If you're in the Detroit area and like Indycar racing (and I'm sure a few of you still exist), you got some good news Wednesday.
Grand Prix racing is returning to Belle Isle.

The Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix weekend will be June 1-3, 2012 at the 2.1-mile Raceway at Belle Isle Park road course.

“Chevrolet has a long, storied history in Indy car racing,” said Mark Reuss, president, GM North America. “This year we celebrated the shared centennial of Chevrolet and the Indianapolis 500. We're excited to see that history continue with the help of Penske Corporation and INDYCAR bringing back open-wheel racing to Detroit in 2012. This city is a natural for racing – it put the world on wheels and the roar of engines is something that simply belongs here."

Combined with the two Michigan Speedway race weekends in the summer, this means even more opportunity for Motor City race fans to get their fix. I can remember hearing Formula 1 and Indycar racing downtown from miles away when I was a young boy, so it will nice to hear those sounds again in 2012 and beyond, and I hope the fans show up and enjoy it.

As is usually the case when discussing auto racing and Michigan, NASCAR team owner Roger Penske is involved, as says the return of the race is good for the city, which is on the rise after a few tough years.

“Chevrolet has been instrumental in bringing motorsports back to Detroit,” said Penske Corp. Chairman Roger Penske. “The Grand Prix will draw international attention and visitors to Belle Isle – which is one of the most-scenic race venues in the United States. We believe the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix will be one of the most-popular races in the IZOD IndyCar Series and will play a major role in continuing the renaissance of Detroit.”

Four races will be held during the three-day event, including:
— The Chevrolet Indy Grand Prix presented by shopautoweek.com, where Chevrolet’s new twin-turbo V-6 race engines will compete in the IZOD IndyCar Series
— The Chevrolet Detroit Sports Car Challenge where Chevrolet Daytona Prototypes and Camaros will compete in the first GRAND-AM Rolex Series race held on Belle Isle
— The Cadillac V-Series Challenge at Belle Isle, where Cadillac CTS-Vs will compete in the second Pirelli World Challenge series race held on Belle Isle
— The Firestone Indy Light Series race, featuring the rising stars of open-wheel racing

The Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix was last held in 2007 and 2008. Based on estimates from the Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau, those two events combined attracted more than 200,000 visitors, and brought more than $100 million to the Detroit Metro economy.

"We are thrilled to be able to bring the Detroit Grand Prix back to Belle Isle,” said Detroit Mayor Dave Bing. "Thanks to the support of INDYCAR, Penske Corporation and Chevrolet we will once again host one of the world's most prestigious motorsports events."

For more information and to sign up for tickets to the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix, please visit www.detroitgp.com. Learn more about the event through social media by visiting www.twitter.com/detroitgp and www.facebook.com/detroitgp.

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