Chevrolet has signed a multiyear deal "to become the primary sponsor” of the Izod IndyCar Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix on June 3, 2012, according to Bill Shea of CRAINS DETROIT BUSINESS. The race was last run “without a presenting sponsor” in ’08. Race Chair and Penske Senior VP Bud Denker said that it “has been mothballed for the past three years because of the economy.” IndyCar team owner Roger Penske said, “This will be Detroit’s first big event of the summer and it’s a week after the Indy 500, when everyone’s eyes are on IndyCar racing.” GM is “committed to sponsor the race for three years” and Penske said that “improvements to the park should make for a semi-permanent road course.” IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard said that the “new Detroit event will replace the series’ stop at Milwaukee” (CRAINSDETROIT.com, 10/12). In Detroit, Leonard Fleming notes GM officials “did not disclose how much they expect to contribute.” Belle Isle will host “four races that weekend, including the Chevrolet Indy Grand Prix, the Chevrolet Detroit Sports Car Challenge, the Cadillac V-Series Challenge and the Firestone Indy Light Series” (DETROIT NEWS, 10/13). GM North America President Mark Reuss said that Chevy “also will re-enter the IndyCar Series with a twin-turbo, direct-injected V6 racing engine” in ’12. In Detroit, Mike Brudenell reports Team Penske, Andretti Autosport and Panther Racing “already have signed to use the engine.” Chevy “supplied engines to the series in 1986-93 and in 2002-2005, winning 104 races, including the Indy 500 seven times” (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 10/13).
STAY TUNED: American Le Mans Series President & CEO Scott Atherton revealed plans for the series to be part of the '13 edition of the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix. A schedule conflict between the ‘12 race and the test day for next year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans will prevent North America’s sports car championship from placing Detroit into its June date (ALMS).
