CHEVROLET DETROIT GRAND PRIX ACHIEVES GOLD CERTIFICATION

Building on the momentum of the most sustainable Detroit Grand Prix in history, the 2023 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear has been recognized as the first event in Michigan to achieve gold-level event certification through the Council for Responsible Sport. The recognition also distinguishes the Detroit Grand Prix as the first-ever motorsports event worldwide to earn gold level Responsible Sport certification.

The Council for Responsible Sport recognizes and certifies events that meet a set of criteria for social and environmental responsibility objectives in order to make a positive impact in their communities. Since 2007, the organization has certified more than 200 events worldwide. Through its increased sustainability efforts, significant economic impact and numerous community outreach programs, the Detroit Grand Prix blazed a new trail in 2023 on its way to reaching gold-level certification.

“Reaching gold level certification from the Council for Responsible Sport is a tremendous honor for the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear and a true testament to our event’s commitment to being a positive force in Detroit and across Southeast Michigan,” said Michael Montri, President of the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear. “With the help of our event partners, we are proud of how the Grand Prix has emerged as a leader in effecting environmental and social change in our community, now and into the future.”

With a structured certification process, the Council for Responsible Sport provides a clear path for events and venues to measure, implement, validate and improve their social and environmental sustainability efforts. Certification is accomplished through planning and communications, procurement, resource management, access, equity and community engagement. In 2023, the Detroit Grand Prix joined the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend at Iowa Speedway as NTT INDYCAR SERIES events and venues to apply for Council for Responsible Sport certification.

Key community partnerships and programs helped the Detroit Grand Prix achieve its watershed gold-level certification.

Grand Prix partners worked collaboratively with event organizers to create unique community engagement, sustainability, youth enrichment, small business empowerment, and arts, culture and entrepreneurship opportunities across the City of Detroit this year. Focused on making a positive environmental impact, the 2023 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear worked with its partners at Priority Waste to implement robust waste diversion and recycling program to become the most sustainable Detroit Grand Prix in the event’s 41-year history. With support from Penske Truck Rental, this year’s Grand Prix also became the first-ever motorsport event to offset 100% of fan travel carbon emissions by investing in nature-based programs in Michigan and across the Midwest.

Thanks to Community Partners American Axle & Manufacturing, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Delta Air Lines, Delta Dental, DTE Foundation, Henry Ford Health, Huntington Bank, Lear Corporation and PNC Bank, the Grand Prix featured more accessibility than ever before and created some unique and engaging opportunities for neighborhoods and communities in Detroit to connect with the event. Community partnerships helped the event incorporate multiple viewing platforms along the racing circuit that provided access and free viewing for fans over more than half of the event’s footprint, all weekend long. With the support of the key Grand Prix Community Partners, students from the Boys and Girls Club of Southeastern Michigan also designed eight unique art murals honoring local communities across Detroit that were displayed trackside for the world to see during the June 2-4 Grand Prix weekend, hosted on the downtown Streets of the Motor City for the first time since 1991.

Partner support also allowed the Grand Prix to create opportunities for neighborhoods and businesses across the city to benefit from the event. The Small Business Straightaway hosted in Cadillac Square during the Grand Prix gave nearly 30 locally owned and operated Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) businesses from each district in Detroit an opportunity to shine and benefit from a big weekend for commerce across the region.

With approximately 150,000 people attending the Grand Prix over the course of the three-day weekend, the event also injected millions of dollars of spending into the local economy following its relocation to the 1.7-mile street circuit in Downtown Detroit this summer.

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2023 CHEVROLET DETROIT GRAND PRIX PRESENTED BY LEAR DELIVERS IMPRESSIVE RESULTS IN RETURN TO DOWNTOWN DETROIT

Strong Attendance, Total Viewership, Social Media Results and Charitable Efforts Support Record-Setting Weekend

The results and analysis reveal a record-setting weekend following the return of the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear to Downtown Detroit in 2023. Back home on the streets of the Motor City for the first time in 32 years, the June 2-4 Grand Prix weekend delivered incredible attendance, television viewership and total audience numbers across multiple platforms, along with significant charitable contributions raised during the event’s annual fundraiser.

