Detroit GP reports spending increase; tickets on sale for it and Milwaukee today - MotorSportsTalk

We noted on the ground back in June the impact that Roger Penske’s group has made for the revitalization of the Detroit Chevrolet Belle Isle Grand Prix from a corporate perspective. And earlier this week, the event announced there was more than $1 million new spending generated at this year’s doubleheader weekend.

A report done by sports consulting firm Sportsimpacts revealed the Grand Prix generated $46.3 million in total spending. Of that amount, $17 million represents new spending to the region as a result of non-local sources that will be retained long term as new income for Detroit-area households, businesses and government. The direct spending impact, which refers to all spending by local and non-local spectators, participants, and other expenditures towards event operations and infrastructure for the Grand Prix in 2013 was estimated at $28.8 million.

Detroit will host an encore of its doubleheader weekend in 2014, set for May 30-June 1. IndyCar has two races and the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship and Pirelli World Challenge share the bill. Tickets for the event go on sale today at www.detroitgp.com, and press events with drivers have been tweeted all day via the @DetroitGP Twitter handle.

Tickets also go on sale today for the Milwaukee IndyFest, a fellow Midwestern race on the IndyCar calendar that has shifted its date from June to August, post the Wisconsin State Fair. More information on this race, now renamed the (takes breath) ABC Supply Co., Inc. Wisconsin 250 of Milwaukee IndyFest Presented by the Metro Milwaukee Honda Dealers (exhales), can be found on the race website, www.milwaukeeindyfest.com.

I’ll argue here that clunky race names can be a good thing – Belle Isle’s IndyCar races are called the Chevrolet Indy Dual in Detroit Presented by Quicken Loans, as well – because it speaks to the excellent work by the Penske and Andretti Sports Marketing organizations to bring in more partners to support races on the IndyCar calendar.

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Ryan Hunter-Reay was named to replace Conor Daly in Ed Carpenter Racing’s No. 20 Dallara-Chevrolet, starting in the NTT IndyCar Series event next week at Road America.

Hunter-Reay is the 2012 series champion and 2014 Indianapolis 500 winner. He finished 11th for Dreyer & Reinbold last month in the 107th Indy 500, his first start since the 2021 season finale. He drove full time for Andretti Autosport from 2010-21.

“We need to improve our competitiveness and I wanted to add a fresh perspective from a driver like Ryan who has a massive amount of experience and success as well as a reputation as a team leader. I am excited to welcome Ryan to the team,” team owner Ed Carpenter said in a team release. “We have worked together in the past as teammates and he tested for ECR at Barber Motorsports Park in October 2021, where he made an immediate impact as we were able to qualify one of our cars on the pole following that test. I am confident that his experience and technical abilities will be an asset to ECR as we move forward toward our goals as a team.”

Hunter-Reay has 18 IndyCar victories, most recently in 2018. He also is a winner in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, having been a part of winning entries in the 2020 Twelve Hours of Sebring and 2018 Petit Le Mans. Last year, he was an endurance driver for Cadillac Racing while being on standby for Chip Ganassi Racing.

He replaces Daly, whose departure was announced a day earlier in what the driver and team said was a mutual decision.

“I was surprised when I got the call from Ed,” Hunter-Reay said in a team release. “He described how frustrated he was that his team has not been able to realize its potential despite their efforts, investments, as well as technical and personnel changes over the past few years and asked for my help. Ed and I are very close friends and have been for a long time. I’ve worked with the team in the past and they are a very talented group with high expectations and a committed partner in BITNILE.COM.

“This will certainly be a challenge for me as well. It’s a tough situation jumping in a car in the middle of the season without any testing in what I believe to be the most competitive series in the world. Certainly, part of my motivation in saying ‘yes’ to Ed is the great challenge ahead. The last time I turned right driving an NTT IndyCar Series car was in October of 2021 with this team at Barber. However, I remain very confident in both my driving and technical abilities and believe by working with the talented people at ECR and Team Chevy, while representing BITNILE.COM, we will make progress. I am going to do everything I can do to help the team achieve its long-term objectives.”

Said Milton “Todd” Ault, the chairman of sponsor BitNile.com: “It is great for BitNile.com to be aligned with an Indy 500 Winner and an NTT IndyCar Series champion. I have followed Ryan’s career for years and I am confident he will challenge the entire ECR team to perform at higher levels. I wish everyone luck at Road America.”