Fans at the Detroit Grand Prix got a new way to watch the race this year, with rooftops at four downtown parking garages opened to spectators for the first time. At the Port Atwater Parking Garage, Bob Whelan set up a foldable lawn chair and watched the action from above one of the nine turns on the 1.7-mile downtown circuit.
The weekend race ran Friday to Sunday in downtown Detroit, with three races circling General Motors Renaissance Center and Saturday’s Chevrolet Detroit Sports Car Classic drawing its own crowd. Whelan said the view made the day worth it. “It’s pretty cool. You can see Canada, too,” he said. “I can see all over the track.”
That broader view was the draw for fans who wanted to see more of the race without paying for a grandstand seat. Some could also watch for free from the northern side of Jefferson Avenue, while Hart and Spirit of Detroit plazas offered music, games and food vendors. The new garage access gave the event a fresh perch above the street-level scene and made the race easier to follow from downtown.
Even with the new vantage points, the Grand Prix still sounded like a Grand Prix. The cars were loud enough that experienced fans showed up with foam earplugs or over-the-ear noise-canceling earmuffs. Pat Schultz said she learned that lesson years ago, after her first race in 2018 left her spending most of the time covering her ears. “It makes a big difference,” she said. “It’s loud. Really loud. You can’t hear yourself think.”
For longtime racegoers, the new rooftop viewing changed the experience without softening it. The garages put more people closer to the action and gave downtown spectators a clearer look at a race that still shakes the riverfront blocks around the Renaissance Center. The open question now is how many fans will take advantage of the new rooftop spaces if the garages are offered again next year.
