Belle Isle Conservancy Announces Drivers at Grand Prixmiere Party

DETROIT - May 28, 2013 - PRLog -- The Belle Isle Conservancy (BIC) announces nine grade A Grand Prix drivers attending its Grand Prixmiere party on Friday, May 31, 2013 at DTE Energy’s Town Square in Detroit. Beginning at 6:00pm with a VIP reception, guests mix and mingle with drivers from the IZOD IndyCar Series, Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series and Pirelli World Challenge Championship Series. The Grand Prixmiere officially launches the 2013 Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix weekend, May 31-June 2, 2013.

ESPN/ABC IndyCar Reporter Jamie Little fuels a lively Q&A session with some of this year’s Grand Prix drivers including three-time Indy 500 winner, Hélio Castroneves, who celebrated his first ever win at the 2000 Detroit Grand Prix; Dario Franchitti who finished second in last year’s Detroit race; Enzo Potolicchio, 2012 winner of 24 Hours of Le Mans and 12 Hours of Sebring and Andy Pilgrim a driver with 62 race wins in 10 Pro series to his name.

Full list of attending drivers:

IZOD IndyCar Series
Hélio Castroneves
Will Power
AJ Allmendinger
Dario Franchitti

Grand-Am Rolex Series
Enzo Potolicchio
Stéphane Sarrazin

Pirelli World Challenge Series
Johnny O’Connell
Andy Pilgrim
Ryan Hunter-Reay

Motionsports Artist Bill Patterson shifts the evening into drive when he takes the stage with a blank canvas and paint to create a “live art” painting of a Grand Prix race scene. Drivers help make the painting(s) truly one-of-a-kind, signing Patterson’s latest piece along with another vibrant canvas he painted earlier Friday morning at Channel 7 studios.

Speaker and media personality Lila Lazarus along with WXYZ VP/General Manager Ed Fernandez steer toward the Finish Line when they auction off Patterson’s paintings to benefit the Belle Isle Conservancy.

The 2013 Grand Prixmiere Honorary Chairs include the Honorable Dave and Yvette Bing, Mark and Kim Reuss, Sarah and Tony Earley and Bud and Melissa Denker.

DTE Energy’s Town Square is located at 2000 Second Avenue in Detroit.

MEDIA ONLY: For more information or to schedule an interview, contact C&B Scene at 248.336.8360 or scene@candbscene.com