2014 CHEVROLET DETROIT BELLE ISLE GRAND PRIX TICKETS ON SALE WEDNESDAY

Free T-Shirt with first 250 Orders; Fans To Experience Grand Prix-View at GM Renaissance Center

DETROIT, Mich. (November 19, 2013) – Tickets for the 2014 Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix go on sale Wednesday and the event is offering two great opportunities for fans to get ready to start their summer a little bit early. 

Beginning Wednesday morning, fans can purchase their tickets for the 2014 Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix, which will be held May 30-June 1, by visiting www.DetroitGP.com or by calling the ticket hotline at 866-464-PRIX (7749). The first 250 ticket orders will receive a free Grand Prix t-shirt produced by Made In Detroit.

Fans are also invited to come and meet Grand Prix drivers Helio Castroneves and Ed Carpenter of the IndyCar Series as well as Johnny O’Connell and Andy Pilgrim of the Pirelli World Challenge Series at 11:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday at the GM Renaissance Center Wintergarden as they will sign autographs and sell tickets at the Chevrolet/Cadillac Grand Prix-View. The public is welcome to attend and free Coney Dogs and soft drinks will be provided courtesy of the Grand Prix and Chevrolet.

Great ticket packages are available for a fun-filled weekend on Belle Isle next summer highlighted by the Chevrolet Indy Dual in Detroit presented by Quicken Loans doubleheader IndyCar Series races and some new and exciting off-track entertainment options.

New for 2014, all tickets will include free round-trip shuttle transportation to and from Belle Isle from two downtown Detroit locations.

Race officials are proud to announce that Free Prix Day, a Grand Prix tradition in Detroit, will return in 2014 as everyone will be admitted to the Raceway at Belle Isle Park venue free of charge on Friday, May 30. Premium single-day and multi-day ticket plans are available for all of the Saturday and Sunday Grand Prix activities. Single-day tickets can be purchased for as little as $35 for a general admission seat and two-day general admission tickets are available for just $65. Children 12 and under are admitted free to GA seating with a ticket-holding adult.

Two-day reserved grandstand ticket pricing starts at just $110 and premium seating options are also available. Fans can buy the Three-day Super Ticket plan which includes premiere seating and paddock passes for all three days of the Grand Prix for $175. Passes for the unique AutoTrader.com Trackside Club – located just a few feet away from the race cars competing on track – are also available, which includes paddock passes, access to the exclusive Club that features food and beverages all weekend long, souvenirs and much more. Passes to the Fifth Third Bank Paddock, the “locker room” of motorsports that includes up-close access to the teams, drivers and race cars, are now also available for purchase.

Tickets to the event not only include a chance to witness world-class racing featuring the IndyCar Series, the new TUDOR United SportsCar Championship and the Pirelli World Challenge Series, they also provide access to all the activities in the Meijer Fan Zone. With extreme sports demonstrations, Monster Truck rides, displays from Detroit’s sports teams family-friendly activities, the Meijer Fan Zone will be the place to be at the Grand Prix. Fans can also watch national and local acts perform throughout the weekend on the MotorCity Casino Hotel entertainment stage (entertainment to be announced soon).

Tickets are available for the 2014 Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix online at www.DetroitGP.com through the ticket hotline at 866-464-PRIX (7749) or fans can purchase in person at the Grand Prix box office located in the GM Renaissance Center, 300 Renaissance Center Drive in downtown Detroit.  

LIKE the In Play! Magazine Facebook Page

CHEVROLET DETROIT BELLE ISLE GRAND PRIX GENERATES $46.3 MILLION IN TOTAL SPENDING IN 2013

DETROIT, Mich. (November 18, 2013) – The 2013 Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix generated $46.3 million in total spending for the Metropolitan Detroit region, according to information released today.

The total represents an increase of $1 million in spending from the 2012 Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix, according to a report conducted by sports consulting firm Sportsimpacts, which also provided an analysis report of the 2012 Grand Prix.

Of the 2013 total spending number affecting Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties, $17 million represents new spending to the region as a result of non-local sources that will be retained long term as new income for Detroit-area households, businesses and government. This represents a total economic impact increase of $1.3 million over the 2012 Grand Prix according to Sportsimpacts, which has conducted over 75 studies since 2000, including numerous sporting events in Metro Detroit such as Super Bowl XL, the Ryder Cup and the Major League Baseball All-Star Game.

