Detroit Grand Prix could return in 2012

UPDATE #2 This rumor is upgraded to ''fact' today. The Detroit Grand Prix is returning to Belle Isle next summer. Officials have called a press conference for 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, where the return of the event is expected to be announced. Last month, the Detroit City Council approved a request from racing officials, clearing one of the first hurdles in bringing the race back to Belle Isle June 1-3. SPEED TV has reported the race is officially scheduled June 3; a race at Fontana, Calif., will also be added for Sept. 15.

Mayor Dave Bing, and Mark Reuss, president of GM North America; Randy Bernard, CEO of INDYCAR; and Penske are expected to be in attendance for the news conference set for the Ambassador Ballroom of the Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center. (See this Hot News story)

Expected Schedule

March 25 – St. Petersburg, FL – street/airfield course
April 1 – Birmingham, AL – road course
April 15 – Long Beach, CA – street course
April 29 – Sao Paulo, Brazil – street course
May 27 – Indianapolis, IN – oval track
June 3 – Detroit, MI – road course
June 9 – Ft. Worth, TX – oval track (Sat night TWIN race 1)
June 9 – Ft. Worth, TX – oval track (Sat night TWIN race 2)
June 24 – Newton, IA – oval track (Sat night race)
July 8 – Toronto, Canada – street course
July 22 – Edmonton, Canada – street course
August 5 – Lexington, OH – road course
August 19 – Qingdao, China – street course (might not happen, deal not signed yet)
September 2 – Baltimore, MD – street course
September 15 – Fontana, CA – oval track (Sat Night Race)
September 23 – Sonoma, CA – road course (will move to August if China race falls through)
October 13-14 – Las Vegas, NV – oval track
Bold = Confirmed Date

10/07/11 Chevy has called a press conference in Detroit for Wednesday. Rumor has it they might announce sponsorship of the Detroit GP and perhaps the signing of more teams besides the Panther Racing announcement today.

09/15/11 The Detroit Grand Prix could return to Belle Isle next year, after an absence of four years. An application has been made to the Detroit City Council for the race to be held June 1-3, 2012.

Bud Denker, chairman of the Detroit Grand Prix Association, said today he hopes the application will go before the council for approval next week.

“We’ve talked to the IndyCar Series people, and they are very pleased and interested in coming back to Detroit," Denker said. “The important thing now is getting city approval and tying up sponsorship.

“Nothing has been approved yet," added Denker. "But we are moving through the process, and we are working all the sponsorship angles. We like the date, because it coattails on to the Indy 500 at the end of May and doesn’t tie up Belle Isle for the summer.

"We think returning the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix to the Motor City is very important, and so does the IndyCar Series. The ball is rolling."

The 2012 Indianapolis 500, the premier event of the IndyCar Series, is scheduled for May 27.

Detroit Mayor Dave Bing "has been very active in working with the group to bring the race back," mayoral spokesman Dan Lijana said.

"We're certainly in support of it." Detroit Free Press