The grand Spring tradition of another Baltimore Orioles Opening Day has come and gone and the excitement of Maryland’s Crown Jewel, The Preakness Stakes, lies in waiting just two weeks away. All the while, Baltimore Racing Development (also known as BRD) has quietly and confidently spent the last several years cultivating the market to bring what just might be the next classic, can’t miss event to Maryland - the inaugural Baltimore Grand Prix in 2011.

A scenic track, with the backdrop of the Inner Harbor, will wind through the streets of Downtown Baltimore during a weekend-long festival atmosphere. The stage is set for a five-year contract to hold an Indy Racing League event right here in Charm City. Think IndyCar drivers such as, Helio Castroneves (also of the popular ABC TV series Dancing with the Stars), Marco Andretti (of the famous Andretti family) and yes, Danica Patrick (also “Go Daddy Girl“) winding their way down Pratt Street, past the stadiums and by the pavilions. Think about the energy that other events bring to Baltimore such as the Volvo Ocean Race and the community enthusiasm of the Under Amour Running Festival and Artscape, all with the added drama of speed, thrills and the spectacle of open wheel racing.

BRD - which includes two-time Indy 500 Winner Al Unser Jr. among its ranks - has secured the rights to negotiate exclusively with the Indy Racing League for this event and is competing with the likes of Cleveland and Boston to host the race, scheduled to be held in the latter part of summer 2011. The proposed track has been surveyed and costs to make the roadways race ready have been established. And reportedly, Baltimore’s efforts through the hard work of BRD have progressed further than competing cities.

So why should we support the Baltimore Grand Prix? For the local economy it means upwards of an estimated $100 million in economic development. If previous IndyCar races are any indication, nearly 50 percent of the 150,000 fans that will attend the weekend race events will travel to Baltimore. So, it’s a much needed summer boost for hotels, restaurants and Downtown attractions during a summer weekend when the Baltimore Orioles are scheduled to play an away game. It’s also a televised, three-hour tourism ad for Baltimore - not to mention countless millions in media mentions across the world each time the race or race results are mentioned.

The other 50% of the attendees will be casual or fringe fans from Baltimore or points close-by like Washington, D.C., York and even Richmond who will now have a brand new reason to patronize Downtown Baltimore and re-acquaint themselves with the Inner Harbor

Increasingly, the IndyCar Series drivers come from around the globe, meaning exposure for Baltimore on an international stage. Much like this past summer’s soccer exhibition between AC Milan and Chelsea FC, we can expect areas around the Inner Harbor and the stadiums to be filled with a cross section of attendees sporting apparel representing their favorite drivers and opening their wallets to enjoy some of the best this sport and our city has to offer.

We can, and should, widen our view beyond the popular local favorites - horseracing, sailing and lacrosse - to build our reputation and show our hospitality. And last but not least, Baltimoreans always love a good festival. In this case, what has been billed as a three-day “Festival of Speed” complete with concerts, convention-like exhibits and family-friendly events can capture our attention and provide thrills for years to come.

City officials, potential sponsors, and fans of a world-class event: “Start your engines.” Let’s support this effort and bring this one home.