DETROIT, MI- Two years ago, the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix made what was supposed to be its triumphant return after a three-year hiatus.

Public and private officials in Detroit touted the event's return as another significant step in turning around the city. But in reality, Belle Isle itself wasn't ready for the severe beating three days of racing can do to a course and nearly 100,000 people.

The 2012 nationally televised event was delayed for hours due to patches of the track becoming unearthed. Race fans, media and drivers all looked on in bewilderment.

"It was like playing Russian roulette, and I just pulled a bullet," said James Hinchcliffe, who crashed his car into a safety barrier after hitting a piece of the unearthed track in 2012.

However, those days have now long passed, according to this attendees this weekend at the 2014 Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix.

"It's much better laid out," said Molly Bogardus during Friday's practice and qualifying rounds. The 46-year-old Eaton Rapids, Mich., resident has attended the Grand Prix with her husband, Jeff Bogardus, every year since its return three years ago.

"We just love the fact that it's on an island and in Detroit," said Jeff Bogardus.

Investments – mainly for infrastructure – related to the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix are expected to total roughly $7.2 million through this year, including $3.2 million from the past three years and an additional more than $4 million investment following this year's event. Officials also upgraded some buildings, sidewalks and other infrastructure.

Other noticeable enhancements, according to attendees, included enhanced shuttle service and parking, fan zone layouts and just an overall better experience. Many also said the 2014 Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix this weekend is bringing out the best in racing and Detroit.

"I think it's great for the city," said Matt Benson, a 20-year-old from Grand Ledge. "It's good for everything that they're going through now and all the problems they're having. It's always good to have something positive like this."

Attendees could be seen doing anything from bouncing on giant blowup chairs or hitting baseballs in a Detroit Tigers-sponsored batting cage to actually watching the races.

"It's been a lot more fan-friendly," said Steven Berg, 19, of Beverly Hills, Mich.

That fan-friendly atmosphere, according to Bud Denker, Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix chairman, was exactly what organizers were hoping for out of this year's event. This year's event features a new beer garden, monster truck rides, BMX biking, new truck racing, a family fun zone and three full days of entertainment.

"There's going to be a lot more crossover entertainment," he said during an interview earlier this month. "I'd like to get everybody down here, non-racing enthusiasts and racing enthusiasts."

Grand Prix officials expect roughly 110,000 people to attend the three-day event through Sunday. It would be a recent record for racing in Detroit.

As for the racing, this year's event includes seven races for four different racing series, including the Chevrolet Indy Dual in Detroit presented by Quicken Loans featuring cars of the Verizon IndyCar Series; the Chevrolet Sports Car Classic presented by the Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers with the sports cars of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship; the Cadillac V-Series Challenge presented by the Metro Detroit Cadillac Dealers featuring the cars of the Pirelli World Challenge Series and the SPEED Energy Stadium SUPER Trucks Series.

On Saturday, Will Power won the first of two races part of the Chevrolet Indy Dual in Detroit presented by Quicken Loans. The second race is Sunday afternoon.

Michael Wayland covers the automotive industry for MLive. Email him at MWayland@mlive.com & follow him on Twitter @MikeWayland or Google+.