http://cache.jalopnik.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/jalopnik.com.png http://jalopnik.com/tag/Detroit Grand Prix http://jalopnik.com/tag/Detroit Grand Prix

In addition to the IRL racing on Belle Isle, we also had the fun and hard-charging swagger of ALMS racing. We has the opportunity to tag along with Corvette Racing, who snagged a swank chalet location right on the corner of turn seven this year, a perfect spot to watch the Jake-emblazoned Corvette C6.R's doing their thing. The American LeMans Series runs four different classes simultaneously; GT2, GT1, LMP2 and LMP1, each with escalating levels of financial backing. With a crowded track and hugely varying performance capabilities, it can be a treat to watch. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5044481&view=rss&microfeed=true

At today's NextCruise announcement, automakers dragged out their leanest, meanest, greenest vehicles as a backdrop for the action. Of course, the fact that they were all SUVs was a bit ironic. But also on hand was a hot Corvette Z06 modified for Detroit Grand Prix pace duty and sipping E85 fuel. While no announcement was made, racing legend Emerson Fittipaldi's name is planted smack-dab on the driver's side B-pillar, making it pretty clear who's going to be at the helm during the 2008 Detroit Grand Prix. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=399144&view=rss&microfeed=true

Racing's returned to Belle Isle in Detroit and we'll be there to cover all of the ALMS and IndyCar action live. Keep your eyes on our Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix tag throughout the weekend for all the hot racing action. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=295733&view=rss&microfeed=true And in other non-Detroit Grand Prix racing news — anyone watching the Nascar race in Cali tonight? [Jayski] More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=295899&view=rss&microfeed=true

Tony Kanaan wins the IndyCar race here at the Detroit Grand Prix, and Danica Patrick took second place in her best ever finish after a shocking last lap and a half. Just before the white flag came up a number of drivers were involved in some "contact" that included "the wall" and "other drivers." Oh and Dan Wheldon came in third despite thrashing his car today earlier in practice— who woulda thunk it? We'll have more shortly — full results below the jump. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=295874&view=rss&microfeed=true OMG! Is that really Danica in the lead?!? Oh wait, no — she just hasn't pitted in a while. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=295869&view=rss&microfeed=true Sarah Fisher is down and out — and yup, it was in the first turn. Who knew? Oh wait...we did. We're totally winning fifty bucks or whatever. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=295865&view=rss&microfeed=true

Best in-car chatter so far was Dan Wheldon and his crew chief right before the green flag came up: More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=295860&view=rss&microfeed=true Green flag is out here on Belle Isle as we're ready to get this IndyCar action at the Detroit Grand Prix up and running...and we're off! More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=295859&view=rss&microfeed=true

First it was Marco Andretti on his li'l scooter and now we've caught Danica Patrick on one just outside of the paddock here on Belle Isle at the Detroit Grand Prix. Which got us noticing there's a lot of these things out here today. Here's our gallery of the little Paddock cruisin' moped-looking things. We're going to walk on over to the grandstand now for the start of the race — we'll bring you an update shortly. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=295856&view=rss&microfeed=true

I'm telling you, the IndyCar fans here at the Detroit Grand Prix — they're like vultures, hungry for the flesh of young drivers. Maybe they're not as bad as Nascar fans, but certainly worse than the countless dozens of fans in the paddock yesterday for ALMS racing. We happened to be walking through the paddock when IndyCar driver Marco Andretti, speeding through on his little scooter from one trailer to another, gets greeted with a "Marco!" Unfortunately, young Marco's not yet old enough to know he's not supposed to stop and yell "Polo!" So as he stops the scooter to turn and figure out if the name-caller is someone he should be stopping for, within less than the time necessary to yell "Fish out of water," he's been mobbed by dozens of flesh-hungry adoring signature-seeking fans. We give the kid credit for stopping and signing a few, although it became... More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=295840&view=rss&microfeed=true

