HERE - Media Site - IndyCar.com

FAST FACTSDetroit Belle IsleGrand PrixDate / Time1:30 p.m. (EDT)Saturday, June 2TrackRacewayat Belle Isle Park(14-turn, 2.07 miletemporary streetcircuit)Distance45 laps/93.15 milesTVNBC SportsNetwork (Taped),5 p.m. June 7RadioIMS Radio Network(Live)2011 WinnerNew event2011 PolesitterNew eventStory Ideas:Highly-competitive season makes first visit to Belle IsleThe2012 Firestone Indy Lights season returns to road/street courses for the DetroitBelle Isle Grand Prix at the Raceway at Belle Isle Park. Esteban Guerrieri won hissecond-straight race at Indianapolis to take control of the point standings. TheArgentine leads teammate Tristan Vautier by 14 points with Sebastian Saavedra 18points behind.Veterans return in search champion’s scholarshipEsteban Guerrieri, who finished second in the point standings in 2011, leads a talentedgroup of drivers returning to Firestone Indy Lights for the 2012 season in hopes ofsecuring the Mazda Road to Indy scholarship. Gustavo Yacaman, who will race in hisfourth Firestone Freedom 100, Jorge Goncalvez, Juan Pablo Garcia, Peter Dempsey joinGuerrieri, a two-time race winner in 2012, in the field for this weekend’s race.Saavedra returns to chase titleSebastian Saavedra, who claimed three wins and the series rookie title in his twoseasons in Firestone Indy Lights, is off to a strong start in his returns to the series. TheColombian returned AFS Racing/Andretti Autosport to victory lane at Barber. CanSaavedra, who competed in the IZOD IndyCar Series in 2011, do the same in Detroitfor AFS Racing?Mazda Road to Indy scholarship winners excelling in 2012Three drivers who moved up the racing ladder as part of the Mazda Road to Indy hadsuccessful 2012 debuts. 2011 Star Mazda Championship winner Tristan Vautier issecond in the Firestone Indy Lights standings with four podium finishes, including awin in his series debut, while 2011 Firestone Indy Lights champion Josef Newgardenimpressed during the Month of May Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing. Both drivers will beracing this weekend at Detroit.Ireland’s Dempsey hopes to lead Younessi to frontPeter Dempsey returns to Firestone Indy Lights with series newcomer Younessi Racingin search of his first victory. Dempsey, the winningest driver in Star Mazda history,excelled on street courses in his limited 2011 campaign. Can he pick up where he leftoff at Detroit’s Raceway at Belle Isle Park?Talented field for 2012The 2012 season features a talented field of international drivers with returning driversSebastian Saavedra, Esteban Guerrieri, Jorge Goncalvez, David Ostella and GustavoYacaman among the series’ favorites. A promising rookie class includes Oliver Webb(World Series by Renault/Firestone Indy Lights), Tristan Vautier and J.V. Horto (StarMazda), Alon Day and Carlos Munoz (Formula 3 Euro Series), Armaan Ebrahim(Formula 2) and Darryl Wills (SCCA Formula Mazda and NASA Formula CarChallenge).