Practice 1 at Detroit

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Kyle Kirkwood led the opening round of practice for the Grand prix of Detroit despite some damage to the rear of his car from an incident with Will Power.

Kirkwood slowed for a turn to crate a gap. Power ran into the back of Kirkwood’s car, then continued to push the Andretti driver until Kirkwood was pushed aside.

Each driver stated their case.

“I don’t know,” Kirkwood said. “Everyone goes slow around here. The track’s not big enough to fit all the cars, and he got frustrated. Whatever, I guess. I’m not upset. I don’t care. We’re P1.”

Said Power: “I came around, and he slowed up in the middle and made contact. So, I thought, ‘Well, I may as well get a gap now,’ so I just pushed him past the car in front, just moved him out of the way and got a really nice gap.”

It sounds as if the two drivers think this incident is over. I think Power should receive some type of penalty like not participating in part of tomorrow morning’s practice.

Indianapolis 500 winner Alex Palou was 15th fastest.

Following Kirkwood, who’s best lap was 1:01.7509, were the three Penske cars of Scott McLaughlin, Will Power, and Josef Newgarden in that order.

The next IndyCar practice is at 9 am Eastern time tomorrow. Practice and qualifying are on FS1.

Notes

I love the look of Jacob Abel’s car this weekend. I am a sucker for car numbers in circles/

Pato O’Ward said that the hybrid has produced “zero benefit” to IndyCar racing. I will have some thought s on that later this weekend.

Results

INDYCAR Announces Streets of Detroit Grid Penalties

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From IndyCar:

 INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, May 30, 2025) – INDYCAR has announced a six-position starting grid penalty for the entries of No. 9 Chip Ganassi Racing and No. 15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing for unapproved engine changes prior to the Sunday, May 25 race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Chip Ganassi Racing entry No. 9 was in violation of:
Rule 16.1.2.3.2. A fifth (5th) Engine is eligible to earn Engine Manufacturer points if a Full Season Entrant has completed the Full Season Entrant Engine Mileage with its first four (4) Engines. Otherwise, a fifth (5th) or more Engine does not earn Engine Manufacturer points and will be considered an Unapproved Engine change-out.
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing entry No. 15 was in violation of:
Rule 16.1.5.4. Once an Indianapolis 500 Mile Race Engine is fitted to the Car, removal prior to the Indianapolis 500 Race is an Unapproved Engine Change-Out, unless it is replaced for Repair.
According to Rule 16.1.6.1.2., the penalty is a six-position starting grid penalty on road and street course events and nine positions at oval events and will be served at the series’ next event, which is the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear Sunday, June 1 on the Streets of Detroit.

Detroit Grand Prix Preview

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The Indianapolis 500 is always a tough act to follow, and the Grand Prix of Detroit is up to the task as far as an event. I think schedule wise this race is a week of two early. The 500 should be followed by an oval, all, which I think would better sustain the momentum from Indianapolis.

The downtown street course will run its third event after many years on Belle Isle. The event concept is solid, but this is my least favorite track on the schedule. It is narrow and slow. The best part of the circuit is the turn three hairpin.

Still, there are things to watch for this weekend as the Alex Palou Victory Tour continues.

Is Palou Immune to the 500 Hangover?

Winning the first race after the Indianapolis 500 has always been a challenge for the winner of the 500. Very few have won the following race, but Palou is one driver who could succeed.

The winner of the 500 has to endure an exhausting week of appearances and interviews, and their weariness usually shows at Detroit. I do0n’t think it will affect Palou much. He has a chance to win 10 races this season.

More Yellow?

This track invites chaos, and I expect IndyCar will add to its year-long caution lap total of 53 on Sunday. I expect at least two caution periods, and laps tick off quickly on a 1.645-mile circuit.

Battle for Second Place

Until Palou comes back to the field, which is doubtful, fans should watch the battle for second place in the standings. Pato O’Ward is currently second. Christian Lundgaard is 13 points behind him, and Felix Rosenqvist trails Lundgaard by just 16 points. Kyle Kirkwood is nine points behind Rosenqvist.

