CLICKONDETROIT APP. YOUR PICTURES COULD END UP ON AIR RIGHT HERE ON LOCAL 4. WELL,
OBVIOUSLY THE PLANS TO BRING THE
GRAND PRIX BACK TO DOWNTOWN
DETROIT HAS BEEN MANY YEARS IN
THE MAKING AND IT HAS FINALLY,
FINALLY COME TO FRUITION. AND
JOINING US NOW IS THE CHAIRMAN
OF THE CHEVROLET DETROIT GRAND
PRIX, BUD DENKER. THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR BEING WITH US.
>> IT’S GREAT TO BE HERE. I HAVE
NOT SEEN THIS VIEW OVER MY
SHOULDER AND IT IS UNBELIEVABLE
WHAT KIND OF VANTAGE POINT YOU
ALL HAVE HERE. IT’S BEAUTIFUL
AND IT’S UNBELIEVABLE, THE
VANTAGE POINT THAT THESE RACERS
ARE GOING TO GET, BEING ABLE TO
RACE IN A DOWNTOWN CITY.
>> SKYSCAPE THE SPACE YOU HAVE
DOWNTOWN, IT PROVIDES A VERY
UNIQUE FLOW COMPARED TO
ESPECIALLY BELLE ISLE. WHAT ARE
SOME OF THE DIFFERENCES THAT
YOU’VE NOTICED SO FAR BETWEEN
WHAT WAS OUT THERE VERSUS WHAT
IS HERE? THIS WEEKEND?
>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, IT’S THE
THUNDER. LISTENING TO THESE CARS
GO THROUGH OUR DOWNTOWN, ECHOING
OFF THE BUILDINGS, I MEAN,
ECHOING OFF THIS BUILDING HERE.
HOW LOUD WAS IT WHEN THEY WERE
THERE ON TRACK? PRETTY LOUD. IT
WAS VERY LOUD. WE HAD HEADSETS
AND COULD NOT HEAR EACH OTHER
EXACTLY.
>> VERY DRAMATIC. I LIKE IT.
>> AND THEN THE BEHIND US IS THE
MOST UNIQUE THING OF THIS RACE
IS THIS DUEL PIT LANE. IT’S
NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE. I
COULDN’T FIND 1000FT OF PIT LANE
IN THE CITY, SO WE IMPROVISED
MICHAEL MONTOYA AND I, AND WE
HAVE 500FT. SO THE FIRST TIME
EVER CARS WILL PIT ON THE LEFT
CASTLE PIT TO THE RIGHT. AND
SOMEHOW THEY’LL HAVE 300FT TO
COME FROM SIX LANES TO ONE. WOW
THAT WILL BE A SPECTACLE IN
ITSELF.
>> TALK ABOUT PRECISION.
>> YOU NEED TO BE ABSOLUTELY
ACCURATE WHEN YOU’RE DOING THIS.
>> NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.
>> AND ACCURATE. ALSO, IN TERMS
OF OUR ROAD DESIGN. RIGHT. THE
DRIVERS COULDN’T TEST HERE, SO
WE DID A LIDAR SCAN OF OUR RACE
TRACK AND WE GAVE IT TO THE
DRIVERS. THEY’VE BEEN SIMULATING
IT, PROVIDING ME FEEDBACK IN
ADVANCE TO REPAVE TO REGRIND THE
ROAD. SO WE FIXED THE ROADS, AS
THE GOVERNOR WOULD SAY, AND
THEY’RE READY TO GO WITH ONE
EIGHTH OF AN INCH CLEARANCE. WOW
>> SO YOU MENTIONED THE DUEL PIT
LANE, BUT THERE’S ALSO A
STRAIGHTAWAY ON JEFFERSON.
THERE’S A HAIRPIN TURN. THERE’S
ALSO ALTITUDE CHANGES THROUGHOUT
THIS TRACK. WHAT IS YOUR
FAVORITE PART ABOUT THIS NEW
LAYOUT?
>> YOU KNOW, IT’S JUST WHAT YOU
JUST SAID. IT’S THE DIVERSITY OF
THE LAYOUT. IF YOU LOOK AT IT ON
A PIECE OF PAPER, IT LOOKS
BORING. BUT WHEN YOU’RE DOWN
HERE AND SEE THE CARS GOING
DOWNHILL TO THE RIVERFRONT, YOU
SEE THEM GOING UP HILL TO
JEFFERSON AVENUE. AND AS YOU
MENTIONED, 7/8 OF A MILE
STRAIGHTAWAY, 185 MILES AN HOUR.
THESE CARS ARE GOING LEGALLY AND
THEN INTO A HAIRPIN TURN WITH
ALL THAT PASSING GOING ON. SO
SUCH THERE’S SUCH DIVERSITY OF
THIS RACETRACK AND THE DRIVERS
ARE ANXIOUS, BUT THEY’RE EXCITED
TO BE DOWNTOWN DETROIT DAD AND
SEE ANY SPEED LIMIT SIGN.
