Penske urges council to approve Belle Isle race

UPDATE With little fanfare and no discussion, the Detroit City Council today approved a contract to return Grand Prix racing to Belle Isle after a six-year absence. The council voted unanimously to allow the race to proceed over the three-day Labor Day weekend. The five-year contract calls for the city spending at least $1.5 million, but no more than $2.5 million, in capital improvements, such as street paving, on Belle Isle. In return, the city will receive $100,000 from the race, which will increase by $25,000 every year for the next five years. Detroit Free Press

02/15/07 The Detroit City Council will vote Thursday morning on a contract that would return Grand Prix racing to Belle Isle this Labor Day weekend.

Racing ended on Belle Isle six years ago, but Wednesday morning racing mogul and businessman Roger Penske sat before the council to urge them to approve the contract as soon as possible. If we do not get this signed and approved by next Wednesday, I’m not prepared to go forward," Penske said.

He told the council that he can’t sign on contractors until he has the approval of the council. Council members had a variety of questions, namely the cost to the city for hosting the race.

Under the proposed contract, the city would pay $1.5 million in road improvements on Belle Isle that would be paid for with state and city road funds. In return, the city is guaranteed to receive $100,000 the first year of the race and that figure would increase by $25,000 every year for the next five years.

Despite the concerns, a majority of the council seemed in favor of approving the three-day event.

“It’ll get approved, but first we have these questions," Councilwoman Joann Watson told Penske. Detroit Free Press