Category: Auto Racing

Herta Rebounds from Indy Mishap to Win Detroit Pole

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Photo by Kyle McInnes

Colton Herta had a day of personal redemption and led a Honda resurgence in winning the pole for the Grand Prix of Detroit. Defending race winner Alex Palou will start second. Four Hondas advanced to the Fast Six.

Herta was one of the favorites to win the Indianapolis 500 last Sunday, but he spun and hit the wall in turn 1. Herta finished 23rd.

” A complete 180 and just super happy for the team,” Herta said of his rebound from Indianapolis disappointment. “They worked their tails off in the Month of May. To come back with some redemption, it feels good.”

Indianapolis 500 winner Josef Newgarden and teammate Scott McLaughlin make up the second row, the only Chevy representatives in the top six.

Scott Dixon and Kyle Kirkwood make up the third row. Kirkwood was on track for a top four spot until he slid into a runoff area and stalled the car, bringing out a red flag with 43 seconds left in the final round.

Ericsson Bounces Back

After a frustrating May followed by an electrical issue in the morning practice, Marcus Ericsson advanced to the second round of qualifying. He will start ninth.

Andretti Global has looked strong this weekend. The team will start first, sixth, and ninth.

Theo Pourchaire

Pourchaire Shines

Theo Pourchaire was fourth fastest in the morning practice, led his round one qualifying group, and just missed the Fast Six. He is the fastest Arrow McLaren qualifier. The rookie, who will drive the number 6 car for the rest of the season, looks great.

Reminder

The race tomorrow is USA network. Coverage begins at noon and the green flag is at 12:45 PM Eastern.

Results

Herta Leads Honda 1-2-3 in Practice 2

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Photo by Kyle McInnes

In one of Honda’s strongest sessions of the season, Colton Herta led Practice 2 in Detroit this morning, followed by teammate Kyle Kirkwood and Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou.

Herta turned a fast lap of 1:01.5726, which is faster than the 2023 pole speed set by Palou.

The 45 minutes featured lots of cars in runoff areas. Indycar had AMR Safety team members at the ready with starters preventing what would have been several red flags. The lone stoppage came with 75 seconds remaining when Theo Pourchaire went head on into the tire barrier in turn 9.

Traffic was an issue throughout the practice as drivers seemed unwilling to allow fellow competitors to get the gaps needed for a clean lap.

During the red flag, Kirkwood confronted Santino Ferrucci, who had tried to pass and made contact with Kirkwood on track. Ferrucci aliso had contact with Herta. Ferrucci shoved Kirkwood, who just walked away.

This is not the first on track issue the driver for A. J. Foyt Racing has had with other drivers on track. Ferrucci needs to learn to drive with respect and respect his fellow drivers..

Results

Palou Still the One to Beat at Detroit

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Photo by Kyle McInnes

Alex Palou was the fastest driver at Detroit in 2023 on the new downtown street circuit. He picked up today right where he left the Motor City, recording the quickest lap in this afternoon’s opening practice session.

Palou thinks the track has improved since last year.

“It was busy,” Palou told Indycar. “I visited the run-off areas a couple of times here and there, just trying to find the limit and the grip of the track. The track is grippier, a lot grippier, than last year. Pretty happy. The car feels good so far.”

This practice period began with a 45-minute session for all drivers and ended with two 10-minute sessions, each with half the field.

Colton Herta led the 45-minute session with a time of 1:02.0219. Palou chopped three tenths from Herta’s time with a lap of 1:01.7210. Pato O’Ward had the second quickest time of 1:01.7315.

Notes

Marcus Ericsson’s difficult month of May continued as he slapped the wall hard with his right rear tire. He was 14th on the speed charts.

Woes continue for car 18. Nolan Siegel crashed attempting to qualify for the Indianapolis 500, and today jack Harvey grazed the inside wall and then slid across the track, hitting the outside wall hard. The right front wheel was torn from the car.

The view on the screen: This track does not present as an attractive venue on television. Granted, downtown Detroit is not that scenic, but the GM Tower and the waterfront could get some more tv time. Perhaps NBC could do with a few (a lot) less on-board camera shots here. The viewer has no idea where the car is, and there is not camera on Atwater with a view of a car zipping along the shore.