Tech

Have the penalties assessed during qualifying and last Sunday’s race caused the paddock to be more vigilant about car preparation? I would think the severity of the punishments would have a chilling effect on the teams.

IndyCar announced this morning that they are working to implement partial scanning of cars to validate inspection. This is definitely a step in the right direction.

Chip Ganassi racing has won the two previous races here. Alex Palou won in 2023 and Scot Dixon won in 2024. Palou has to considered a heavy favoriite, but I am going with Kyle Kirkwood to win on Sunday. Kirkwood’s Andretti global team is really good on street courses, and Kirkwood has to be extra motivated after being sent to the rear of the order last week following a brilliant drive through the field.

The Schedule

Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear Fast Facts 

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From IndyCar:


 Race weekend: Friday, May 30-Sunday, June 1
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
Media Links: NTT INDYCAR SERIES Entry List (PDF) | INDY NXT by Firestone Entry List (PDF) | Trackside Media Guide (Interactive PDF)

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: A maximum of 50 activations total or 150 seconds of total Push to Pass time.
Hybrid energy deployment parameters: Unlimited activation, with a maximum deployment of 425 kilojoules (kj) per lap

Firestone tire allotment: Five sets primary (hard/black sidewall) and five sets alternate (soft/green sidewall) to be used during the event weekend. Teams fielding a rookie driver may use one additional set of primary tires. Teams must use one set of primary and one set of new (sticker) alternate tires for at least two laps in the race.
 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, #INDYCARI
nstagram: @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

2024 race winners:NTT INDYCAR SERIESScott Dixon (No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda)INDY NXT by FirestoneLouis Foster (No. 26 Andretti Global)
2024 NTT P1 Award winner: Colton Herta (No. 26 Gainbridge Honda), 1:00.5475, 97.808 mph
2024 INDY NXT by Firestone pole winner:Louis Foster (No. 26 Andretti Global), 1:05.1079, 90.957 mph
Qualifying lap record:NTT INDYCAR SERIESColton Herta, 1:00.2304, 98.322 mph, June 1, 2024 (Set in Round 2 of knockout qualifying)
INDY NXT by FirestoneLouis Foster, 1:05.1079, 90.957 mph, June 1, 2024

FOX Sports telecasts:
NTT INDYCAR SERIES: 
Practice 1, 3 p.m. ET Friday, FS2 (live); Practice 2, 9 a.m. ET Saturday, FS1 (live); Qualifying, noon ET Saturday, FS1 (live); Warmup, 9:30 a.m. ET Sunday, FS1 (live); Race, 12:30 p.m. ET Sunday, FOX (live).
Will Buxton is the play-by-play announcer for FOX’s coverage of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, alongside analysts Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe. Georgia Henneberry, Kevin Lee and Jack Harvey are the pit reporters.
| INDY NXT by Firestone: 
Practice 1, 2 p.m. ET Friday, FS2 (live); Practice 2. 8 a.m. ET Saturday, FS1; Qualifying, 11:30 a.m. ET Saturday, FS2 (live);
Race, 10:30 a.m. ET Sunday, FS1 (live). Kevin Lee is the play-by-play announcer for FOX Sports’ coverage of INDY NXT by Firestone alongside analyst Jack Harvey. Georgia Henneberry is the pit reporter.
INDYCAR Radio Network broadcasts: Mark Jaynes is the anchor alongside driver analyst Davey Hamilton. Jake Query and Michael Young are the turn announcers. Nick Yeoman, Joel Sebastianelli and DJ Clark are the pit reporters.
The Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear race (noon ET Sunday), INDY NXT by Firestone Detroit Grand Prix (10:25 a.m. Sunday) and all NTT INDYCAR SERIES practices and qualifying sessions air live on network affiliates, SiriusXM INDYCAR Nation 218, indycar.com/leaderboard and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA. All INDY NXT by Firestone practices, qualifying sessions and races are available on SiriusXM INDYCAR Nation 218, indycar.com/leaderboard and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA.

