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Grand Prix Promises Fun For The Whole Family

BALTIMORE (WJZ)-- The Grand Prix isn't just for race fans. There's fun for the whole family.

Mike Schuh has more.

So far, they wanted big crowds and Baltimore has not disappointed. Finally, the cars are on the tracks. So Nancy Lafferty brought her family from the Eastern Shore.

"'[She said]Guys, do you want to go to a race in Baltimore?'" Nancy Lafferty's son Jake Lafferty said. "So, we said, 'Sure! Yeah!'"

There are more than just cars here. Bands will play all weekend, and there's a large family zone. And there are cars that look like they should be on the track.

The CEO doesn't want it to appeal just to the race fans.

"I think the idea is to attract the 50 percent or so who aren't hardcore racing fans, who come down here and then become racing fans," Jay Davidson, CEO of the Baltimore Grand Prix, said.

Regular folks are able to go inside where the crews are working on the cars. They're amazed at the access and what they can see.

"Everything is just top-notch and I like the fact that we can get up so close," said Dan Lee from Fairfax, Va.

So be it the big time, or just a go-kart ride...

"It was fast, smooth," Zach Appler from Glen Burnie said. "The handling was great."

Baltimore is now on the race map. Just ask a three-time Indy 500 winner or his teammates.

"It's a beautiful city," said Ryan Briscoe, IndyCar driver. "We've been welcomed tremendously and fans just seemed so elated out there today, just walking in and everyone is just so excited about having this event."

What is noticeable downtown is the vibe. This isn't NFL, this isn't Major League Baseball and this isn't NASCAR. They know that to keep their fans happy, they have to be a little bit more accessible.

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