Practice resumes tomorrow morning at 9:15 am Eastern with qualifying at 12:15. I will cover the practice, but I will be at commencement for a favorite student of mine. I will watch the replay and post a report tomorrow late afternoon.

Results

Race Preview- Detroit Grand Prix

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The high from last Sunday’s Indianapolis 500 still lingers as the Indycar series moves on to Detroit for its second race on the downtown streets. This race is always a bit of a letdown after Indianapolis. It seems more so this year.

I don’t think the series does itself many favors by going from the 500 on national television to a slow street race on a cable channel. Not a great way to build on the momentum they received from Indy this year.

But the championship chase goes on, and there are cars on track. It’s a home game for Chevrolet, as they look to continue their early season dominance.

Here are some things to watch for.

Honda Rebound?

In 2023 Alex Palou and his Honda won the pole and dominated the race. In 2024, Palou and Honda have one win, the Sonsio Grand Prix at IMS.

2023 was a great year for Honda on street courses, with Andretti Global winning twice, and RLL and Ganassi each winning once. Detroit is where they need to start their comeback.

500 Champ Letdown?

The winner of the Indianapolis 500 usually has a letdown at the following race. It has been severe in the past, but lately the trend is turning around. In 2023, Josef Newgarden finished 10th at Detroit. Marcus Ericsson was seventh in 2022.

The strength of Team Penske could carry Newgarden to a podium, but I don’t think he lands on the top step.

Second Year Improvement

2023 was the first year for this tight, narrow circuit with just one decent corner, turn 3. The turn has been changed a bit to allow less congestion. Seven cautions slowed last year’s race. I think the teams will have a better handle on the track this time around, and we should see a cleaner event.

The split pit road went very smoothly in 2023, and is not a cause for concern this year.

Notes

I’ll be watching to see how Helio Castroneves does in his return to a street course.

I hope Tristan Vautier will get a decent result for Dale Coyne Racing.

Will Power is my pick to win this weekend in a race that could scramble the points standings.

Reminders

The race is on USA and Peacock. Green flag is 12:45 pm Eastern on Sunday.

Today’s practice is split- 45 minutes for everyone then two groups for 10 minutes each. Practice is 3:00 pm Eastern on Peacock.

Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix Presented by Lear Fast Facts 

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From Indycar. My preview will be up tomorrow.

 Race weekend: Friday, May 31 – Sunday, June 2
Track: Streets of Detroit, a 1.645-mile, Nine-turn temporary street course (counterclockwise)
Race distance: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: 100 laps / 170 miles | INDY NXT by Firestone: 45 laps/55 minutes
Push-to-pass parameters: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: 150 seconds of total time with a maximum time of 15 seconds per activation | INDY NXT by Firestone: 150 seconds of total time with a maximum time of 15 seconds per activation
Firestone tire allotment: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: Six sets primary, four sets alternate (weekend). Teams must use one set of primary and one new set of alternate tires in each race. One additional set is available for the weekend’s first session. to teams fielding a rookie driver. INDY NXT by Firestone: Three new sets to be used during the race weekend. Two carryover sets from the Indianapolis event may be used in practice sessions before qualifying.
X: @DetroitGP, @IndyCar, @INDYNXT, #DetroitGP, #INDYCAR
Instagram: @DetroitGP, @INDYCAR, @INDYNXT, #DetroitGP, #INDYCAR
Threads: @DetroitGP, @INDYCAR, @INDYNXT
Facebook: @DetroitGP, @INDYCAR, @INDYNXT, #DetroitGP, #INDYCAR
TikTok: @INDYCAR @INDYNXT, #INDYCAR
YouTube: @DetroitGP, @INDYCAR
Event website: www.DetroitGP.com
INDYCAR website: www.IndyCar.com
2023 race winners:
NTT INDYCAR SERIES Alex Palou (No. 10 Ridgeline Lubricants Honda)I
INDY NXT by Firestone Race 1: Reece Gold (No. 10 HMD Motorsports) Race 2: Nolan Siegel (No. 39 HMD Motorsports)
2023 NTT P1 Award winner: Alex Palou (No. 10 Ridgeline Lubricants Honda) 1:01.9410, 95.734 mph
2023 INDY NXT by Firestone pole winners: Race 1: Louis Foster (No. 26 Andretti Autosport) 1:06.9468, 88.458 mph Race 2: Louis Foster (No. 26 Andretti Autosport) 1:06.8374, 88.603 mph
Qualifying lap record: NTT INDYCAR SERIES
Kyle Kirkwood, 1:01.5305, 96.245 mph, June 3, 2023 (Set in Round 1 of knockout qualifying)
INDY NXT by Firestone Louis Foster, 1:06.8374, 88.603 mph, June 2, 2023
USA Network race telecast: Noon (ET) Sunday, June 2, USA Network (live). Leigh Diffey is the play-by-play announcer for NBC’s coverage of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, alongside analysts Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe
.Peacock live streaming: All NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice sessions and qualifying will stream live on Peacock, NBC’s direct-to-consumer livestreaming product. NBC’s Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear race telecast for the USA Network will be simulcast on the streaming service.
The INDY NXT by Firestone Detroit Grand Prix will be streamed on Peacock with practice and qualifying shown on INDYCAR LIVE.
INDYCAR Radio Network broadcasts: Mark Jaynes is the anchor alongside driver analyst Davey Hamilton. Jake Query and Nick Yeoman are the turn announcers. Michael Young and Ryan Myrehn are the pit reporters. The Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear race (noon ET Sunday), INDY NXT by Firestone Detroit Grand Prix (10:15 a.m. Sunday) and all NTT INDYCAR SERIES and INDY NXT by Firestone practices and qualifying sessions air live on network affiliates, SiriusXM 218, racecontrol.indycar.com and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA.
At-track schedule (all times local):
FRIDAY, MAY 31 (All times local)
1:50-2:35 p.m. INDY NXT by Firestone practice #1, INDYCAR LIVE
3-4:15 p.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice #1 (45 minutes all car session followed by two 10-minute group sessions), Peacock

