>>> IS ALMOST GO TIME FOR NASCAR IN CHICAGO.

CITY OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN PREPARING FOR THIS ALMOST ONE YEAR.

THE 12 TURN, 2.2 MILE COURSE DOWN LAKESHORE DRIVE, MICHIGAN AVENUE , AND COLUMBUS DRIVE.

PARIS SCHUTZ SPENT TIME NEAR THE COURSE THIS WEEK FOREVER IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERIES .

WE ARE GETTING REACTION FROM RESIDENTS.

PARIS JOINS US FROM GRANT PARK.

HOW WAS IT LOOKING?

>> Reporter: WE ARE AT THE HEART OF THE COURSE, THE START AND FINISH LINE, JUST WEST OF GRANT PARK.

WE HAVE THE PODIUM HERE, STANDS , IMPRESSIVE, IT IS AN ACTUAL RACEWAY , IT HAS BEEN TRANSFORMED IN DAYS .

THERE IS A RANGE OF OPINIONS AS EVERYBODY HAS AN OPINION IT SEEMS LIKE.

NEARBY NEIGHBORS SAYS THEY WILL LAY LOW THIS WEEKEND AS THE RACE FANS START TO PACK THE CITY .

>> WE ARE HUNKERING DOWN.

>> THEY LIVE IN A HIGH-RISE OFF OF MICHIGAN AVENUE.

JUST STEPS AWAY FROM THE NASCAR STREET COURSE.

THEY SAY THE CITY IS ENTERING UNKNOWN TERRITORY.

>> WHAT IS GOING TO BE LIKE?

LOUD .

OILY , SMOKY , TERRIBLE, OR SOMETHING COOL.

I DON'T KNOW.

>> Reporter: >> HOW WE TURN FROM MICHIGAN AVENUE TO JACKSON ON A STOCK-CAR ?

WHAT WILL IT LOOK LIKE.

>> WE WILL GO LOOK AND THE COPS WILL TURN US AWAY.!

LAKESHORE DRIVE STREET CLOSURES STARTED LAST NIGHT .

A BLOCK AWAY, GRANT PARK BISTRO MANAGERS HAVE GONE AHEAD.

>> WE ARTY HAVE OUR DELIVERIES.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO TRY TO NAVIGATE THE STREETS.

THAT MAY BE THE TOUGHEST THING.

YOU COME TO AN EVENT , YOU ARE WALKING ANYWAY IN GRANT PARK.

>> Reporter: THEY SAY IT IS TIME FOR THE CITY TO BUCKLE UP AND ENJOY THE RIDE.

>> I HAVE NEVER BEEN TO A NASCAR RACE AND I WANT TO SEE IT LIVE, I WANT TO SEE CARS FLYING BY, I WANT TO HEAR IT , SEE PEOPLE EXCITED ABOUT IT.

>> Reporter: TICKETHOLDERS WILL BE COMING IN FROM ALL 50 STATES AND 14 COUNTRIES.

80% OF THEM ARE ATTENDING THE FIRST EVER NASCAR RACE.

>> WE ARE TREMENDOUSLY EXCITED .

THIS IS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY FOR NASCAR AND THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

>> HE IS IN TOWN FROM DETROIT, A LIFELONG NASCAR FAN BUT SAYS HE HAD TO PUT THE BRAKES ON THIS ONE.

>> THE PRICE IS TOO TOUGH, SURPRISED HOW MUCH IT IS.

IT IS A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME EXPERIENCE.

>> Reporter: IT IS NOT CLEAR HOW MANY LOCALS ARE ATTENDING.

>> A VERY GOOD BALANCE , I DON'T HAVE EXACT NUMBERS BUT WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF LOCALS ATTENDING, PARTICIPATING .

>> Reporter: CHICAGO POLICE OFFICERS ARE WORKING OVERTIME THIS HOLIDAY WEEKEND, COUPLED WITH PRIVATE SECURITY GUARDS.

NEARBY BUILDINGS ARE SETTING UP PITSTOPS OF THEIR OWN.

>> WORKING EXTRA SHIFTS AND SO ON.

COME OVER TO OUR BUILDING AND GET SNACKS, WATER , CLEAN BATHROOMS, HAVE A MINUTE TO RECHARGE.

>> THE RACE HAS DEALT WITH SOME CONTROVERSY.

THE FORMER MAYOR STRUCK A DEAL BEFORE CITY COUNCIL HAD A CHANCE TO WEIGH IN.

>> THESE TYPES OF THINGS SHOULD BE VETTED MORE BROADLY AND PLANNED WITH MORE TIME.

>> GRANT PARK IS THE FRONT YARD FOR THE CITY OF CHICAGO BUT A HOME FOR PEOPLE AND THERE HAS TO BE A MORE EXTENSIVE DIALOGUE WITH CITIZENS.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS NASCAR HAS BEEN WILLING TO WORK WITH HIM TO ADDRESS CONCERNS.

BUT THE RACE IS ONE OF MANY EVENTS THAT WILL KEEP HIS NEIGHBORHOOD PARK PARTIALLY OR FULLY CLOSED OFF FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE SUMMER.

DIANE AND NICK ARE KEEPING AN OPEN MIND.

RESERVING JUDGMENT UNTIL AFTER RACE OFFICIALS RAISE THE CHECKERED FLAG.

>> I THINK IT COULD BE GREAT FOR THE CITY.

MOST PEOPLE'S REACTION IS, WHAT TO MAKE MAYBE IT WILL WORK.

WE WILL SEE.

>> Reporter: IF YOU CAN , AVOID DRIVING IN THIS AREA FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

LAKESHORE DRIVE CLOSED BETWEEN RANDOLPH ,