>> SO I THINK THEY’RE IN THE
CLEAR AND WE’RE EXCITED TO SEE
THEM.
>> I MEAN, WE WERE BOTH TALKING
ABOUT HOW WE WISH WE COULD GO
DOWN JEFFERSON AT 200 MILES AN
HOUR. I DON’T THINK IT’S GOING
TO HAPPEN FOR US, BUT THIS IS
GOING TO BE INCREDIBLE TO WATCH.
BUT THIS EVENT IS MUCH MORE THAN
THE RACES, RIGHT? WHY IS IT
IMPORTANT TO HAVE ALL THE
DIFFERENT PROGRAMING THAT
SURROUNDS THE RACES FOR THE
ENTIRE COMMUNITY TO ENJOY?
>> WELL, YOU HIT THE RIGHT WORD.
>> IT’S CALLED EVENT. I’VE NEVER
SAID WE’RE HAVING RACES IN TOWN.
I SAID WE’RE HAVING AN EVENT IN
TOWN BECAUSE AN EVENT YOU CAN
BRING YOUR FAMILY TO YOUR
GRANDKIDS, YOUR GRANDPARENTS,
YOUR AUNTS, YOUR UNCLES, BECAUSE
WE’RE GOING TO HAVE BIG BOY IN
CONCERT. WE’RE GOING TO HAVE
STEVE AOKI IN CONCERT. THAT’S AN
EVENT WE’RE GOING TO HAVE THE
MEIJER FAMILY ZONE IN HART
PLAZA, BY THE WAY, ALL FOR FREE
RIVERFRONT IS FREE WINNER’S
CIRCLE, JEFFERSON AVENUE FREE.
SO COME ON DOWN. ENJOY THIS
FESTIVAL. ALL THIS EVENT VERSUS
HAVING A RACE. THE RACE FANS ARE
GOING TO LOVE IT, BUT I THINK
WE’RE GOING TO HAVE A BUNCH OF
NEW RACE FANS FOR PEOPLE THAT
HAVE NEVER SEEN A RACE BEFORE.
>> HOW IMPORTANT IS IT, THOUGH,
TO HAVE THOSE TYPES OF EVENTS
FOR PEOPLE WHO MIGHT NOT BE THE
BIGGEST RACING FAN TO COME HERE
AND ACTUALLY SEE WHAT IT’S ALL
ABOUT AND KIND OF GROW THE SPORT
IN THAT WAY ALMOST ORGANICALLY
BY HAVING THE EXPERIENCE
THEMSELVES? WELL, YOU KNOW,
PENSKE CORPORATION BOUGHT THE
INDYCAR SERIES, SO WE OWN THE
SERIES, BUT WE ALSO HAVE THREE
RACE CARS COMPETING IN IT.
>> SO WE HAVE DUALITY. SO WE
WANT TO GROW THE SERIES AND TO
GROW THE SERIES WE NEED MORE
YOUNG PEOPLE AND WE WANT TO SEE
MORE YOUNG PEOPLE HERE. AND
WE’RE DOING THAT BECAUSE OF
HAVING THESE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES
TO SEE AN EVENT, BUT ALSO LOOK
AT OUR RIVERFRONT. 200 COUNTRIES
ARE GOING TO SEE OUR RACE THIS
WEEKEND. WOW. WOW. IMAGINE THE
PERCEPTION CHANGE THAT THEY’RE
GOING TO SEE WHEN THEY SEE IS
THIS MONACO? IS THIS SAN DIEGO?
THIS IS DETROIT. AND THERE’S NO
BETTER RIVERFRONT IN THE WORLD.
WE’RE GOING TO DISPLAY THAT ON
AIR OVERHEAD SHOTS FOLLOWING THE
CARS DOWNTOWN THROUGH THE
THROUGH THE THROUGH THE
BUILDINGS ON JEFFERSON.
>> IT’S GOING TO BE MAGICAL. SO
EXCITING INTERNATIONAL EXPOSURE
FOR US.
>> AND HOPE YOU MADE SUCH A GOOD
POINT ABOUT SAYING THAT
INTRODUCING THE SPORT TO NEW
RACE FANS AND ALSO INTRODUCING
SMALL BUSINESSES AND EVERYTHING
THAT’S HAPPENING DOWNTOWN TO
PEOPLE WHO MIGHT NOT MAKE IT
DOWN HERE VERY OFTEN.
