Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix headed downtown in 2023

  • Racing News
Detroit GP in 2020

The Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear, a popular event on the NTT INDYCAR SERIES’ annual calendar, will relocate to Detroit’s downtown streets beginning in 2023 following Wednesday’s approval from Detroit’s City Council.

Indy cars last competed on the city’s streets in 1991, a race won by Emerson Fittipaldi. The Brazilian motorsports icon also won INDYCAR’s inaugural event in 1989. Michael Andretti drove to victory lane in 1990.

The event moved to Belle Isle Park in 1992, with Bobby Rahal going to victory lane. Since then, 28 additional races have been held on what is now a 14-turn, 2.35-mile layout, with Marcus Ericsson and Pato O’Ward winning this year’s races.

The NTT INDYCAR SERIES will return to Belle Isle Park in 2022 for event to be held June 3-5. The single INDYCAR SERIES race will air live on the USA Network.

Following the approval by the Detroit City Council, the Grand Prix issued the following statement:

"Today, the Detroit City Council granted its approval for the relocation of the Detroit Grand Prix from Belle Isle back to the streets of Downtown Detroit, beginning in 2023.

"Over the last five weeks, Grand Prix representatives have participated in numerous listening sessions and information sharing meetings with Detroit residents, business leaders, community groups and individual district representatives on the idea of returning the race to its roots on the streets of Detroit. The positive reaction and the excitement that we have seen from the community about the Grand Prix coming back Downtown reinforces our belief that this relocation will provide a significant benefit to the City, its residents and our local businesses for the future.

"We thank Mayor Duggan, the City of Detroit team, Council President Brenda Jones and everyone on the Detroit City Council for their input and their support throughout this process. In addition, we appreciate the support of the business community, including the efforts of Jim Campbell of General Motors, Eric Larson of the Downtown Detroit Partnership, Dan Loepp of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Sandy Pierce of Huntington Bank and Cindy Pasky of Strategic Staffing Solutions, for helping to bring the Grand Prix back Downtown.

"We will celebrate the 2022 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear on Belle Isle, June 3-5, and we are so excited to begin a new era of the Grand Prix beginning in 2023, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to experience the energy of our street festival in Downtown Detroit. In the coming weeks, we look forward to sharing our vision for the future of the Grand Prix in the Motor City!"