the SCCA Trans-Am Series held a race in support of the Detroit Grand Prix. The Motor City 100 was often regarded as the most important event of the Trans Am schedule.
[edit] Demise
Even though the track was a temporary street course, it became known as The Raceway on Belle Isle. It was widely criticized for its narrowness, poor access, and its overall uncompetitive nature. Participants also disliked the facility because of its lack of paved areas for support activities. Paddock areas were often muddy and unable to accommodate the teams. After 2001, CART chose to drop the race from the schedule.
[edit] IRL Revival
In 2006, Roger Penske spearheaded talks to revive the race for 2007 as part of the ALMS and IndyCar Series schedules. Penske owns teams that compete in both series. Penske had recently experienced tremendous success as head of the Super Bowl XL Detroit Metro Host Committee. On September 29, 2006, it was announced that the Detroit Indy Grand Prix would return as the tenth race of the ALMS's 12-race season and penultimate race of the IndyCar Series' seventeen-race schedule.
To improve access to the track, a park-and-ride system, similar to what was used at Super Bowl XL, was implemented. Further paddock and track work was completed before the race. The 2007 event attracted a strong crowd, and was considered a success.
[edit] Past winners
[edit] SCCA Motor City 100 history
| Year | Driver | Car |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Tom Gloy | Mercury Capri |
| 1985 | Elliott Forbes-Robinson[1] | Buick Regal |
| 1986 | Wally Dallenbach, Jr. | Chevrolet Camaro |
| 1987 | Scott Pruett | Merkur XR4Ti |
| 1988 | Hurley Haywood | Audi Quattro |
| 1989 | Greg Pickett | Chevrolet Camaro |
| 1990 | Scott Sharp | Chevrolet Camaro |
| 1991 | Scott Sharp | Chevrolet Camaro |
| 1992 | Tommy Archer | Dodge Daytona |
| 1993 | Dorsey Schroeder | Ford Mustang |
| 1994 | Bill Saunders | Ford Mustang |
| 1995 | Ron Fellows | Chevrolet Camaro |
| 1996 | Dorsey Schroeder | Ford Mustang |
| 1997 | Tommy Kendall | Ford Mustang |
| 1998 | Paul Gentilozzi | Chevrolet Camaro |
| 1999 | Brian Simo | Ford Mustang |
| 2000 | Paul Gentilozzi | Jaguar XKR |
| 2001 | Paul Gentilozzi | Jaguar XKR |
- ^ Winner Wally Dallenbach, Jr. disqualified due to car being underweight
[edit] Past winners of other Open Wheel Detroit events
All winners were 
American
| Year | Date | Driver | Chassis | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grosse Pointe dirt oval | ||||
| 1905 | August 8 | Webb Jay | White | White steam engine |
| Michigan State Fairgrounds dirt oval | ||||
| 1928 | June 10 | Ray Keech | Miller | Miller |
| 1929 | June 9 | Cliff Woodbury | Miller | Miller |
| 1930 | June 9 | Wilbur Shaw | Smith | Miller |
| 1931 | June 14 | Louis Meyer | Stevens | Miller |
| 1932 | June 9 | Bob Carey | Stevens | Miller |
| 1932 | September 10 | Mauri Rose | Stevens | Miller |
| 1932 | June 11 | Bill Cummings | Miller | Miller |
| 1949 | September 11 | Tony Bettenhausen | Kurtis Kraft | Offenhauser |
| 1950 | September 10 | Henry Banks | Moore | Offenhauser |
| 1951 | September 9 | Paul Russo | Russo/Nichels | Offenhauser |
| 1952 | August 30 | Bill Vukovich | Kuzma | Offenhauser |
| 1953 | July 4 | Rodger Ward | Kurtis Kraft | Offenhauser |
| 1957 | June 23 | Jimmy Bryan | Kuzma | Offenhauser |
[edit] See also
3d animation of the Detroit Street Circuit (YouTube)
[edit] References
- http://www.detroitgp.com
- http://www.champcarstats.com
- Detroit Grand Prix Live coverage of the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix - Jalopnik
- [1] Site dedicated to the 1985 Detroit Grand Prix IV Pace Cars
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