Community members gathered for the annual Detroit Grand Prix on Saturday, with crowds filling the stands along Jefferson Avenue and the entire downtown area, including Hart Plaza and the Renaissance Center.
The race is run over a 1.7-mile stretch, with participants watching from various stands along the course. On the second day of the event, helicopters circled overhead and boats moored on the nearby Detroit River as cars zipped around the course.
The first Indy NXT race took place this afternoon, with each car speeding through 45 laps. HMD Motorsport’s Rhys Gold and Nolan Siegle battled hard around the track until Siegle suffered a mechanical problem on the final lap of the race and finished eighth.
Gold finished first, Jagger Jones second and Ernie Francis Jr. third.
Regular fan Richard Bomarito of Birmingham was in attendance with grandson Lance Troy of Royal Oak. In his 1980s, while working at the local Marlboro office, Mr. Vonmarito recalled events that took place on the Bell He Isle and downtown. Marlboro sponsored two cars at the event at the time.
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This weekend, the annual race returns to the road for the first time in 32 years, returning across the bridge from its former venue of Belle Isle.
Attendee Dan Winter said he liked events held downtown and enjoyed attending the race from 1982 to 1991.
“Nobody knew what was going to happen. It was very refreshing,” Winter said. “The original IndyCar had all European drivers and I think Detroit at the time just wanted to do a North American built circuit.”
The sound of music and smells of cooking added to the atmosphere, with music playing from nearby boats and speakers on the stage at Heart Plaza, and food truck vendors serving food to hungry fans. Saturday night will feature live music featuring artists his Z-Trip and his Steve Aooki to provide entertainment for attendees.
Winter chose to withdraw from the event as the Grand Prix moved to Belle Isle.
“Because it was over there and it was a hard-to-reach place, I lost my enthusiasm,” Winter said.
A blistering heat greeted attendees on Saturday, but was tempered by a gentle breeze off the Detroit riverside. The temperature reached nearly 90 degrees and the sky was cloudy.
The event will include a Catholic Mass at the Jesuit Church of St. Peter and Paul on Saturday night.
Southfield’s Deborah Michoa, 68, has been attending the Grand Prix since it began in 1982 and has only missed two years.
“It’s wonderful. I want everyone to come and enjoy these beautiful days,” Michoa said.
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The Grand Prix will be held again on the final day of the festival on Sunday, with racing starting at 8:10am and running throughout the day.
The main race, the IndyCar Grand Prix, takes place on Sunday from 3pm to 6pm.
