Penske still focused on bringing IndyCar race back to Belle Isle

Even though the race lost a lot of money, Roger Penske said he was hoping to return the Detroit IndyCar event to the IndyCar schedule in 2011. That might not be entirely realistic at this point, but he's not ruling out anything.

"I think what we really have to do as far as Detroit is concerned and Belle Isle is just see what the general economy is in Detroit," Penske said Sunday before the NASCAR race at Pocono Raceway. "I think there's been an uptick, certainly Mayor Bing is an advocate to bring more sports into Detroit. We'll have a new governor at that point, and we'll see what we can get from the MBDC (Michigan Business Development Center) to support us because it is a Detroit event.

"We've got all the tools, it's all in the garage, all parked ready to go. We'd love to get back there. That's our plan, as soon as we can."

"We'd like to have a space, and I think they'd love to come back to Detroit," Penske said. "We have a semi-permanent track, and I think had good crowds.

"We need a race in Detroit." [Editor's Note: If Penske is willing to personally make up for the money the race will lose, then yes we agree, but as it is Detroit cannot afford another loss.]