Payne: The ‘moment’ IndyCar opened America, the Motor City

Posted by Talbot Payne on June 22, 2021

The automobile has deep roots in the American experience. If the industry’s “Arsenal of Health” production of desperately-needed ventilator and PPE in early 2020 exemplified the country’s collective commitment to combat the coronavirus pandemic, then IndyCar’s back-to-back, 2021 Indy 500 and Detroit Grand Prix represented America’s victory against COVID.

Over two extraordinary summer weekends, Penske-owned IndyCar put on one of the planet’s biggest post-COVID spectator events and the first mask-free auto race — both viewed by millions on national television.

he 2021 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear was the first race in US to go maskless since pandemic began. Here, Penske star Josef Newgarden (left) talks with his team in the pits before qualifying.

“We had 155,000 people at Indy (and) we re-opened America Memorial Day weekend. This weekend we are re-opening Michigan,” said Bud Denker, chairman of the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear, in an interview on Belle Isle last Saturday.

Denker, also the president of Penske Corp. based in Metro Detroit, continued: “How ironic is this? For 15 months we’ve been operating IndyCar series with masks on, socially distanced, and vaccinations required to go in the paddock. We’re in Michigan —which has been one of the most restrictive states in terms of protocol — and here we are with none of that in place.”

Detroit followed a defining moment in the pandemic at Indianapolis as a nation rushed to get vaccinated and return to normalcy for the summer travel months.

Sports fans found their vessel in Helio Castroneves. Before the biggest public gathering in the world (dwarfing the Texas Rangers baseball opening day crowd of 38,238) since the World Health Organization declared COVID a global pandemic on March 11, 2020, Castroneves won his long-sought fourth Indy 500 — tying him with the legendary A.J. Foyt, Rick Mears, and Al Unser, Sr.

2021 Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves

The 46-year-old star, who charmed America by winning “Dancing with the Stars” in 2007, is one of the most popular personalities in racing. His win kicked off a wild scene on Indy’s main straight. In his trademark “Spiderman” style, the Brazilian racer — now Ft. Lauderdale resident — climbed the fence with his team, pumping his fist while the crowd roared.

“It was pure Helio,” remembers Denker. “That was the cherry on the top. It was a moment in sports and for all America.”

The celebration didn’t end. Hopping down from the fence, Castroneves ran the length of the straightaway riding the wave of appreciation. Then he was mobbed in the pits. Greeted by Roger Penske (his former boss) on the winner’s podium. And wheeled around the track in a Camaro.

“The fans would not leave. They would not leave until Helio did his victory lap which was about 45 minutes after he crossed the checkered flag,” marveled Denker. Six million more fans were glued to their television sets, the biggest Indy 500 audience in 5 years.

It was a long road to get here. Like all sports, motorsports struggled to maintain a schedule through the pandemic. IndyCar put on nine events last year — followed by eight races to start the 2021 season — mostly in less-restrictive states like Florida and Wisconsin where large fan gatherings were allowed.

Yet, while state protocols changed from venue to venue, IndyCar’s strict protocols (coordinated with other series like NASCAR and IMSA and other sports) did not: Masks were required in the pits/paddock/podium with the exception of drivers when they were in the race car.

Sensitive to perception, sponsor needs and national TV, the rules stayed in place. Even as the CDC lifted mask requirements for vaccinated individuals in May. Even as vaccinated drivers chafed at the rules.

Indy 500 winner Helio Catroneves celebrates with the crowd.

“Its been an arduous journey to get to this point,” said Denker. “We’ve worked with a number of players — Chris Illich with the Tigers, Jason Langwell with Rocket Mortgage Classic Golf Classic, Kathy Cooper of Meijer (Grand Rapids LPGA golf tourney this weekend). All these big organizations, like ours, have these big events coming up and what’s our play book going to be? Let’s be consistent in our approach to the government. It’s really been a team effort behind these scenes.”

Even as a second COVID wave over the winter brought concerns that the June Detroit GP — canceled in 2020 — would have no fans, sponsor Chevrolet, Lear, and TV-partner NBC stuck with the series.

“Then we got to 1,000 fans because the Tigers announced 20% in their grandstands — so we had 20% in our grandstands,” smiled Denker. The CDC’s May 13 announcement nixing masks accelerated conversations inside IndyCar.

“We had a call a month ago (with all the teams) and we said we want you all vaccinated,” said Denker. “Guess what? Our sport is 95% vaccinated, I don’t think any other sport can say that.”

IndyCar’s announcement that the Detroit GP would be mask-free sent dominoes falling. The IMSA Weathertech sportscar series, which shared the race weekend with IndyCar, also went mask-free. IMSA’s corporate parent — NASCAR — followed suit at Texas Motor Speedway last Sunday.

There were smiles all around the paddock Sunday as naked-face racers greeted fans for the first time in months. The smiles intensified after a weekend of gorgeous weather and two of the most exciting races of the year.

Overhead, NBC’s chopper televised overhead shots to millions across the country of Belle Isle, downtown, and the Renaissance Center. NBC broadcast’s of the Saturday Duel in Detroit race was seen by 845,000 viewers (a 10% increase over the 2019 event) while Sunday’s Dual in Detroit race reached 1.4 million viewers – a 26% increase over 2019 .

“How can you put a value on what this means for our city for two hours (Saturday) and two hours Sunday?” thrilled Denker, who said capacity was limited to 8,000 fans a day — about 1/3rd of normal. “Yeah, we didn’t fill up as many restaurants or hotels, but the value this city is going to get from this weekend is immeasurable and that makes us pretty proud.”

Henry Payne is auto critic for The Detroit News. Find him at hpayne@detroitnews.com or Twitter @HenryEPayne.

Comments are closed.