“The Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix continues to be a very positive force for Detroit and Southeast Michigan,” said Bud Denker, Chairman of the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix. “We know that the event shines the light on Detroit and Belle Isle on an international level with race broadcasts seen around the world and it’s also great to see how much of an impact the Grand Prix has on the local economy. We’re very excited to report economic growth from the 2012 event and to generate $46.3 million in spending for the region this year.”

The direct spending impact, which refers to all spending by local and non-local spectators, participants, and other expenditures towards event operations and infrastructure for the Grand Prix in 2013 was estimated at $28.8 million. Accounting for regional spending multipliers produced, Sportsimpacts projected the total spending impact of this year’s Grand Prix to be $17 million.

LIKE the In Play! Magazine Facebook Page

NEW TUDOR UNITED SPORTSCAR CHAMPIONSHIP TO HOST EVENT AT 2014

LIKE the In Play! Magazine Facebook Page

 DETROIT, Mich. (September 20, 2013) – The Motor City will host North America’s new unified and revitalized sports car racing series next year following today’s announcement that the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship will race at the 2014 Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix.







Last spring, the two top sports car series in North America – the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) and the GRAND-AM Sports Car Series – announced that they would join forces to create the United SportsCar Racing series. Sanctioned by the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) and featuring many of the world’s top sports car teams and drivers, the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship (series logo attached) was unveiled and the series will visit Detroit next summer.







As it announced its 12-race schedule on Friday, the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship proudly revealed that the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix, to be held May 30-June 1, 2014, will be a key event on the circuit. Three classes of sports cars will battle wheel-to-wheel on the 2.3-mile Raceway at Belle Isle Park street circuit on Saturday, May 31.







“We are excited to host the new TUDOR United SportsCar Championship in Detroit at next year’s Grand Prix,” said Bud Denker, Chairman of the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix. “With both series coming together in 2014 this represents a rebirth of sports car racing in North America and we are thrilled to be a part of it here as we host their race on Saturday, May 31st in the automotive capital of the world.”







The Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix hosted both sports car series in past years. The ALMS cars competed on Belle Isle in 2007 and 2008 while the GRAND-AM Series raced on the island in 2012 and 2013.







“This is, without a doubt, the best sports car schedule in the history of North America,” said Scott Atherton, IMSA President. “When we announced the merger plans last year, we immediately envisioned a dream schedule, one that our industry and, most importantly, our fans would embrace. Although it wasn’t easy, we feel like we have arrived at just that. There were so many options to consider and we could have added more events, but we had to ensure that we didn’t over-tax our industry. So, we stuck to our plan of going with the ‘best of the best’ and capped the lineup at 12 events. Overall, a dream schedule, indeed.”







The Prototype (P), Prototype Challenge (PC) and GT Daytona (GTD) race classes will all compete next summer on Belle Isle in the Chevrolet Sports Car Classic presented by the Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers. The 2014 TUDOR United SportsCar Championship will begin January 25-26 with the popular Rolex 24 at Daytona endurance race.

CHEVROLET DETROIT BELLE ISLE GRAND PRIX ANNOUNCES CANADIAN PARTNERSHIP AND TICKET PACKAGE

DETROIT, Mich. (April, 23, 2013) – Opening its arms to all of the great Canadian race fans located across the Detroit River from Belle Isle, the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix is proud to announce a renewed partnership with the City of Windsor. Through the relationship, fans across the border will have the opportunity enjoy a weekend full of world class auto racing, family fun and on-stage entertainment, May 31-June 2 at the Grand Prix.

As part of this unique partnership Canadian fans will enjoy a special ticket and transportation package through the City of Windsor. In addition, the Belle Isle Casino building, which hosts members of the working press throughout race weekend at the official event Media Center, will be sponsored by the City of Windsor, as it was during the 2008 Grand Prix.

The special ticket package includes a seat in the “Canadian Grandstand.” This features a reserved seat ticket in Grandstand 2, located at the start/finish line, which gives fans one of the best views of the on-track action. Also included in the package is a round-trip Transit Windsor ticket to and from Belle Isle, access to the Meijer Family Fun Zone and concerts on the MotorCity Casino Hotel Entertainment Stage. Single-day tickets start at $55 per person (HST included) and two-day tickets start at $105.

