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Oct122011

Wednesday, October 12, 2011 at 10:34AM

October 12, 2011

The Detroit Grand Prix returns.

By Peter M. De Lorenzo

(Posted 10/12, 12:30 p.m.) Detroit. It is with mixed feelings that I greet the news that the Detroit Grand Prix is returning to the Belle Isle circuit next June. As a resident of this region, it's certainly excellent news and Roger Penske deserves all of the credit for being the driving force that is making this happen. People outside of the racing world really have no idea how much effort Roger personally puts in to making this area a better place to live and work, and it is only through the sheer force of his will that this event is back on the IndyCar calendar. Roger is to be commended for caring as much as he does.

Penske is the one who got Chevrolet to step-up and sponsor the race in a multi-year agreement, and it will be known as the "Chevrolet Detroit Belle isle Grand Prix as presented by a publishing empire" (that shall remain nameless in this publication for reasons they are well aware of). The event is a go for June 1-3 2012, the first race on the IndyCar calendar after the Indianapolis 500 due to the fact that the Milwaukee event once again has imploded.

Reading from a prepared speech at the media announcement, Mark Reuss, president of GM North America had this to say: “Chevrolet has a long, storied history in Indy car racing. This year we celebrated the shared centennial of Chevrolet and the Indianapolis 500. We're excited to see that history continue with the help of Penske Corporation and INDYCAR bringing back open-wheel racing to Detroit in 2012. This city is a natural for racing – it put the world on wheels and the roar of engines is something that simply belongs here."

For the city, the region and racing fans who are able to attend, this should be a welcome return. But for logistical reasons and the future of racing itself? I hate to throw cold water on things but, not so much.

First of all, no matter how much money has been spent - and Roger Penske has spent $6 million in recent years to improve both the public park at Belle Isle as well as the racing support infrastructure on the island - the fact of the matter remains that it is a royal pain in the ass to get on and off the island, and there's no amount of money or PR spin that can change that fact. Don't think that's true? Then you haven't been to a race there. I can assure you that this is a major turn-off for spectators and it will always be a major negative issue, and there's just no getting around it.

Secondly, because of how this race falls on the racing calendar - within close proximity to the 24 Hours of Le Mans - the ALMS has been shut out in favor of Grand-Am, once again reaffirming the Detroit car companies long-standing MO of doling out money to various racing series according to how they see fit at the moment, not bothering to consider the overall impact to the sport itself. Since Jim France, the chief honcho of the Grand-Am series, was in the audience and prominently called out by Reuss in his speech, it's clear that Grand-Am is enjoying "favored nation" status within GM right now, and once again that spells serious trouble for any quaint notion of someday having a unified professional road racing championship in this country. As in, how about never?

Besides the obligatory Firestone Indy Lights race (in the last year of that sponsorship deal), the other featured support race is the Pirelli-sponsored World Challenge series, another choice of convenience by GM since it has its Cadillac CTS-V racers in the series. As a matter of fact the World Challenge race that weekend will be called The Cadillac V-Series Challenge at Belle Isle. Once promising in its vision and calculated moxie, the World Challenge series has devolved to a glorified club racing series that means nothing to no one, and GM Racing and Cadillac are, embarrassingly enough, committed to the series despite its decidedly minor league status. So this is a conspicuous display of throwing good money after bad if I've ever seen it.

The net-net of this? Is this event good for the city? Maybe, although I find the huge number being bandied about - $100 million - that will allegedly be added to the local economy to be ludicrous. It is one of ABC's "live" televised IndyCar races so local officials hope the city and the waterfront shines on that day, enough to get organizations to consider having their conventions here, at any rate.

For racing enthusiasts who couldn't care less about the politics involved the weekend affords the opportunity to see the IndyCar series up close and personal, which can only be a very good thing.

But as for the overall health and future of American road racing in this country?

Let's just say this event leaves that discussion for another year.

Editor-in-Chief's Note: The ALMS has already weighed-in on the 2012 Detroit Grand Prix at Belle Isle. Here's what they had to say:

Following Wednesday’s announcement regarding the return of the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix, American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón President and CEO Scott Atherton shared plans for the Series to be part of the 2013 edition of the race. A scheduling conflict between the 2012 race and the test day for next year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans will prevent North America’s premier sports car championship from placing Detroit into its June TBD date.

“While we enjoyed being a very successful part of the renaissance of this great race on Belle Isle in 2007 and again in 2008, the 2012 Detroit race and the Le Mans test day next year share the same date on the calendar, creating a direct conflict which could not be resolved for 2012,” Atherton said. “In 2013 however, we foresee a resolution of the date conflict with the Le Mans test day, enabling the ALMS to compete in the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix. While our participation in this classic Motor City race is not possible in 2012, we will continue to work hard with everyone involved to take part in 2013.”

(Photo by Steve Fecht for Chevrolet)

(Scheuern - LAT Photo)
Roger Penske, Mark Reuss and Randy Bernard at the Chevrolet Belle Isle Grand Prix IndyCar announcement.

Publisher's Note: As part of our continuing series celebrating the "Glory Days" of racing, we're proud to present another noteworthy image from the Ford Racing Archives. - PMD

Kent, Washington, August 10, 1967. Ronnie Bucknum makes a pit stop in his factory-supported Shelby American Mustang during the 300-mile Trans-Am race. The 1967 Trans-Am season turned out to be an intramural Ford battle pitting Shelby American-prepared Mustangs (Jerry Titus & Ronnie Bucknum) against Mercury Cougars (Dan Gurney & Parnelli Jones) prepared by Bud Moore Engineering. If a Mustang won at Kent, Ford would win the championship. But if a Cougar won, Mercury would take home the manufacturers trophy. Mark Donohue would win the race going away, signaling the Penske Racing domination that was looming for the '68 and '69 seasons, but the real battle was between the Ford factory entries for second place and the championship. Jones' Mustang wouldn't restart after a pit stop on Lap 61, while the engine in the Titus Mustang blew four laps later. Bucknum was able to hold-off Gurney for second place over the last 70 laps after Gurney had to make a costly pit stop for a leaking gas cap. Gurney spent 38 seconds in the pits and finished 40 seconds behind Bucknum at the end of the race. Check out videos of the 1967 Trans-Am Series here, here, here, and here. Very cool stuff.

Publisher's Note: Like these Ford racing photos? Check out www.fordimages.com. Be forewarned, however, because you won't be able to go there and not order something. - PMD

See another live episode of "Autoline After Hours" with hosts John McElroy, from Autoline Detroit, and Peter De Lorenzo, The Autoextremist, and guests this Thursday evening, at 7:00PM EDT at www.autolinedetroit.tv.