Ted
The pilot formerly known as Twin Engine Ted
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- Oct 9, 2007
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iFlyNothing
We decided to go to the Detroit GP weekend, which was a Friday through Sunday. Although the NTT Indycar GP was the signature event of the weekend, they also had two NXT Indycar races (same drivers, just two separate races), two Trans Am series races (same as NXT - just two races with the same cars/drivers), and an IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge cars.
The course was was a 1.7 mile road course with the GM Renaissance Center being at the center of the course, see the map below:
Conveniently, the GMRecCen has a Marriott, which is where we chose to stay. This was a fantastic decision, as it made everything about the race close regardless of whether we wanted to watch from our seats (at turn 4 on the west end) or head towards the paddock/pits (east end). Lots of restaurants within walking distance.
Really, the whole event was extremely well done. In spite of having so many people there on all three days, there were enough food trucks and vendors that lines were never long. Tons of port-a-potties so you never had to wait (and remarkably clean at that). Garbage cans all over and virtually no litter.
With three days of events, Friday was basically all practice/qualifying for the various race classes, Saturday three races (Trans Am, NXT, and IMSA) with practices, and then Sunday NTT warm-up, and races for Trans Am, NXT, and NTT. Obviously the races are what you really show up for, but it was interesting to see all of it. Being a new track, and one on public roads, they were still figuring some things out, both for the track and also the drivers. During practice a whole lot of cars hit the overruns, especially before turn 1 and then also turn 4 by where we were sitting.
When it got to races, we saw both NXT races, the IMSA race, the second Trans Am race, and of course the NTT race. I'm rather lukewarm on Trans Am cars, as I'm not a huge fan of tube chassis racecars, especially when they then have look-alike bodies of cars that have zero related parts (pretty sure they all have GM LS engines, and yet some were "Mustangs"). However, I enjoyed the Trans Am race more than I thought. Other than the NXT races, someone started at the back who should've been further up due to some glitch or rule issue, and it was really fun to watch those people move up during the race. The IMSA race required a driver swap halfway and it was clear for a lot of the teams which driver was better. That was disappointing, as we were really enjoying watching the #13 Mustang move up from last place to 9th (due to starting at the back of the grid) only to drop back to something around 13th after the relief driver was... lackluster.
All in all, a really well done event, definitely hope they will do this again next year.
The course was was a 1.7 mile road course with the GM Renaissance Center being at the center of the course, see the map below:
Conveniently, the GMRecCen has a Marriott, which is where we chose to stay. This was a fantastic decision, as it made everything about the race close regardless of whether we wanted to watch from our seats (at turn 4 on the west end) or head towards the paddock/pits (east end). Lots of restaurants within walking distance.
Really, the whole event was extremely well done. In spite of having so many people there on all three days, there were enough food trucks and vendors that lines were never long. Tons of port-a-potties so you never had to wait (and remarkably clean at that). Garbage cans all over and virtually no litter.
With three days of events, Friday was basically all practice/qualifying for the various race classes, Saturday three races (Trans Am, NXT, and IMSA) with practices, and then Sunday NTT warm-up, and races for Trans Am, NXT, and NTT. Obviously the races are what you really show up for, but it was interesting to see all of it. Being a new track, and one on public roads, they were still figuring some things out, both for the track and also the drivers. During practice a whole lot of cars hit the overruns, especially before turn 1 and then also turn 4 by where we were sitting.
When it got to races, we saw both NXT races, the IMSA race, the second Trans Am race, and of course the NTT race. I'm rather lukewarm on Trans Am cars, as I'm not a huge fan of tube chassis racecars, especially when they then have look-alike bodies of cars that have zero related parts (pretty sure they all have GM LS engines, and yet some were "Mustangs"). However, I enjoyed the Trans Am race more than I thought. Other than the NXT races, someone started at the back who should've been further up due to some glitch or rule issue, and it was really fun to watch those people move up during the race. The IMSA race required a driver swap halfway and it was clear for a lot of the teams which driver was better. That was disappointing, as we were really enjoying watching the #13 Mustang move up from last place to 9th (due to starting at the back of the grid) only to drop back to something around 13th after the relief driver was... lackluster.
All in all, a really well done event, definitely hope they will do this again next year.