>> YOUR POINT IS REALLY GOOD
BECAUSE THAT’S ONE OF THE
REASONS WE LEFT BELLE ISLE IN MY
MIND. BELISLE MAYOZ WITHIN 50
MILES AWAY, BECAUSE YOU CAME
DOWN, YOU PARKED YOUR CAR, YOU
TOOK A BUS AND YOU WENT BACK
HOME AFTERWARDS. HERE YOU CAN
TAKE THE QUEUE LINE DOWN. THE
PEOPLE MOVER DOWN, YOU’RE GOING
TO PARK SOMEWHERE, YOU’RE GOING
TO STOP AT A RESTAURANT, STOP
SOMEWHERE TO BUY SOMETHING ALONG
THE WAY. THE ECONOMIC BENEFIT
WE’RE GOING TO SEE IS JUST
IMMENSE. THAT WAS THE KEY POINT
OF WHAT WE’VE DONE HERE. OH, BY
THE WAY, OUR CIRCUIT STILL HAS
AN INTERNATIONAL TUNNEL IN THE
MIDDLE OF IT THAT PEOPLE ARE
STILL GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET IN
AND OUT. THAT’S THE MAGIC OF
WHAT WE DESIGNED HERE AND THE
INCLUSIVENESS THAT WE DESIGNED
BY HAVING IT FOR FREE.
>> AWESOME INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL
AND AN INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCE.
THAT’S RIGHT. ALL OPEN RIGHT
NOW. BUT THE WINNER WE WERE
TALKING YESTERDAY WITH WILL
POWER. HE WAS THE WINNER LAST
YEAR IN THE DETROIT GRAND PRIX,
JUMPED IN THE FOUNTAIN. THAT’S
THE TRADITION THAT WAS ON BELLE
ISLE. BUT WHAT CAN FANS EXPECT
MOVING FORWARD AS A CELEBRATION?
THE WINNER’S CIRCLE DOWN BY THE
RIVERFRONT?
>> I’M NOT SURE I WANT TO GIVE
MY DRIVERS A LIFE VEST TO JUMP
INTO OUR RIVER OUT HERE. I MAY
BE FISHING HIM OUT OF THE
AMBASSADOR BRIDGE, SO WE’RE
GOING TO HAVE THEM DO AN
AMAZING, AMAZING VIEW ON THE
RIVERFRONT. LOOKING UP TO THE
RENCEN, OUR VICTORY LANE. I
DON’T ENCOURAGE THEM TO JUMP IN
THE RIVER RIGHT.
>> THE CAR IS A LITTLE STRONG.
>> THAT’S A BIT MUCH.
>> IT’S A BIT MUCH. WELL, WHAT
ARE PEOPLE GOING TO NOTICE? THAT
IS THE SAME, BUT ALSO DIFFERENT.
BY MOVING THE RACES HERE TO
DOWNTOWN DETROIT, WELL, YOU’RE
GOING TO SEE JUST WORLD CLASS
RACERS.
>> OBVIOUSLY. YOU’RE GOING TO
SEE SIX RACES. REMEMBER THERE’S
THREE RACES ON FRIDAY. I’M
SORRY, SATURDAY AND THREE RACES
ON SUNDAY. TODAY IS QUALIFYING
AND PRACTICE. THEY’RE JUST
GETTING THEIR SEA LEGS UNDER
THEM. HOW IS THIS TRACK GOING TO
RESPOND? SO YOU’RE GOING TO SEE
62ND LAPS IN THE INDY CARS.
BELOW IS ALMOST A MINUTE AND A
HALF 60S EACH TIME A CAR GOES
AROUND HERE, YOU’RE GOING TO SEE
ITRILLIONETURN TO OUR CITY. SO
IT’S FASTER SPEED. IT’S MORE
OFTEN IN TERMS OF THE RACE LAPS
AND IT’S ALL UNKNOWN TERRITORY.
AND AS A RESULT OF THAT, THERE’S
SO MUCH UNCERTAINTY AND A LOT OF
ANXIOUSNESS.
>> YEAH, WELL, WE’RE EXCITED AND
ANXIOUS TOO, AREN’T WE? I’M
EXCITED.
>> I’M EXCITED BECAUSE AND TO
YOUR POINT, YOU SAID THIS IS
KIND OF LIKE MONACO. IT FEELS
LIKE A FORMULA ONE RACE WITH THE
TIGHT TURNS. AND SO MANY PEOPLE,
THEY GET THE EXPERIENCE ON THIS.
BUT FOR A RACE, YOU HAVE TO BE
HERE TO EXPERIENCE IT WITH THE
NOISE AND JUST THE ATMOSPHERE
ITSELF YOU’RE WATCHING ON TV IS
ONE THING, BUT I THINK WHEN
PEOPLE COME OUT OF HERE AND SEE
WHAT WE’VE DONE HERE AND SEE THE
ENTHUSIASM, THE BUZZ DOWNTOWN IS
JUST ELECTRIC.
>> IT’S CONTAGIOUS. AND AS A
RESULT OF THAT, THAT MAKES THIS
THE EVENT I WAS TALKING ABOUT.
SO COME ON DOWN PARK AT
HUNTINGTON PLACE PARK AT
COMERICA. TAKE THE Q LINE, TAKE
THE PEOPLEMOVER. BE PART OF THIS
EVENT AND YOU’RE GOING TO LOVE
IT.
>> YES.
>> AND YOU WILL NOT BE
DISAPPOINTED. IT’S EXCITING
ALREADY AND IT’S JUST GOING TO