Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[ALMS joining Indycar at Belle Isle in 2013]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/13/alms-joining-indycar-at-belle-isle-in-2013/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/13/alms-joining-indycar-at-belle-isle-in-2013/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/13/alms-joining-indycar-at-belle-isle-in-2013/#commentsFiled under:

Detroit Belle Isle aerial

The American Le Mans Series plans to join in on the racing fun in Detroit in 2013, says Scott Atherton, CEO of the racing series.

While we enjoyed being a very successful part of the renaissance of this great race on Belle Isle in 2007 and again in 2008, the 2012 Detroit race and the Le Mans test day next year share the same date on the calendar, creating a direct conflict which could not be resolved for 2012... In 2013 however, we foresee a resolution of the date conflict with the Le Mans test day.

Chevrolet announced that it was helping bring back the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix for 2012, saying the race will be held June 1-3. In lieu of the ALMS, the 2012 edition will be supported by the area's first Grand-Am race, as well as a Cadillac V-Series Challenge and an Indy Light race.

See the complete press release from the ALMS after the break.

Continue reading ALMS joining Indycar at Belle Isle in 2013

ALMS joining Indycar at Belle Isle in 2013 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 13 Oct 2011 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>almsalms belle isleamerican le mans seriesbelle isledetroitdetroit grand prixThu, 13 Oct 2011 17:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20080867/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/10/13/alms-joining-indycar-at-belle-isle-in-2013/20080867/article-detail.xml 20080867 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/belleisleaerial-2o1y0949-opt-1318521281_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/belleisleaerial-2o1y0949-opt-1318521281.jpg <![CDATA[Chevy bringing Belle Isle Grand Prix back to Detroit in 2012]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/12/chevy-bringing-belle-isle-grand-prix-back-to-detroit-in-2012/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/12/chevy-bringing-belle-isle-grand-prix-back-to-detroit-in-2012/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/12/chevy-bringing-belle-isle-grand-prix-back-to-detroit-in-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Detroit Grand Prix

Open-wheel racing is returning to the Motor City next summer. The Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix will be held June 1-3, the first of a three-year sponsorship deal between General Motors, Penske Corporation and the IndyCar series. The weekend of racing will feature not only an IndyCar race, but the first Grand-Am event ever held on Detroit's island course.

The new Detroit race will take the place of another IndyCar event on the schedule, though officials did not say which one. IndyCar officials expect starting grids to have 25-28 cars next season. Other support races for the Detroit weekend include a Cadillac V-Series Challenge and an Indy Light race.

Race organizers said they plan to spend $6 million to rehab the racing facility, which last saw action in 2008. Detroit has a long and tumultuous history of hosting open wheel racing events on city streets, dating back to 1982, when Formula 1 ran on a course through downtown. In 1992 the Detroit Grand Prix moved to the current location at Belle Isle, a public park in the Detroit River, where several races under different sanctioning bodies have been held intermittently over the years. Follow the jump for GM's official release.

Continue reading Chevy bringing Belle Isle Grand Prix back to Detroit in 2012

Chevy bringing Belle Isle Grand Prix back to Detroit in 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 12 Oct 2011 11:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>belle islecadillaccadillac v-series challengechevroletdetroitdetroit grand prixgeneral motorsgmgrand-amindy lightsindycarpenskeracingWed, 12 Oct 2011 11:33:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20079789/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/10/12/chevy-bringing-belle-isle-grand-prix-back-to-detroit-in-2012/20079789/article-detail.xml 20079789 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/belleisleaerial-2o1y0949-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/belleisleaerial-2o1y0949-opt.jpg <![CDATA[SmartForFiveOh: Small Florida town employs Smart police cruiser]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/22/smartforfiveoh-small-florida-town-employs-smart-police-cruiser/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/22/smartforfiveoh-small-florida-town-employs-smart-police-cruiser/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/22/smartforfiveoh-small-florida-town-employs-smart-police-cruiser/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Belle Isle Police Chief John Tegg with his new Smart ForTwo Police Cruiser

When your Police Chief is six-feet tall and weighs 280 pounds, you might consider it cruel and unusual punishment to issue him a Smart fortwo as his police cruiser. But that is exactly what the folks in Belle Isle, Florida have done. Heck, if it's good enough for Batman, it's good enough for Belle Isle, right? According to the Orlando Sentinel, Chief John Tegg insists that he's perfectly comfortable once he gets situated inside - at least physically. "One fella told me he's not sure he'd pull over for this little thing," Tegg said. "I said you'd better if you know what's good for you."

The fledgling police department in this small Orange County town claims that this is the first Smart pressed into constabulary duty in America. While we can't verify that claim, the Belle Isle force plans on using the vehicle for patrols. However, with no backseat, Tegg admits there is room for little more than a ticket book, so the good chief will have to call for backup if someone needs to be hauled off to jail. Showing that they at least have a healthy sense of humor about the situation, the squad has issued the car a unit number of "point-five" - as in half a car. We're calling it Smart ForFiveOh, or Smart ForPoPo. Anything else come to mind? We're sure you can come up with something better. Thanks for the tip and pics, David!


Gallery: Smart Police Cruiser


[Source: Orlando Sentinel / Photos: phabulousphotos]

SmartForFiveOh: Small Florida town employs Smart police cruiser originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Apr 2009 13:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>belle isleBelleIsleFloridaJohn TeggJohnTeggpolice carPoliceCarsmart carSmart ForCopssmart fortwoSmart police carSmartCarSmartFiveOhSmartForcopsSmartFortwoSmartPoliceCarWed, 22 Apr 2009 13:27:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1521786/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/04/22/smartforfiveoh-small-florida-town-employs-smart-police-cruiser/1521786/article-detail.xml 1521786 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/smartforfiveoh---0_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/smartforfiveoh---0.jpg <![CDATA[Penske gets Detroit Grand Prix back on track!]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/29/penske-gets-detroit-grand-prix-back-on-track/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/29/penske-gets-detroit-grand-prix-back-on-track/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/29/penske-gets-detroit-grand-prix-back-on-track/#commentsFiled under:

The Detroit Grand Prix appears to be returning to the schedule thanks to Roger Penske. Penske is going to be holding a press conference today along with Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. AutoWeek is reporting that the race will return to Belle Isle, which last hosted a race in 2001. That was a CART race. This will be an IRL race. Plus ALMS. By including ALMS, there will be more corporate sponsorship opportunities for the race and hopefully more funding available to make it work.

Detroit first had a Grand Prix in 1982. That was a Formula 1 race that continued until 1988 when CART took over. Belle Isle replaced that original Renaissance Center street course in 1992, but slipped off the schedule in 2001. Belle Isle itself is a park complex that has fallen into a certain state of disrepair and it is hoped the new interest will allow the park to be refurbished to not only better accommodate the racers, but to service Detroit residents better.

Although a City Council vote scheduled for tomorrow still stands in the way of final approval, several local authorities will be on hand for the news conference today, lending credence to the notion that the race will get the go-ahead. Penske had been instrumental in securing the Super Bowl for Detroit in the past, but knows that an annual event that keeps people coming back year after year is vital to the ongoing success of an urban renewal project.

[Source: AutoWeek]



Penske gets Detroit Grand Prix back on track! originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 Sep 2006 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Belle IsleBelleIsleDetroitIRLKwame KilpatrickKwameKilpatrickRoger PenskeRogerPenskeFri, 29 Sep 2006 14:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/676870/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2006/09/29/penske-gets-detroit-grand-prix-back-on-track/676870/article-detail.xml 676870 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2006/09/penske_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2006/09/penske.jpg -1 2