Race conditions at the Detroit Grand Prix drove drivers up the wall. Over the weekend, the Grand Prix was stopped mid race because a piece of the track crumbled causing pot holes and asphalt to fly. The race was postponed for two hours and shortened from 90 laps to 60, while crews repaired the road.
Driver Scott Dixon won the shortened race, which was the first event the Belle Isle track had hosted since 2008. “We have to focus on the positives,” Dixon said. The same could not be said for driver James Hinchcliffe could not. Hinchcliffe crashed into the wall from the bad road conditions.
Hinchcliffe who finished 21st said, “I have never seen anything like it. We had these big pieces of tar just sort of ripping up from Lap 5. The debris was out there. It was tough to drive around it.” The Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix on Belle Isle was positioned to be Detroit’s homecoming racing event. The race and two hour delay were broadcasted on national television.