Racing roars back to Belle Isle

Helio Castroneves was here to find fault, but the two-time Indianapolis 500 winner gave the race circuit at Belle Isle a whole-hearted thumbs-up.

Castroneves took several laps (Photo) around the 14-turn, 2.1-mile course early Tuesday morning to offer feedback to team engineers, and Indy Racing League and Detroit Grand Prix officials. Castroneves drives for Bloomfield Hills businessman Roger Penske, who is the force behind returning the Detroit Grand Prix to the city for the first time since 2001.

Castroneves drove his Marlboro Team Penske Indy car to gauge where the track can be improved for the Labor Day weekend event that kicks off Aug. 31. The weekend includes an American LeMans Series endurance event on Sept. 1 and the IndyCar race on Sept. 2.

"I'm very impressed," said Castroneves, winner of the Detroit Grand Prix in 2000 and 2001. "The back side (of the track), the straightaway, everything seems to be not as bad as it looks. You see the cracks in the ground, you think, 'Oh, this is going to be tough,' and actually it's not. It's pretty nice. Some few areas there were bumps with the new concrete, which I believe is normal with something new. You have to smooth it out." More at Detroit News