IndyCar warm-up just finished, and the only news of note was Dan Wheldon in the #10 Target car. Wheldon managed to get himself into a bit of a dustup with a wall (Ben thinks it was another car, but neither of us is really 100% certain — the point is he dirtied up his car) in one of the later practice laps. We're assuming it's not a race-ending automotive injury — despite the Target Chip Ganassi Racing team having to tow the Honda-powered IndyCar back through the paddock to the team trailer. Never you mind the detachment of that there rear spoiler, we're pretty sure it'll buff out. Oh yeah and Team Penske's Helio Castroneves made contact with Scott Dixon, sending the Indy Racing League points leader went tail-first into the tires in turn three, crumpling the left rear portion of the rear wing. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=295831&view=rss&microfeed=true

We're up and runnin' today from the Corvette chalet here in the middle of the Detroit River to finish off our Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix coverage with some hot IndyCar racing action. So whether you're coming to the race today, watching it on ABC at 3:30 or reading our live-blog here (hint-hint) here's five questions we've got for the race today that maybe you can help us to answer: More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=295817&view=rss&microfeed=true

It's done, Porsche triumphed mightily in the last moments over Audi. The hometown boys at GM spanked the class competition. All is well. The winners circle was filled with grown men living the dreams of 26 13 year old boys. Joy and confetti littered the ground and mirth was made. Well kids, we're exhausted, running around like morons taking pictures of all kinds of stuff, getting it uploaded to your eyeballs so that you can ignore it because it's Saturday and you're watching college football (curses!) has taken its toll. Time to partake in the post race libations. Now I remember why I love this gig. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=295810&view=rss&microfeed=true

The home town boy's team made it happen when it counted here at the Detroit Grand Prix — at the very last second. On the 106th lap, Romain Dumas took his Porsche RS Spyder to the checkered flag here on Belle Isle, propelling Penske Racing to the win, and making Detroit native and Penske Racing owner, Roger Penske, a very happy man. More to come shortly. Take a look back through the ALMS fun we've been having here on Belle Isle in our Detroit Grand Prix tag — and keep checking it for more through tomorrow's IndyCar action. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=295808&view=rss&microfeed=true #18 Porsche 911 GT2 is down, pit crew thinks CV is dead, but it's an awefully smokey CV. towed into pit without incident. Driver quote of the the day "That corner still has a lot of rubber and oil in it, it's kind of like playing chess going through there. I don't know how to play chess, so I don't know what that means." 20 minutes to go. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=295803&view=rss&microfeed=true Looking for live timing and scoring of the ALMS race at the Detroit Grand Prix? [IMSA] More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=295802&view=rss&microfeed=true

Right at the halfway mark when I was about to report that all was well, two Porsches tangled going into turn one. A clip led to a spin and eventually the two ended up mating tail to tail and blocking the whole track - that's gotta be embarassing. Everybody get's back on the track under their own power, car 71 pits, and... HOLY CRAP the other car is on FIRE. BIG FIRE. 911 Flambe. Watching it on the teevee I failed to identify that it was just over my shoulder until the fire was mostly out, thus the fuzzy aftermath shot. Mr. "I'm too tough to go in after a fender bender" now has a car that's track toast. Shot of the orangesuits tending to the leftovers and standings at the drop of the green are after the jump. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=295801&view=rss&microfeed=true

Yup, Helio's still the man — mostly because now he's sitting atop the pole for tomorrow's IndyCar race with a speed of 103.401 mph for Team Penske. That's almost as hot as the two lovely ladies he had with him last year at Indy. [Detroit News] More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=295799&view=rss&microfeed=true First report in - #22 Esperante loses brakes but all is well, some rubbing between an LMP and a Porsche and one showing of the pace car. Early leaders: LMP1- MkNish (Audi), LMP2 - Briscoe (Porsche), GT1 - Magnussen (Corvette), GT2 - Salo (Ferrari) More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=295793&view=rss&microfeed=true

Here we are folks at today's Detroit Belle Isle Gran Prix main event, the American Le Mans Series race. We'll strap in and fire up our keyboards to bring you sporadic coverage for the next three or so hours. Expect plenty of tense passing as there are only two good places to get around slow moving traffic. At turn one and two after a series of sweeping high speed curves is for those with courage, and between turn seven and eight on the long back stretch (with the pretty view of the river) is for those with big engines and bigger brakes. Stay tuned for more. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=295790&view=rss&microfeed=true