Bolstered by sold-out grandstands on Sunday of race weekend, as well as unprecedented free access across more than half of the venue over the course of the three-day weekend, the Grand Prix welcomed an estimated total crowd of approximately 150,000 people to Downtown Detroit on the first weekend in June. In addition to the paid attendance areas inside the event’s footprint, the Grand Prix featured a more inclusive event than ever before in its Downtown return with free access provided all weekend in Hart Plaza, Spirit Plaza, the Detroit Riverwalk and all along Jefferson Avenue through courtesy viewing platforms and activation areas on the blocks immediately north of Jefferson.

According to Nielsen ratings information, viewership from the new 1.7-mile street circuit on the Streets of Downtown Detroit also produced impressive results. Featuring the cars and stars of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, the Chevrolet INDYCAR Grand Prix on Sunday, June 4 posted a total audience delivery (TAD) of 1.098 million viewers across television, digital and out of home viewing. With the race televised on NBC and streamed live on Peacock, that total represents an increase of 179% from the 2022 TAD in Detroit when the final INDYCAR race on Belle Isle was broadcast on the USA Network.

Nielsen reported that Sunday’s INDYCAR race drew a .65 national household rating – the second-highest rating for the event since 2014 and more than 40% above the five-year average. The Chevrolet INDYCAR Grand Prix had the highest viewership of any sports programming on NBC over the course of the week and the audience reach more than doubled the results of the 2022 Grand Prix. This year’s broadcast marked the third-highest viewed NTT INDYCAR SERIES race of 2023 behind the Indianapolis 500 and the season opener on the streets of St. Petersburg, Fla. Detroit race viewership saw its biggest growth among the female audience with an incredible increase of more than 273% from last year’s total audience results.

The strong national ratings were powered by tremendous local viewership. Led by programming and coverage through local NBC affiliate WDIV Local 4, the Detroit designated market area (DMA) led all U.S. markets with a 4.73 rating and a 19 share. This represents the highest ratings for the event in the Detroit DMA since 2016.

“We want to thank all of our great fans here in Metro Detroit and across Southeast Michigan for their support as we brought the Grand Prix back home to the Streets of the Motor City in 2023,” said Michael Montri, President of the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear. “We saw tremendous interest not only here locally but with viewership and coverage across the country. It was an amazing weekend and a great opportunity for Detroit and our entire region to shine in front of an audience watching all over the world.”

According to social media metrics, the 2023 Detroit Grand Prix also produced a winning formula across multiple channels and platforms. During the course of the three-day event weekend, the Detroit GP social channels soared with a reach of over 640,000 on Facebook and more than 40,000 on Instagram, along with over 360,000 new impressions on Twitter, from June 2-4. The positive social momentum was also evident on the NTT INDYCAR SERIES channels with over 7.2 million video views generated during the weekend (an increase of 183% from the 2022 event) and more than 1.7 million engagements across all series social platforms for an increase of 135% from last year’s event weekend.

The Grand Prix also delivered for its identified charitable causes during race weekend. The annual PwC Grand Prixmiere presented by Chevrolet, held on Friday evening June 2 at Campus Martius
Park and Cadillac Square in Downtown Detroit, featured nearly 500 attendees as the event raised over $1 million in contributions for five Detroit-area organizations. Through Grand Prixmiere ticket sales, as well as some unique auction items and experiences, funds were raised to benefit the Belle Isle Conservancy, Boys and Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan, Detroit Public Safety Foundation, Detroit 300 Conservancy and the Pope Francis Center in Detroit. Since 2014, the PwC Grand Prixmiere presented by Chevrolet has helped raise more than $7 million for local charities.

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Detroit Grand prix June 4 2023 Gallery

Detroit Grand Prix Results. June 4, 2023. Indycar Series.

