BUD DENKER

Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear announced Friday the winner of this year’s poster competition for the racing event.

The Detroit City Council granted its approval for the Detroit Grand Prix to move from Belle Isle to the Detroit River waterfront, a move proposed by Bud Denker, president of Penske Corporation, in September. The race will return to Belle Isle June 3-5, 2022, before moving to downtown Detroit in 2023. “We are so excited to begin a new era of the Grand Prix beginning in 2023,” a statement reads. “Ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to experience the energy of our street festival in downtown Detroit. In the coming weeks we look forward to sharing our vision for the future of the Grand Prix in the Motor City.”

Organizers of the Detroit Grand Prix are looking to move the race to Downtown Detroit in 2023.

DETROIT – The Detroit Grand Prix is eying a move back downtown. Representatives of the annual IndyCar race on Belle Isle laid out a plan before Detroit City Council on Tuesday to bring the race back to the streets of downtown Detroit where the race was held from 1982 to 1991. The race is scheduled to return to Belle Isle June 3-5, 2022 and a current agreement with the state to host the race on Belle Isle is good though 2024. Bud Denker, president of Penske Corporation, wants to see a downtown street circuit beginning in 2023. The 2021 version of the Detroit Grand Prix was won by Marcus Ericsson and Patricio O’Ward.

The inaugural Detroit Grand Prix in 1982 was a race through Downtown Detroit.

The inaugural Detroit Grand Prix in 1982 was a race through Downtown Detroit.

The first engines will fire up on Belle Isle Friday as Grand Prix weekend officially gets underway.

On this week’s Michigan Matters. Motor Racing returns to Belle Isle as the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix gears up. And Detroit Tiger Legend Kirk Gibson talks about his toughest foe these days—his battle with Parkinson’s Disease.

On this week’s Michigan Matters. Motor Racing returns to Belle Isle as the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix gears up. And Detroit Tiger Legend Kirk Gibson talks about his toughest foe these days—his battle with Parkinson’s Disease.

The Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear is coming back to Belle Isle this June after being cancelled in 2020, and restrictions will be in place to help prevent coronavirus spread.

Detroit Grand Prix chairman Bud Denker expects between 6,000-9,000 fans will be allowed to view the action on Belle Isle Park each day.

Belle Isle pictured in May 26, 2017. Belle Isle has been crowded this year with throngs of visitors seeking respite and rejuvenation in one of the most beautiful and peaceful public parks in the nation. During race weekend itself, the most popular and accessible part of the island is closed to the public. This is certainly clear in the case of the Belle Isle Grand Prix. Adding a second weekend of racing in the park should not be tolerated.Belle Isle is still the property of the city of Detroit.

Motor City race fans were bummed out last spring when the IndyCar Series was forced to cancel the Detroit Grand Prix due to the coronavirus pandemic. Belle Isle Park will host the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship on June 4-5, followed by the IndyCar doubleheader weekend June 12-13. Next year will be the 31st running of the Detroit Grand Prix, and it will mark the first time it has covered two weekends. Fans can register for an early pre-sale opportunity for 2021 Grand Prix tickets now by signing up at www.DetroitGP.com. Please click here to see the entire 2021 IndyCar schedule.

click to enlarge Mike FerdinandeCars race at the Belle Isle Grand Prix in 2016. We looked at every possible scenario to reschedule the race, but all of them would have been too disruptive to the hundreds of fall events that will take place on Belle Isle. We look forward to the Grand Prix returning in 2021 as we continue our mission of revitalizing Belle Isle Park and providing significant support to the Belle Isle Conservancy, while helping to inject millions of dollars in economic benefit to our cities and our region.According to the press release, they will reach out to ticket holders to discuss options. Organizers say the Detroit Grand Prix will return June 4-6, 2021.Until then, you can enjoy a construction-less Belle Isle. Just be sure to stay more than six feet away from other people, and wear a face mask or a bandana that covers your mouth.