What Happened to Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear Corporation?
The Detroit Grand Prix, an iconic auto racing event, has a rich history spanning Formula One, CART, and IndyCar series, with various venues including downtown Detroit streets and Belle Isle. After several hiatuses and changes, the event returned to its downtown street circuit roots in 2023 and is currently a major annual fixture on the NTT IndyCar Series calendar, with its contract extended through at least 2028. The 2026 edition is taking place from May 29-31, featuring IndyCar, IMSA, and INDY NXT races.
Quick Answer
The Detroit Grand Prix is an annual IndyCar Series race weekend held on a temporary street circuit in downtown Detroit, Michigan. After decades on Belle Isle, the event returned to the downtown streets in 2023, featuring races from the NTT IndyCar Series, IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, and INDY NXT by Firestone. The event is currently underway from May 29-31, 2026, and its contract with the city has been extended through 2028 with an option for three additional years.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline14 events
Formula One Detroit Grand Prix Inaugurated
The first Detroit Grand Prix was held as a Formula One World Championship event on a 2.493-mile street circuit in downtown Detroit, near the Renaissance Center.
Formula One Departs Detroit
After seven seasons, Formula One held its last race in Detroit. Plans to move the F1 event to Belle Isle fell through, and the U.S. Grand Prix moved to Phoenix.
CART Series Takes Over Downtown Circuit
The CART series replaced Formula One, utilizing a slightly modified version of the downtown Renaissance Center street circuit for its event.
Race Moves to Belle Isle
The Detroit Grand Prix, under the CART banner, moved from the downtown streets to a new circuit on Belle Isle, an island park in the Detroit River.
CART Drops Detroit Grand Prix
CART discontinued the Detroit Grand Prix, citing issues with Belle Isle's narrow raceway and insufficient areas for team support activities.
IndyCar Revival on Belle Isle
Roger Penske and the Downtown Detroit Partnership spearheaded the return of the Detroit Grand Prix, featuring the IndyCar Series on Belle Isle.
Event Canceled Due to Economic Crisis
The Detroit Grand Prix was canceled due to the challenging economic times impacting the automotive industry and the region.
Return to Belle Isle with Chevrolet Sponsorship
The Grand Prix returned to Belle Isle as a doubleheader event, immediately following the Indianapolis 500, with Chevrolet as the title sponsor.
2020 Race Canceled Due to COVID-19
IndyCar announced the cancellation of the 2020 Detroit Grand Prix due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Michigan's stay-at-home order.
Race Returns to Belle Isle; Single Race Format Announced for 2022
The Grand Prix returned to Belle Isle with limited attendance. Later in the year, it was announced the event would transition to a single race weekend for 2022.
City Council Approves Downtown Return for 2023
The Detroit City Council unanimously approved Penske Entertainment's plan for the Grand Prix to return to a new downtown street circuit for a single race weekend, starting in 2023, with an initial three-year contract.
Grand Prix Returns to Downtown Streets
After decades on Belle Isle, the Detroit Grand Prix returned to its roots on the downtown streets around the Renaissance Center, using a new 1.7-mile, nine-turn circuit.
Contract Extended Through 2028
The Detroit Grand Prix signed a three-year extension with the Detroit City Council, securing its presence on the downtown streets through at least 2028, with an option for three additional years.
2026 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix Concludes
The 2026 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear Corporation, featuring the NTT IndyCar Series, IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, and INDY NXT by Firestone, concludes its three-day event on the downtown Detroit street circuit.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
The Detroit Grand Prix originated in 1982 as a Formula One World Championship event, utilizing a challenging street circuit around the Renaissance Center in downtown Detroit. This era, though brief, saw demanding races on a narrow, bumpy course that included a railroad track crossing, with Ayrton Senna notably winning three consecutive times from 1986 to 1988.
Formula One departed Detroit permanently after the 1988 season, with plans for a move to Belle Isle falling through. In 1989, the event was replaced by a CART series race, which continued on a modified downtown street circuit before moving to Belle Isle in 1992. The race remained on Belle Isle under the CART/Champ Car banner until 2001 when it was dropped due to concerns over the narrow raceway and insufficient support areas.
The Grand Prix was revived in 2007 by Roger Penske and the Downtown Detroit Partnership, returning to Belle Isle as an IndyCar Series event. This revival was short-lived, however, as the 2009 race was canceled due to the automotive economic crisis. The event made a successful return to Belle Isle in 2012 with Chevrolet as the title sponsor, becoming a doubleheader weekend immediately following the Indianapolis 500.
A significant turning point occurred in November 2021 when the Detroit City Council unanimously approved a plan to return the Grand Prix to the downtown streets for a single race weekend, beginning in 2023. This move aimed to make the event more accessible to spectators and integrate it more deeply with the city. The new 1.7-mile, nine-turn downtown circuit partially based on the original F1 layout, has been praised for its community engagement and economic impact.
As of May 31, 2026, the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear Corporation is a thriving annual event. It continues to be held on the downtown streets, featuring the NTT IndyCar Series, IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, and INDY NXT by Firestone. The 2026 event is currently underway, running from May 29-31. In June 2025, the Detroit City Council approved a three-year contract extension, securing the Grand Prix's presence in downtown Detroit through at least 2028, with an option for three additional years, demonstrating strong local support and commitment to its future.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear Corporation made different choices?