This weekend’s Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear, the last one at the Raceway at Belle Isle Park before moving to the streets of downtown Detroit next year, is offering new areas and activities for fans.
Located near the historic Scott Fountain on Belle Isle, the Fountain Fan Area will host the Grand Prix Entertainment Stage, featuring a combination of live music and DJs all weekend. Bands with a strong local following will perform on the Entertainment Stage including The Verve Pipe on Friday, Jr Jr on Saturday, and The Docksiders on Sunday.
When visitors first arrive at the Grand Prix, they will be welcomed by a variety of displays in the Midway, including some of the latest models, technology, and racing competition featured in the Cadillac area. The Midway also will feature numerous vendor displays and official racing and team merchandise from Made in Detroit, Stylized Athletics, and Legends.
After crossing the Chevrolet Pedestrian Bridge from the Midway, fans will enter the Meijer Fan Zone. The Chevrolet Racing Tour will welcome visitors to the Meijer Fan Zone with Chevy high-performance vehicles on display and appearances from Team Chevy drivers and special guests throughout the weekend.
The Detroit Sports District returns in 2022 offering fans the chance to test their football, baseball, and basketball skills in the Meijer interactive sports stations. Some of the top sports legends in Detroit also will be appearing in the Fan Zone and fans will have the opportunity to get free autographs on Saturday and Sunday.
The IndyCar Fan Village will provide an interactive experience for fans, including racing simulators and autographs sessions with IndyCar Series and Indy Lights series drivers.
The Grand Prix Legacy display in the Meijer Fan Zone will honor the 30 years that the Grand Prix has called Belle Isle home. With a timeline that includes some classic images and video footage of some of the greatest moments in Detroit Grand Prix history and one of the historic Indy cars that drove to victory on the island, the Legacy display will provide a tribute to the heritage of the event on Belle Isle, and also offer a preview of the new era that begins in 2023 when the Grand Prix returns to the streets of downtown Detroit.
All Grand Prix attendees will once again have free access to the Fifth Third Bank Paddock – known as the “locker room of motorsports.” Fans are welcome to watch the teams and drivers prepare their cars in the paddock throughout the weekend as they compete on The Raceway at Belle Isle Park.
The Grand Prix Food Court on Muse Drive will feature some of Detroit’s favorite food trucks including Andiamo Pizza Pie, Aruba Freeze, Chick A Dee, Cinnamon Nuts & More, Different Twists Pretzel Bakery, Detroit City Distillery, J&J Concessions, Jackson Five Start Motown Bistro, and Jackson Five Star On The Go. Food vendors also will be located behind the main grandstand.
Adjacent to the Scott Fountain is the new Fountain Fan Area that will feature the Entertainment Stage, the Jack Daniels Party Porch, and tailgating games and activities. For a complete listing of the performers on the Grand Prix Entertainment Stage and to purchase tickets, visit www.DetroitGP.com.
“We want to celebrate the last Grand Prix on Belle Isle with a complete experience to say thank you to our fans for all their support over the years,” says Michael Montri, president of the Detroit Grand Prix. “With some of the new activities and areas for fans to enjoy, we want to make this year’s Grand Prix the best one yet on Belle Isle. We know our fans will enjoy the great racing on the track and we have something for guests of all ages to enjoy on Belle Isle to make this a special weekend to remember.”
Official race-related activities include:
Wednesday, June 1
Doug Guthrie Memorial Grand Prix Karting Challenge presented by Lear Corp. — At Full Throttle in Sterling Heights from 6-8 p.m., members of the media will compete. IndyCar driver David Malukas and IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship driver Roman De Angelis will be on hand.
Thursday, June 2
Racing for Kids Children’s Hospital Visit — Racing for Kids, which was founded in Detroit by former IndyCar driver Robbie Buhl, will welcome IndyCar driver Kyle Kirkwood from 10-11 a.m. as he visits with patients at Children’s Hospital of Michigan. Kirkwood and the Racing for Kids team will meet with the young patients outside in Brush Mall behind the hospital.
Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear Media Luncheon
The Detroit Yacht Club will host this year’s Grand Prix Media Luncheon where IndyCar drivers Will Power, Josef Newgarden, and Scott McLaughlin of Team Penske, along with the newly crowned Indianapolis 500 champion Marcus Ericsson, IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Cadillac driver Sebastien Bourdais of Chip Ganassi Racing, and Indy Lights driver Ernie Francis Jr. are expected to attend.
Friday, June 3
Comerica Bank Free Prix Day — Gates open at 7:30 a.m. for Free Prix Day that will include IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar practice and qualifying, Masters Endurance Legends USA practice, Indy Lights practice, and live entertainment from 6-7 p.m.
Historic Scott Fountain Flows for the First Time in 2022 — At 9:45 a.m., the iconic James Scott Memorial Fountain on Belle Isle will be turned on for the first time and remain on for the rest of the summer months.
Detroit Grand Prix Fan Forum — Celebrating the last Grand Prix hosted at Belle Isle Park, executives, officials, and drivers who have produced some of the most memorable moments in the history of the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear will look back on the event’s heritage and look ahead to its future on the streets of downtown Detroit at 11 a.m. on the Entertainment Stage in the Fountain Fan Area.
Saturday, June 4
Masters Endurance Legends USA Race 1 — 10:25-11:10 a.m.
Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires Race 1 — 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
Chevrolet Sports Car Classic IMSA Race — 3:10-4:50 p.m.
Live Entertainment — 5:30-7 p.m.
Clark Park Grand Prix Party — At 4 p.m., both IndyCar and Indy Lights drivers will meet with fans in southwest Detroit’s Clark Park. The Grand party will feature music, food trucks, giveaways, and games. Drivers Pato O’Ward, Felix Rosenqvist, Scott McLaughlin, Colton Herta, Callum Ilott, Ernie Francis Jr., Jacob Abel, Matt Brabham, Sting Ray Robb, Christian Rasmussen, and Hunter McElre are expected to attend.
Sunday, June 5
Masters Endurance Legends USA Race 2 — 11-11:40 a.m.
Live Entertainment — Noon-1 p.m.
Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires Race 2 — 12:10-1:05 p.m.
Live Entertainment — 1:30-3 p.m.
Chevrolet IndyCar Grand Prix — 3:30-6 p.m.
