Baltimore survives Hurricane, Grand Prix race is on

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said at a news conference Aug. 28 that no injuries or widespread damage was reported in the city after Hurricane Irene rode up the East Coast over the weekend.

That's good news for organizers of the inaugural Baltimore Grand Prix, which will be held Sept. 2-4 on the 2-mile, 13-turn street circuit that abuts the Inner Harbor and Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

INDYCAR director of operations Bill Van de Sandt said "everything is back on schedule." There's no standing water on the streets, and even the Orioles-New York Yankees game scheduled for Aug. 27 was to be made up Aug. 28 as part of a day-night doubleheader.

Almost all the course infrastructure is complete, including installation of more than 2,200 concrete walls that line the course and safety fencing. Firestone Indy Lights cars are first on track Sept. 2 (10:45 a.m. ET), followed by the initial IZOD IndyCar Series practice session at 12:05 p.m.

The first event of the race week is a meet and greet/autograph session with two-time Indianapolis 500 champion Al Unser Jr. at 7 p.m. Aug. 31 at Macy's Columbia (10300 Little Patuxent Pkwy.). IndyCar