At-track schedule (all times local):
FRIDAY, MAY 30
2-2:45 p.m. INDY NXT by Firestone practice #1, FS2 (live)
3:05-4:25 p.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice #1 (45 minutes all car session followed by two 10-minute group sessions), FS2 (live)

SATURDAY, MAY 31
8-8:45 a.m. INDY NXT by Firestone practice #2, FS1(live)
9:05-10:05 a.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice #2 (limited guarantee of 45 minutes green flag), FS1 (live)
11:30 a.m.-noon INDY NXT by Firestone qualifying (Two groups, 12-minute session), FS1 (live)
12:20-1:50 p.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES qualifying for NTT P1 Award (Three rounds of knockout qualifying), FS1 (live)

SUNDAY, JUNE 1
9:32-9:57 a.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES warmup, FS1
10:31 a.m. INDY NXT by Firestone command to start engines
10:36 a.m. INDY NXT by Firestone Detroit Grand Prix (45 laps/55 minutes), FS1 (live)
12:30 p.m. FOX on air
12:45 p.m. Command to start engines
12:52 p.m. Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear (100 laps/164.5 miles), FOX (live)

NTT INDYCAR SERIES Notes:The Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear will be the third INDYCAR SERIES race held on the nine-turn, 1.645-mile downtown Detroit street circuit and the 35th 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.Scott Dixon has four wins in Detroit, the most wins by an INDYCAR SERIES driver in the Detroit Grand Prix. Dixon won three times at the Raceway at Belle Isle Park and on the streets of downtown Detroit last year. In addition to Dixon, other previous Detroit Grand Prix race winners entered include Alex Palou (2023), Will Power (2014 Race #1, 2016 Race #2, 2022), Pato O’Ward (2021 Race #2), Marcus Ericsson (2021 Race #1), Josef Newgarden (2019 Race #1) and Graham Rahal (2017 Race #1 and Race #2).

Milestones: Scott Dixon will attempt to make his 346th consecutive start, extending his record streak…Dixon passed Mario Andretti for the all-time in INDYCAR SERIES starts with his 408th start May 25 at Indianapolis and will extend his record with a start Sunday.

INDY NXT by Firestone Notes:The ultra-competitive INDY NXT by Firestone season resumes with a downtown Detroit street circuit event. Dennis Hauger leads the point standings on the strength of three wins in the first four races, but the other race winner this season, Hauger’s Andretti Global teammate Lochie Hughes, is hot on the Norwegian’s heels for the title and the financial benefits to advance to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.
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. 

Indianapolis 500 Purse Reaches New Pinnacle 

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L INDIANAPOLIS (Monday, May 26, 2025) – The Indianapolis 500 purse record was broken for the fourth year in a row for the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, with first-time winner Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing earning $3.8 million from a total purse of $20,283,000.This is the largest purse in the century-plus history of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” on the heels of four consecutive record-breaking years.
This year’s average payout for NTT INDYCAR SERIES drivers was $596,500, which also exceeds last year’s average of $543,000.In 2024, the Indianapolis 500 purse was $18,456,000, and the year’s winner payout was $4.3 million, which included a $440,000 roll-over bonus from BorgWarner for earning back-to-back wins. In 2023, the Indianapolis 500 purse was $17,021,500, and the winner earned $3.7 million. In 2022, the Indianapolis 500 purse was $16,000,200, and the winner earned $3.1 million.
Prior to 2022, the largest Indianapolis 500 purse was $14.4 million for the 2008 Indianapolis 500.
“The Indianapolis 500 is the greatest race in the world, and winning this race makes history in more ways than one,” INDYCAR and IMS president J. Douglas Boles said. “The Month of May featured a grandstand sellout crowd and intense on-track action. Alex Palou adds Indianapolis 500 winner to his long list of growing achievements and takes home the largest purse in Indianapolis 500 history. There’s no better way to end an epic month.”
Pole-winner Robert Shwartzman of PREMA Racing earned Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year honors for his performance during the Month of May. Shwartzman earned a $50,000 bonus for being named Rookie of the Year, adding to a total take-home prize of $327,300.
The Indianapolis 500 purse consists of Indianapolis Motor Speedway and NTT INDYCAR SERIES awards, plus other designated and special awards. Purse awards are presented annually at the Victory Celebration, held this year at the JW Marriott in downtown Indianapolis Monday night.
The next NTT INDYCAR SERIES race is the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented on Sunday, June 1 on the streets of Downtown Detroit. The race will be broadcast live on FOX and the INDYCAR Radio Network at 12:30 p.m. ET.

