IndyCar team owner Chip Ganassi believes that the ‘Dual in Detroit’ weekend at Belle Isle should be cut down to just a single race so that it mirrors the rest of the season calendar.
Since 2013, the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix has run as a double-header weekend with races taking place on both Saturday and Sunday.
The task of squeezing practice, two qualifying and two race sessions into a regular weekend schedule does place a great deal of stress on the drivers, teams, and organizers, particularly when inclement weather also adds to the challenge as experienced in 2015.
As quoted by Detroit Free Press, Ganassi called on event organizer and fellow team owner Roger Penske to consider cutting the event back down to a single race weekend to ease the pressure on the IndyCar paddock.
“It should be one race, like every other race,” Ganassi said.
“I appreciate what Roger’s done. I love him. I appreciate what he’s done for the town. I appreciate what he’s trying to do for the city. Appreciate all the hard work - make sure you put all this in there - but please let’s go to a one-day race.
“It’s too hard on the teams. It doesn’t really accomplish anything. If you have a bad day, it can be really tough, and both Roger and I have had bad days at the Detroit Grand Prix.
“I don’t know why that has to be the one lone dual event.”
As things stand, the 2016 event in Detroit is set to once again be a double-header, taking place on June 4 and 5.