Baltimore Grand Prix
Encyclopedia
The Baltimore Grand Prix is an IndyCar Series
and American Le Mans Series
race held on a street circuit
in Baltimore, Maryland. The inaugural Baltimore Grand Prix was held September 4, 2011. The races are contested on a temporary street circuit around the Inner Harbor
area of downtown Baltimore. Baltimore Racing Development also announced a multi-year contract with IndyCar
and the City of Baltimore.
, one of Baltimore's main avenues, and Sharp Street. It contains 12 turns, including a hairpin turn
at the intersection of Light Street and Lee Street. The main straight
runs along Pratt Street from Paca Street to Calvert Street and is 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) long. The course has 13 grandstands and 5 bridges.
The course passes by various Baltimore landmarks including The Baltimore Convention Center
, the Inner Harbor
, and Camden Yards.
Before the first race, some drivers voiced concern over just-paved tarmac over light rail tracks at Camden Station
near the first chicane; however, the tarmac there did not play a major factor in the inaugural event.
Since its inaugural run, it has been reported that the face failed to bring as much economic activity as had been promised and that Baltimore Racing Development has had difficulties paying monies owed to local businesses and the state, the latter resulting in a $567,000 tax lien being filed.
IndyCar Series
The IZOD IndyCar Series is the premier level of American open wheel racing. The current championship, founded by Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony George, began in 1996 as a competitor to CART known as the Indy Racing League . Citing CART's increasing reliance on expensive machinery and...
and American Le Mans Series
American Le Mans Series
The American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón is a sports car racing series based in the United States and Canada. It consists of a series of endurance and sprint races, and was created in the spirit of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Teams compete in one of five classes: LMP1, LMP2 and LMPC...
race held on a street circuit
Street circuit
A street circuit is a racing circuit composed by temporarily closed-off public roads of a city, town or village, used in motor races. Facilities such as the paddock, pit boxes, fences and grandstands are usually placed temporarily and removed soon after the race is over but in modern times the...
in Baltimore, Maryland. The inaugural Baltimore Grand Prix was held September 4, 2011. The races are contested on a temporary street circuit around the Inner Harbor
Inner Harbor
The Inner Harbor is a historic seaport, tourist attraction, and iconic landmark of the City of Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Described by the Urban Land Institute in 2009 as “the model for post-industrial waterfront redevelopment around the World.” The Inner Harbor is actually the end of the...
area of downtown Baltimore. Baltimore Racing Development also announced a multi-year contract with IndyCar
IndyCar
IndyCar is the trade name of an American-based open-wheel auto racing sanctioning body. IndyCar sanctions three racing series, the premier IZOD IndyCar Series with its centerpiece Indianapolis 500, and developmental series Firestone Indy Lights and the U.S...
and the City of Baltimore.
Circuit
The circuit is 2.04 miles (3.3 km). The tree-lined and scenic course starts/finishes near the intersection of Pratt StreetPratt Street
Pratt Street is a major street in Baltimore. It forms a one-way pair of streets with Lombard Street that run west-east through downtown Baltimore. For most of their route, Pratt Street is one-way in an eastbound direction, and Lombard Street is one way westbound. Both streets begin in west...
, one of Baltimore's main avenues, and Sharp Street. It contains 12 turns, including a hairpin turn
Hairpin turn
A hairpin turn , named for its resemblance to a hairpin/bobby pin, is a bend in a road with a very acute inner angle, making it necessary for an oncoming vehicle to turn almost 180° to continue on the road. Such turns in ramps and trails may be called switchbacks in American English, by analogy...
at the intersection of Light Street and Lee Street. The main straight
Straight (racing)
In many forms of racing, the straight is that part of the race track in which the competitors travel in a straight line, as opposed to a bend. The term is used in horse racing, motor racing and track and field athletics....
runs along Pratt Street from Paca Street to Calvert Street and is 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) long. The course has 13 grandstands and 5 bridges.
The course passes by various Baltimore landmarks including The Baltimore Convention Center
Baltimore Convention Center
The Baltimore Convention Center is a convention and exhibition hall located in downtown Baltimore, Maryland. The Center is a municiple building owned and operated by the City of Baltimore...
, the Inner Harbor
Inner Harbor
The Inner Harbor is a historic seaport, tourist attraction, and iconic landmark of the City of Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Described by the Urban Land Institute in 2009 as “the model for post-industrial waterfront redevelopment around the World.” The Inner Harbor is actually the end of the...
, and Camden Yards.