“We welcomed fans to the Canadian Grandstand at our event back in 2008 and we enjoyed tremendous support with a strong turnout,” said Bud Denker, Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix Event Chairman. “We appreciate the partnership with the City of Windsor and Mayor Francis. We are excited to offer this special package once again to all of the great Canadian fans and we look forward to providing an exciting weekend at the Grand Prix.”

Fans can visit www.cityofwindsor.ca for more information or call 311 in the City of Windsor to purchase tickets. Fans can also visit the Windsor International Transit Terminal and Customer Care Centres throughout Windsor starting Friday, April 26 to purchase the Canadian Grandstand ticket packages. Cash, debit, Visa and MasterCard are all accepted for the Canadian Grandstand package.

“The Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix is one of the many exciting events going on this summer and the City of Windsor is proud to lend its support,” said City of Windsor Mayor Eddie Francis. “We want to make sure that the Canadian Grandstand is packed with fans all weekend long so we urge everyone to get their tickets and enjoy a great weekend on Belle Isle.”

LIKE the In Play! Magazine Facebook Page

Last lap wreck at Daytona injures fans, mars Tony Stewart's Nationwide victory

By Reid Spencer
NASCAR Wire Service

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Tony Stewart won Saturday's DRIVE4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway, but the elation of his victory disappeared in the wake of a heart-stopping wreck that saw Kyle Larson's car demolished after flying into the crossover gate that provides access from the asphalt to the main grandstand. 

As Stewart dodged the crash and crossed the finish line, the front clip of Larson's car sheared off , ripping the engine out of its compartment. The front suspension and engine ended up on the walkway at the bottom of the stands.

A tire from Larson's car also flew into the grandstands.

Regan Smith led as the cars approached the checkered flag, but Smith tried to block Brad Keselowski, who was running second, and turned across the nose of Keselowski's car.

There were no immediate reports as to the extent of injuries, but emergency medical personnel arrived on the scene with stretchers and removed one spectator who was tightly strapped to the gurney. Other fans appeared to be receiving treatment at the scene.

The emergency in the grandstand tempered Stewart's fifth victory in his last six February races at Daytona and the 11th Nationwide Series win of his career.

"Fortunately, with the way the event's equipped up, there were plenty of emergency workers ready to go, and they jumped in on it pretty quickly," NASCAR president Mike Helton told ESPN. "And right now, it's just a function of trying to determine what all damage is done.

"They're moving folks, as we've seen, to care centers and taking some folks over to Halifax Medical (Center), so we'll be able to update later on, but right now, all we know is everybody's working real hard on determining what all happened."

Larson climbed from his car almost immediately and was evaluated and released from the infield care center.

Drivers, Larson included, were more concerned with the safety of the fans than the outcome of the race.

"The important thing is what's going on on the frontstretch right now," Stewart said after climbing from his car. "We've always known since racing was started this is a dangerous sport. But it's hard. We assume that risk. It's hard when the fans get caught up in it.

 "As much as we want to celebrate right now, as much as this is a big deal to us, I'm more worried about the drivers and fans in the stands right now. I could see it all in the mirror and it didn't look good from where I was either."

Smith said he wasn't about to surrender the victory to Keselowski 200 yards from the finish line.

"We made a move to try and win the race," Keselowski said. "We were in the catbird seat. Regan was in a good spot. He was first and I was second, and we were pushing. I kind of had the run and the move to win the race, and Regan obviously tried to block it, and that's understandable.

Sam Hornish Jr. crossed the stripe in second place, followed by rookie Alex Bowman, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Parker Kligerman.

The last-lap wreck wasn't the only serious incident of the event. A 13-car wreck in Turns 1 and 2, triggered by contact between the No. 43 Ford Mustang of Michael Annett and the No. 3 Chevrolet Camaro of Austin Dillon -- both championship hopefuls -- stopped the race after 116 laps and set up the finish.

Annett was transported to Halifax Health Medical Center. Richard Petty Motorsports later reported that Annett, whose car slammed the outside wall nose-first, was treated for bruising on his chest and received a CT scan. He remains in the hospital for further observation.

LIKE the In Play! Magazine Facebook Page