DETROIT – Downtown Detroit is beginning to look like a racetrack.
Organizers for the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix Presented by Lear laid the first bricks for the track build last week, preparing for race weekend May 30 through June 1.
Recommended Videos
The 1.645-mile, nine-turn circuit circles the GM Renaissance Center and runs parallel to the Detroit Riverfront on Jefferson Avenue, Bates Street, Atwater Street, St. Antoine, Franklin Street, and Rivard.
“Our mission is to be inclusive in our city,” Grand Prix chairman Bud Denker told Local 4. “The fact that more than half our racetrack is open free to the public happens nowhere else in our city.”
During the Grand Prix, three racing series—IndyCar, Indy NXT, and the IMSA SportsCar Championship—will compete over three days.
Although full days of racing are a spectacle drawing fans from all over the country, the weekend is also a boon to local businesses and boasts a variety of vendors. Musical guest Gryffin and opening act Evan Giia headline activities Saturday evening at Campus Martius.
“There’s a lot going on besides racing,” Denker said. “We call it an event, not a race.”
IndyCar driver Santino Ferrucci joined Local 4’s Sports Final Edition to preview the event, one of his favorites on the series calendar.
“I think the city is so unique,” the AJ Foyt Racing pilot said. “The way that they’ve involved the community, the local Boys & Girls Clubs, the volunteers. There’s nothing like this place. Also, racing in the city, we truly are in the city. So many things about this venue are just unique.”
The community connection Ferrucci spoke of will be seen along the track’s walls. Eight murals painted by young artists at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan will adorn the circuit, all depicting the spirit of racing and city life.
The official race poster also showcases the talent of a young artist. Eli Shelton, a sophomore at the College for Creative Studies, won a competition with his design, which depicts an open-wheel car and IMSA prototype while drawing inspiration from vibrant street art.
“That was one of the things that really drew me to the city,” the Indiana native said. “There’s one mural in particular, ‘The Girl with the Detroit D Earring.’ I really hope that the people in Detroit will see this and feel seen and represented.”
Before heading to Detroit, the IndyCar Series runs the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 25.
The full interview with Ferrucci can be viewed below.
