Detroit Grand Prix
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The title of Detroit Grand Prix (United States Grand Prix – East) was applied to the Formula One races held at the Detroit street circuit in Detroit, Michigan, United States of America from 1982 through 1988.
History
In 1982, the U.S. became the first country to host three World Championship Grands Prix in one season. In addition to the
The original circuit had seventeen corners in 2.493 miles, including two very tricky hairpins and a tunnel that enclosed a gentle right-hand bend next to the river, and proved to be even slower than
overcame a tire puncture to win his first of five American races in six years.Detroit got off to a bad start in 1982 due to organization problems. Practice planned for Thursday was cancelled, and the first qualifying session on Friday had to be postponed. There was time for only a one-hour practice session on Friday, and so qualifying would take place on Saturday in two one-hour sessions, four hours apart. Saturday was cold and overcast with a very real threat of rain, and nearly all the drivers scrambled to get a time in on the dry track while they could, with many spins and trips down the escape roads of the unfamiliar circuit. The afternoon session was wet throughout, as expected, and the times from the morning session did indeed determine the grid.
The race soon gained a reputation for being horrendously demanding and grueling, with the very bumpy track often breaking up badly under the consistently hot and very humid weather; it was perhaps the single hardest race on car and driver in Formula One during the 1980s – this race often produced races of attrition and the narrow track would often result in a large number of cars retiring during the race due to mechanical breakage or contact with the concrete walls. Brakes and gearboxes in particular were tested to their breaking points – the drivers had to brake hard more than 20 times per lap and change gear around 50 to 60 times in one lap (cars had five-speed manual gearboxes in those days) – for 62 laps usually lasting around 1 minute and 45 seconds, which often meant races always lasted close to two hours. And like Monaco, if a driver put a wheel out of line or made even the slightest mistake, the punishment, mechanical or on time – was very harsh and almost always absolute. 1982 and 1983 were races held in early June, but from 1984 to 1988, the race was held in late June, when the temperature difference is considerable in Detroit for a two-week timeframe – weather conditions are considerably hotter and generally less pleasant in Detroit around late June. At least half of the field retired in each race; it was often considered an achievement if a driver could finish this race, let alone win it.
Although the weather and track breakup in 1986 and 1987 was not as intense as it had been in 1984 and 1985, Detroit was removed from the Formula One schedule after
Winners
Repeat winners (drivers)
| Wins | Driver | Years won |
|---|---|---|
| 3 |  Ayrton Senna
|
1986, 1987, 1988 |
| Source:[1] | ||
Repeat winners (constructors)
Teams in bold are competing in the Formula One championship in the current season.
| Wins | Constructor | Years won |
|---|---|---|
| 2 |  Lotus
|
1986, 1987 |
| McLaren
|
1982, 1988 | |
| Source:[1] | ||
Repeat winners (engine manufacturers)
Manufacturers in bold are competing in the Formula One championship in the current season.
| Wins | Manufacturer | Years won |
|---|---|---|
| 3 |  Honda
|
1985, 1987, 1988 |
| 2 |  Ford *
|
1982, 1983 |
| Source:[1] | ||
* Built by Cosworth
By year
| Year | Driver | Constructor | Report |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | John Watson
|
McLaren-Ford | Report |
| 1983 |  Michele Alboreto
|
Tyrrell-Ford | Report |
| 1984 | Nelson Piquet
|
Brabham-BMW | Report |
| 1985 |  Keke Rosberg
|
Williams-Honda | Report |
| 1986 | Ayrton Senna
|
Lotus-Renault | Report |
| 1987 | Ayrton Senna
|
Lotus-Honda | Report |
| 1988 | Ayrton Senna
|
McLaren-Honda | Report |
| Source:[1] | |||
Lap records
- Qualifying: 1:38.301 – Ayrton Senna, Renault, 1986
- Race: 1:40.464 – Ayrton Senna, Honda, 1987
See also
- List of Formula One Championship events
- United States Grand Prix
- Grand Prix of America
- United States Grand Prix West
- Caesars Palace Grand Prix
- Dallas Grand Prix
- Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix
References
- ^ a b c d "Detroit GP". ChicaneF1. Retrieved 3 September 2021.