Turtle Tries To Race In The Detroit Grand Prix, Gets Rescued

By Edward Cardenas

DETROIT (CBS Detroit) - Ladies and gentlemen, snap your engines! Apparently misunderstanding what was going on, a turtle decided to try its hand at racing Tuesday and took to the Raceway at Belle Isle just as Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix drivers hit the course.

IndyCar champion Will Power was the first of five Detroit Grand Prix drivers to take to the course for hot lap rides for members of the media and others.

As the highly skilled driver raced through turns 12 and 13 he spotted a snapping turtle on the course and alerted course officials and his fellow drivers.

The drivers were able steer around the turtle - and not get passed by one of the island's slowest inhabitants - before the course director of operations was able to safely retrieve it.

Officials planned to release the little guy back into the wild after racing was complete, and there was no word if any teams looked to make the hard-shelled racer their mascot.

The Grand Prix, featuring drivers from the Verizon IndyCar Series, TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, Pirelli World Challenge Series and SPEED Energy Formula Off-Road, will take the course May 29-31.