If someone were to ask how a guy like Roger Penske can just get a race added at Belle Isle while no one was really asking for another event in Michigan, you would probably say "money talks".
You would be right. Mike Brudenell of the Detroit Free Press explains.
Council members made it clear the city would not be the scapegoat if there was a shortage of money once the IRL left town for the next race.
Penske, owner of this year's championship-winning IRL team, looked council members square in the eye. He said he'd cough up cash of his own toward the race, which, he said, would cost the city $1.5 million. He'd help with Belle Isle improvements and would go to Lansing, if necessary, to lobby for funds for
the race.
It's amazing what people will do if they think it won't cost them anything. I'd love to see a successful race next Labor Day weekend, but for now I'm looking at that date with a bit of skepticism. As has been noted before, the Belle Isle was previously home to some pretty dull races.
Let's hope The Captain gets it right and doesn't have to "cough up the cash".
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