DETROIT — Continuing a tradition that started with the very first Grand Prix event in Detroit in 1982, the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix and Comerica Bank announced today that they are once again teaming up for “Free Prix Day.”
On Friday, May 29, fans will get the opportunity to witness all the action at the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix free of charge on Comerica Bank Free Prix Day. This marks the third consecutive year that Comerica Bank will make sure that everyone has the chance to experience the fun and excitement of the first day of the Grand Prix with free admission to all the activities at Belle Isle Park.
Comerica Bank Free Prix Day will feature on-track competition from all four of the racing series competing at the Grand Prix. The Verizon IndyCar Series will host practice and qualifying for the first Chevrolet Dual in Detroit presented by Quicken Loans race while the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship will also have practice and qualifying on Friday. The cars of the Pirelli World Challenge Series will practice as well and the SPEED Energy Formula Off-Road presented by Traxxas trucks will compete with their first race of the weekend. Grand Prix visitors will see all the high-speed action for free and they will also be able to visit the Fifth Third Bank Paddock and garage areas at the Raceway at Belle Isle Park. In addition to the racing, fans will be able to experience all the activities away from the track as well. The MotorCity Casino Hotel Entertainment Stage will host live entertainment and the Meijer Fan Zone will feature interactive fun, including extreme sports demonstrations and displays and games from the Detroit sports teams.
“Free Prix Day is a long-standing tradition at the Grand Prix and it’s a great way for families, local schools and fans of all ages to come down and experience all that our event has to offer,” said Bud Denker, Chairman of the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix. “We want to thank Comerica Bank for helping to keep this tradition alive in the Motor City. There is so much to do and see at the Grand Prix and we invite everyone to come out and experience it on Comerica Bank Free Prix Day.”
For the third year in a row, local Detroit students are also reaping the benefits of Comerica Banks’ partnership with the Grand Prix. After opening doors for Detroit Public School students to experience the lessons of racing over each of the last two years, Comerica Bank is building on its legacy in 2015. TUDOR United SportsCar Championship drivers, brothers Ricky and Jordan Taylor, who drove the Konica Minolta Chevrolet Corvette DP to victory at Belle Isle last season, are visiting Detroit today and they will speak to over 100 students at Detroit Institute of Technology (DIT) at Cody High School.
The Taylor brothers will talk to the students about how technology has impacted their careers in racing as they look over the DIT-made innovative design vehicle and invite the students to visit Belle Isle on Comerica Bank Free Prix Day.
“The Detroit Grand Prix brings together friends and families for a weekend of fun in the Motor City, and Comerica Bank is proud to help ensure the weekend can be enjoyed by all residents through our continued sponsorship of Free Prix Day,” said Michael T. Ritchie, president, Comerica Bank-Michigan. “We look forward to hosting students from the Detroit Institute of Technology at Cody High School that day and giving them a behind-the-scenes look at the racing industry.”
ABOUT COMERICA BANK:
Comerica Bank, with 214 banking centers in Michigan, is a subsidiary of Comerica Incorporated. Founded in Detroit in 1849, Comerica continues to invest in Michigan. Comerica’s $1 million commitment last year to the Detroit Institute of Arts “grand bargain” helped the City of Detroit emerge from bankruptcy, support city pensioners and protect the museum’s art collection for the public. Comerica Incorporated (NYSE: CMA) is a financial services company strategically aligned by three business segments: The Business Bank, The Retail Bank, and Wealth Management. Comerica focuses on relationships, and helping people and businesses be successful. To find us on Facebook, please visit www.facebook.com/ComericaCares. Follow us on Twitter at @ComericaCares.
ABOUT THE CHEVROLET DETROIT BELLE ISLE GRAND PRIX
The Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix is a 501(c)3 organization and a subsidiary of the Downtown Detroit Partnership. Scheduled for May 29-31, 2015, the event will include the Chevrolet Dual in Detroit presented by Quicken Loans featuring cars of the Verizon IndyCar Series, the Chevrolet Sports Car Classic presented by the Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers with the sports cars of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, the high-performance vehicles of the Pirelli World Challenge Series in the Cadillac V-Series Challenge presented by the Metro Detroit Cadillac Dealers and the high-flying trucks of the SPEED Energy Formula Off-Road presented by Traxxas. Partners for the 2015 Grand Prix include General Motors, Quicken Loans and MotorCity Casino Hotel. For more information, visit www.DetroitGP.com and follow our social media pages at www.facebook.com/detroitgp, www.twitter.com/detroitgp and www.instagram.com/detroitgp.
SOURCE: Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix