Detroit Grand Prix returns downtown: Speed, sound, and racing action set for May 29–31

DETROIT – The sound and speed of the Detroit Grand Prix return to city streets in three weeks.

“Racing is in our blood. It’s in our DNA,” event chairman Bud Denker said.

Entering its fourth year downtown, the race hosts the NTT IndyCar Series and IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship from May 29 through May 31.

“We’re not here once every 15 or 20 years like the Super Bowl or the Draft or Final Four,” Denker continued. “This event happens in our city every single year. You can plan on it.”

Racing up Franklin Street and down Jefferson Avenue, drivers can always count on a challenge from the nine-turn, 1.7-mile circuit.

“One little error and you’re going to hit a wall and end your day,” five-time Belle Isle winner and Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing sports car driver Jordan Taylor said. “It takes a lot of risk. It takes a lot of commitment. The car has to be fast. This is one of those events where you need everything to go right.”

The Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear took the green flag for the first time in 1982 as a Formula One event, transitioning to IndyCar/CART in 1989.

Through layout and location changes, the event continues to reflect the city’s culture.

“Energy, warmth, and sense of togetherness make the Detroit Grand Prix special,” Reden Le said. A student at the College for Creative Studies, Le designed the poster for this year’s race. “Working on this poster made me actually see how the community in Detroit is so diverse and so fun.”

The fun includes concerts, festivities, and promotions adjacent to the track throughout race week, along with documented economic and charitable impacts.

“We love racing for all those reasons,” General Motors Vice President of Performance and Motorsports Jim Campbell said. “Certainly, to have a race in our hometown means a lot, and it’s also a great way to give back.”

Approximately 1,350 volunteers sign up with the Detroit Grand Prix Association each year, but community assistance goes both ways.

“We put thousands of people to work,” Denker added. “We bring 100 million dollars to the city every year, and we show off these kids.”

Members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Detroit created seven murals adorning the wall to the right side of the pit lane exit.

Serving as a clear reminder of the community that makes this race what it is, they’re also tough for drivers to see at speeds in excess of 180 miles per hour.

“We’re one of only 20 cities in the world that have a downtown street course event,” Denker said. “We should never take that for granted.”

The track build has already begun, with most construction occurring at night to avoid disrupting traffic.

Friday, May 29, is Fifth Third Free Prix Day, welcoming fans to grandstands one and nine with no ticket required.

Reserved seats for all three days are on sale now.