SATURDAY, JUNE 18-
8:45 a.m. INDY NXT by Firestone practice #2, INDYCAR LIVE
9:10-10:10 a.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice #2 (45 minutes), Peacock
11:20-11:50 a.m. INDY NXT by Firestone Qualifying (Two groups, 12-minute session), INDYCAR LIVE
12:15-1:45 p.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES Qualifying for NTT P1 Award (Three rounds of knockout qualifying), Peacock (live)
SUNDAY, JUNE 2
9:30-10 a.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES warmup, Peacock
10:25 a.m. INDY NXT by Firestone Command to start engines
10:30 a.m. INDY NXT by Firestone Detroit Grand Prix (45 Laps/55 minutes), Peacock (U.S.)/INDYCAR LIVE (Most international markets)
Noon USA Network on air
12:38 p.m. Command to start engines
12:45 p.m. Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear (100 laps/164.5 miles), USA Network (live)
NTT INDYCAR SERIES Notes:
There have been five winners in the five NTT INDYCAR SERIES points-paying races to start the 2024 season. Pato O’Ward (Streets of St. Petersburg), Scott Dixon (Streets of Long Beach), Scott McLaughlin (Barber Motorsports Park), Alex Palou (Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course) and Josef Newgarden (Indianapolis 500) have all won in 2024. The record for most different winners in a season is 11 in 2000, 2001 and 2014.
The Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear will be the second INDYCAR SERIES race held on the new nine-turn, 1.645-mile downtown Detroit street circuit and the 34th INDYCAR SERIES race held in the Motor City. A 2.5-mile street circuit in downtown Detroit hosted CART events from 1989-91 before the event moved to Belle Isle Park in 1992.
Will Power, Scott Dixon and Helio Castroneves each won three times at the Raceway at Belle Isle Park and are tied for most wins by an INDYCAR SERIES driver in the Detroit Grand Prix.
In addition to Power, Castroneves and Dixon, other previous Detroit Grand Prix race winners entered include Alex Palou (2023), Pato O’Ward (2021 Race #2), Marcus Ericsson (2021 Race #1), Josef Newgarden (2019 Race #1), Simon Pagenaud (2013 Race #2) and Graham Rahal (2017 Race #1 and Race #2).
ACTIVE RACE WINNER WINS SEASONS
Helio Castroneves 3 2000, 2001, 2014 Race #2
Scott Dixon 3 2012, 2018 Race #1, 2019 Race #2
Will Power 3 2014 Race #1, 2016 Race #2, 2022
Graham Rahal 2 2017 Race #1, 2017 Race #2
Josef Newgarden 1 2019 Race #1
Marcus Ericsson 1 2021 Race #1
Pato O’Ward 1 2021 Race #2
Alex Palou 1 2023