Position – Driver

1. Alex Palou
2. Will Power
3. Felix Rosenqvist
4. Scott Dixon
5. Alexander Rossi
6. Kyle Kirkwood
7. Scott McLaughlin
8. Marcus Armstrong
9. Marcus Ericsson
10. Josef Newgarden
11. Colton Herta
12. Devlin DeFrancesco
13. Simon Pagenaud
14. Agustin Canapino
15. Conor Daly
16. Christian Lundgaard
17. Jack Harvey
18. Rinus VeeKay
19. Helio Castroneves
20. Banjamin Pedersen
21. Santino Ferrucci
22. Sting Ray Robb
23. David Malukas
24. Romain Grosjean
25. Graham Rahal
26. Pato O’Ward
27. Callum Ilott

Photos by Glenn Gervais and Tim Jarrold

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Detroit Grand Prix Qualifying Saturday June 3 2023 Gallery

Here’s your first look at qualifying from the 2023 Detroit Grand Prix as it makes it way back to downtown Detroit.

Photos Glenn Gervais – In Play! magazine

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COMERICA BANK FREE PRIX DAY RETURNS ON FRIDAY, JUNE 2, AT THE CHEVROLET DETROIT GRAND PRIX PRESENTED BY LEAR

On Friday, June 2, Comerica Bank will once again support a tradition that began with the very first Detroit Grand Prix in 1982. Comerica Bank Free Prix Day will return to the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear in 2023, providing an even deeper level of access for fans to experience the thrills and excitement of the Grand Prix for FREE on the opening day of the event’s new home on the Streets of Downtown Detroit.

This marks the 10th year of Comerica Bank supporting Free Prix Day and giving fans the opportunity to experience all the racing, activities and excitement of the Grand Prix as it enters a new era in 2023. Visitors to this summer’s Grand Prix will have access to more than half of the event’s footprint for free throughout the June 2-4 weekend. On Comerica Bank Free Prix Day, fans will be able to watch the on-track action in grandstands 1 and 9 free of charge. Seating in these two grandstands will be general admission and available on a first-come, first-seated basis. Paddock access is not included with Free Prix Day seating and no tickets will be required to sit in either grandstand on Free Prix Day, courtesy of Comerica Bank.

The return extends the tradition that began with the very first Grand Prix event held on the Streets of Downtown Detroit. Since that first event in 1982, each year that the Grand Prix has been hosted in Detroit has featured free access for fans on the first day of on-track action, in a tradition that has become truly unique to the Motor City.

“Thanks to our partners at Comerica Bank, we are so proud to carry on the tradition of Free Prix Day at the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear,” said Michael Montri, President of the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear. “As the Grand Prix returns to its original home on the Streets of Downtown Detroit this summer, we are creating more ways for everyone to experience this event with over half of the circuit open and accessible for free. On Comerica Bank Free Prix Day, we’ll take that experience to the next level for fans with great viewing available in two of our grandstands completely free of charge.”

To celebrate, Comerica Bank and the Grand Prix will host a virtual engagement today with more than 10 Southeastern Michigan high schools and community groups focused on motorsports and career opportunities in racing. The students will have the opportunity to connect with a number of Grand Prix-related guests, including three-time W Series Champion (women’s international racing series) and current INDY NXT by Firestone driver for Andretti Autosport Jamie Chadwick and USF Pro 2000 presented by Cooper Tires championship leader Myles Rowe of Pabst Racing who competes under the minority-led Force Indy race team banner. The students will learn about running a race team from Force Indy team principal Rod Reid, who will also talk about the Nexgeneracers (NXG) karting and life skills youth development program that expanded to Detroit in 2021 and continues to grow locally. Comerica Bank Senior Vice President, Chief Data and Analytics Officer, Jeffery Banks III will share his experiences with the students as well.

“With the return to the Downtown streets, the Detroit Grand Prix has furthered its dedication to connect one of Detroit’s signature events to fans and families across Metro Detroit,” said Steve Davis, Comerica Bank Michigan Market President. “We are honored to once again partner with the Grand Prix to provide free, unique access to Free Prix Day while impacting the youth of our community through STEM-focused engagements.”

The on-track action on Comerica Bank Free Prix Day will feature all four series competing at the Grand Prix. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES will host practice as they prepare for the Chevrolet INDYCAR Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon, while the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge will feature practice and qualifying for Saturday’s Chevrolet Detroit Sports Car Classic. The rising stars of INDY NXT by Firestone will be on track for practice and qualifying while the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli will also turn its first laps on the new 1.7-mile, nine-turn race course with two practice sessions.

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