Thousands of people converged on Belle Isle Friday for the kickoff to the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix.
Admission was free of charge as part of the Comerica Bank FREE Prix Day.
“I just like seeing all the different kind of cars," 10-year-old Carson Bendert said. He has been coming to the Grand Prix since he was six.
Fans got to enjoy up-close and personal access to the cars and drivers, and 7 Action News got to pick driver Todd Napieralski's brain about what he thinks about on the race track.
"You don’t want to become too robotic out there, you gotta be aware of your surroundings and what’s happening and adapt to it," Napieralski said.
He is driving a '39 Camaro in the Trans-Am series, which returns to Detroit for the first time in 15 years for its 50th anniversary.
In the Meijer Fan Zone, kids got to test out their football skills, tackle strangers in a friendly came of "knockerball" and even race go-carts.
Steven Allor of Detroit had all three of his kids in tow.
"This is my first time with all the kids so it’s exciting," he chuckled.
Zion Dolly, 9, came with his aunt.
"I like to hear the motors and stuff and the cool cars that I get to see," he said.
Five-year-old Avery Walker stood bright-eyed as she took everything in Friday afternoon.
“My favorite part about it was watching the race cars and trucks. I like the race cars because they were fast and I like the trucks because they jumped over a ramp," she said.
Visit www.detroitgp.com for ticket pricing and details for Saturday and Sunday. General admission is free for kids 12 and under entering with ticket-bearing adults.