The driver who has gone on to win the championship has won at Detroit eight times. Alex Palou won on the streets of downtown Detroit in 2023, Josef Newgarden won Race #1 on Belle Isle in 2019, Scott Dixon won Race #1 on Belle Isle in 2018, Will Power won on Belle Isle in 2022 and won Race #2 on Belle Isle in 2014, Alex Zanardi won on Belle Isle in 1998, Bobby Rahal won at Belle Isle in 1992 and Emerson Fittipaldi won in downtown Detroit in 1989.
Milestones: Scott Dixon will attempt to make his 328th consecutive start, extending his record streak…Dixon will pass Tony Kanaan for third all-time in INDYCAR SERIES starts should he start on Sunday. The pair is tied with 390 starts

.INDY NXT by Firestone Notes:
The ultra-competitive INDY NXT by Firestone season resumes with a downtown Detroit street circuit event. Jacob Abel leads the point standings on the strength of two wins in the first four races, but the other two race winners this season, HMD Motorsports’ Nolan Siegel and Andretti Global’s Louis Foster, remain threats to win the title and the financial benefits to advance to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.
Sunday’s Detroit Grand Prix will be the 500th  race for the INDYCAR SERIES’ top level developmental series, currently known at INDY NXT by Firestone.
The 2024 season features a deep and talented field with INDY NXT race winners such as Nolan Siegel, Louis Foster and Reece Gold joining a promising rookie class that includes Myles Rowe (2023 USF Pro 2000 champ), Callum Hedge (2023 Formula Regionals America champion), Michael d’Orlando (2022 USF2000 champion) and Caio Collet (Formula 3 race winner/Nissan Formula E reserve driver). Other contenders include returning drivers Jacob Abel, Josh Pierson, James Roe and Jamie Chadwick.
For the second consecutive season, INDY NXT by Firestone has added a new team. Miller Vinatieri Motorsports – co-owned by former INDYCAR SERIES competitor Dr. Jack Miller and former NFL standout Adam Vinatieri – debuted at St. Petersburg with driver Jack William Miller.
Group qualifying will decide the starting grid on road and street circuits. Based on the best lap times from the practice session immediately preceding qualifying, the fastest driver in that session will choose which group will compete in the first of the two qualifying sessions. With 12 minutes allotted for each group (with a guarantee of one timed lap), the fastest driver between the two sessions will be awarded pole position with the drivers who finished behind that driver, in order and in that group, occupying the odd-numbered starting positions (3, 5, 7, etc.) for the race and the drivers who finished in order from the other group occupying the even-numbered starting positions (2, 4, 6, etc.). One driver and entrant championship point will be awarded to the fastest car in each qualifying group. 

MSR: Castroneves In, Blomqvist Out for Detroit and Road America

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Helio Castroneves will drive car 66 for Meyer Shank Racing at Detroit and Road America, replacing Tom Blomqvist. Castroneves,49, is part owner of the team and drove a third entry for MSR in the Indianapolis 500 last Sunday, finishing 20th.

Tom Blomqvist

Blomqvist drove the car in the first five races of the season, with a best finish of 15th at St. Petersburg. He drove for Meyer Shank in IMSA previously but has had a difficult time in Indycar. Blomqvist spun in the first turn of the Indianapolis 500 triggering a three-car accident.

The team emphasized that Blomqvist is still part of the team. MSR is expected to return to IMSA in 2025, and he will likely be one of their drivers.

After Road America, the team will evaluate the situation. Could this be the opening David Malukas needs to return to the series?

Vautier to Drive Car 51

In a day of driver announcements, Tristan Vautier will drive car 51 for Dale Coyne Racing at Detroit. DCR has used a revolving number of rivers in their cars in 2024. Vautier was 2013 Indycar Rookie of the Year. He last drove for DCR in 2017. Vautier spent 2023 in the LeMans series.

Vautier will be the fourth driver of the 51 this season.