The Corvettes aren't the only ones heading out the paddock. With the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix ALMS race just 45 minutes away, the Penske Racing Porsche RS Spyders have up, revved and run their 480 horsepower engines out of the paddock just the same as their yellow brethren. These are the same Penske Porsches that seem to be running rather well this morning during the practice sessions. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=295783&view=rss&microfeed=true The Corvettes are leaving the paddock and heading over to the track. Enjoy the bright yellow beauty, or as Nick Hogan would call it — bright yellow P***y magnetism. Watch out for the dropping panties. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=295779&view=rss&microfeed=true

After a morning of running around from one photo op to another, taillights in a trailer stopped me in my tracks. Was ist das? Das ist ein Auto - ein uber Auto! I had stumbled onto the unboxing of a GT2 class Audi RS4. That sound your hear is Johnny's high pitched squeal of envy. If only I had a video camera so as to share the concrete pounding pulse of this beast. Hopefully it qualifies because it would be a shame if this didn't get some real track time. Precision overload. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=295773&view=rss&microfeed=true

Ben's down at the autograph session for the ALMS drivers. He should be back shortly to show us his pics. Yup, any minute now. Where the #$%@ is he?!?! More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=295765&view=rss&microfeed=true

With IndyCar's Saturday practice session over here at the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix it's time for the ALMS cars to get a chance to burn up some rubber and turn a tire or two into little rubber pellets for collection in the corners of the Belle Isle track. Ben caught one of the Corvette C6.R's as it gets ready to rub that rubber off courtesy of the big 7.0-liter 560 HP engine. Keep your eyes on our Detroit Grand Prix tag — we'll have more of our live coverage from Belle Isle coming throughout the weekend. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=295763&view=rss&microfeed=true

Ben's been up in the grandstands taking shots of the practice sessions, and now that they're over — here's his shots of the not-so-hot IndyCar practice run. It was fairly uneventful — other than Dario Franchitti clipping a wall and having to get towed back in. These things happen, ya know? Keep your eyes on our Detroit Grand Prix tag throughout the day for more hot Belle Isle Grand Prix racing action. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=295758&view=rss&microfeed=true

If anyone needs a map of the island, we've got one — feel free to borrow it. Need a larger version? More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=295753&view=rss&microfeed=true

We've got our tickets, we've taken the shuttle over to Belle Isle, and we're now coming to you live from the middle of the Detroit River as we begin our two-day coverage of the 2007 Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix. The hot racing action hasn't even started yet and we've already got some fun for ya in the form of a Corvette parade across the Douglas MacArthur Bridge from the mainland to the island. While we finish getting set up, check out those pictures or what's on tap for the weekend in the full schedule of events after the jump (Sweet, Cheap Trick's playing tonight...righteous). Stay tuned to the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix tag throughout the day for more action as it happens. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=295750&view=rss&microfeed=true Not to be outdone by the Corvette Z06 GM sent round the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix road course by the folks from the General, some putz took his Jeep Compass out on the track — you know, to see how it's done. Unfortunately, he didn't crash into a barricade as he slowly made his way through a few of the turns. The best part's the fact he's trying to tape and drive at the same time. Can somebody say "Super Crash Potential?" We know we will all weekend as we cover the Detroit Grand Prix. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=295703&view=rss&microfeed=true

Just got this e-mail from Dan over at Bad Boy Vettes, the boys all about embracing the skull 'vette logo. They'll be having a party after Saturday's ALMS race at the Detroit Grand Prix on Belle Isle. And hey, the fun part is you're invited. So if you're in Metro Detroit for the return of racing action to the city the French founded, the Americans built and automobiles enriched (props to WWJ), and you won't be out covering all the hot LeMans and IndyCar action (as we will be all weekend), head on over for a good time. Full e-mail and invite link below the jump: More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=295477&view=rss&microfeed=true Two of team Jalopnik will be headed to Belle Isle this weekend to cover the return of grand prix racing to Detroit. So if you're around on Saturday and Sunday of this Labor Day weekend, keep your eyes on our Detroit Grand Prix tag, and we'll keep you abreast of all the hot Belle Isle racing action. For the time being, sate your thirst with this video from the GM "I Got Shotgun" folks — who've taken a Corvette Z06 as it takes a ride around the ring for a hot lap on the new Belle Isle road course. Ooh, we likey! More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=295401&view=rss&microfeed=true