Before the first race, some drivers voiced concern over just-paved tarmac over light rail tracks at Camden Station
Camden Station
Camden Station, now also referred to as Camden Yards, is a train station at the intersection of Howard and Camden Streets in Baltimore, Maryland, served by MARC commuter rail service and local Light Rail trains. It is adjacent to Oriole Park at Camden Yards...
near the first chicane; however, the tarmac there did not play a major factor in the inaugural event.
IndyCar Series
| Season | Date | Winning Driver | Chassis | Engine | Team | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 2011 IndyCar Series season The 2011 Izod IndyCar Series season was the 100th season of American open wheel motor racing. The season consisted of seventeen events over the course of a seven–month season. Its premier event was the 95th Indianapolis 500, run on Sunday, May 29. It was the final season running the IR–05 Dallara... |
September 4 |  Will PowerWill Power William Steven Power is an Australian motorsport driver, who currently competes in the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series, driving for Team Penske.-Australian Racing:... |
Dallara Dallara Dallara Automobili is an Italian chassis manufacturer for various motor racing series, being most notable for its near-monopoly in Formula 3 since 1993... |
Honda Honda is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than... |
Penske Racing Penske Racing Penske Racing is a racing team that competes in the IndyCar Series and NASCAR. They also previously competed in road racing, and Formula One. Penske Racing is a division of Penske Corporation, and is owned and chaired by Roger Penske... |
Report |
American Le Mans Series
| Season | LMP1 Winning Team | LMP2 Winning Team | LMPC Winning Team | GT Winning Team | GTC Winning Team | Results |
| LMP1 Winning Drivers | LMP2 Winning Drivers | LMPC Winning Drivers | GT Winning Drivers | GTC Winning Drivers | ||
| 2011 2011 American Le Mans Series season The 2011 American Le Mans Series season is a multi-event motor racing series for sports racing cars which conform to the technical regulations laid out by the International Motor Sports Association for the American Le Mans Series... |
 #20 Oryx Dyson RacingDyson Racing Dyson Racing is a professional sports car racing team based in Poughkeepsie, New York in the United States. Founded by Rob Dyson in 1974, the team is one of the longest-running and most successful privateer racing organizations. Over the years, it has competed in IMSA GTO and GTP, SCCA Trans-Am,... |
Did Not Participate | #37 Intersport Racing Intersport Racing Intersport Racing is an American auto racing team founded by Jon Field. The team is based in Dublin, Ohio. They currently operate two Oreca FLM09 sports cars in the American Le Mans Series- Beginnings :... |
#17 Team Falken Tire Walker Racing Walker Racing is a racing team founded by Derrick Walker in 1991 racing originally in the CART Championship Car series. Presently the team competes in the Firestone Indy Lights series.-Early success:... |
#54 Black Swan Racing |
Results 2011 Baltimore Grand Prix (ALMS) The 2011 Baltimore Grand Prix was held at Baltimore Street Circuit on September 3, 2011. It was the seventh round of the 2011 American Le Mans Series season.-Qualifying Result:Pole position winners in each class are marked in bold.-Race result:... |
 Humaid Al-Masaood Steven KaneSteven Kane Steven Kane is a Northern Irish racing driver who currently competes in the American Le Mans Series .-Career:Kane, who was born in Newtownards, County Down was voted McLaren Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year in 2001 , after winning the Junior Formula Ford Zetec championship by taking 8 wins... |
 Kyle Marcelli Tomy DrissiTomy Drissi Tomy Drissi is an American race car driver Trans Am Champion. His driver experience includes ALMS, Trans-Am, NASCAR and Speed World Challenge.-Personal:... |
 Wolf HenzlerWolf Henzler Wolf Henzler is a German racing driver known for his success with Porsches. He began racing in 1991 with a win in the German Junior Kart championship... Bryan Sellers |
Tim Pappas Jeroen BleekemolenJeroen Bleekemolen Jeroen Bleekemolen is a Dutch racing driver.In a Chrysler Viper GTS-R he drove in the FIA GT Championship, with great success. He competed in the very competitive German Formula 3 Championship and drove a number of times at the Masters of Formula 3 at Circuit Zandvoort, the unofficial F3 World... |
Support races
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Controversy
Along with the closing of the commercial center of downtown Baltimore for track preparation, trees are being removed, spawning a court case. Also, the Baltimore Brew identified $42,400 in campaign contributions over the last 4 years to Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and other political officials from investors and businesses that stood to gain from the race being held.Since its inaugural run, it has been reported that the face failed to bring as much economic activity as had been promised and that Baltimore Racing Development has had difficulties paying monies owed to local businesses and the state, the latter resulting in a $567,000 tax lien being filed.