INDYCAR Announces Indianapolis 500 Post-Race Technical Violations and Penalties

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From IMS:

  INDIANAPOLIS (Monday, May 26, 2025) – INDYCAR has announced post-race technical inspection penalties for the entries of No. 27 and 28 of Andretti Global and No. 90 of PREMA Racing following Sunday’s Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge.
During post-race inspection of car Nos. 27 and 28, INDYCAR discovered modifications to the Dallara-supplied Energy Management System (EMS) covers and cover-to-A-arm mounting points with unapproved spacers and parts. According to the INDYCAR rulebook, EMS covers must be used as supplied. Additionally, these modifications provided the capability of enhanced aerodynamic efficiency to both cars.

Andretti Global was in violation of:
Rule 9.3.1. Improper Conduct – Any member attempting to or engaging in unsportsmanlike conduct, unsafe conduct, or conduct detrimental to racing; INDYCAR; and/or to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, whether during an Event or on/off the Track, may be subject to any or all penalties.
Rule 14.1.2. Questions to be submitted and will be answered via IRIS. Modifications must be approved seven (7) days prior to the date of intended use.
Rule 14.1.3. All parts provided by an Approved Supplier must be used as supplied without modification unless otherwise approved by INDYCAR and stated in these Rules or in update bulletins.

During INDYCAR’s routine inspection of the front wing assembly of PREMA Racing entry No. 90, the car failed to meet the minimum endplate height and location specification.
PREMA Racing was in violation of:
Rule 9.3.1. Improper Conduct – Any member attempting to or engaging in unsportsmanlike conduct, unsafe conduct, or conduct detrimental to racing; INDYCAR; and/or to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, whether during an Event or on/off the Track, may be subject to any or all penalties.
Rule 14.7.6.8. Front wing must adhere to the following Technical Inspection dimensions:Failure of the left side minimum endplate height
Rule 14.7.6.4., which requires endplates, wing flaps and mainplanes remain in the designed location.
All three cars (Nos. 27, 28 and 90) have been re-ordered to the rear of the field in order of their placement in the unofficial results. Prize money and championship race points earned are commensurate to the final and official finishing positions. Additionally, each car receives a $100,000 fine and the team/competition managers for the three entries have been placed on a one-race suspension to be served at the next NTT INDYCAR SERIES event at the Streets of Detroit.
Updated results of the 2025 Indianapolis 500 can be found here.
Members may contest the imposition of the penalties detailed in the review and appeal procedures of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES rulebook. 
 
 

Final Thoughts on the 109th Indianapolis 500

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There is just no getting around it. Yesterday’s Indianapolis 500 was a strange two part race. Part 1 saw 45% of the laps run under caution. Part 2 was caution free until the second half of the last lap.

There was little passing for the lead, but the number of pit strategies scrambled the top of the field. but kept the leaders in traffic all day. Traffic played a part in the end of the race.

Teammates Devlin DeFrancesco and Louis Foster were having arguably the best battle on the track- for 14th place. Unfortunately, they were right in front of the race leaders. Yes, they have a right to stay on the lead lap, but with 10 laps to go in the race, and knowing they would get a wave around if the yellow came out, why not make them step out of the leaders’ way? It could have been a terrific three car finish between Palou, Ericsson, and Malukas.

Sometimes the 500 just produces a race that is not great. Part of it may have been the weather, but I think the hybrid and its extra weight hampered what had been a great show the last few years.

How much does it hurt to lose Indy?

I don’t know who snapped this shot, but Marcus Ericsson was despondent after the race. He told the media it was “pretty painful,” and that it would keep him up for several nights.

Ericsson went a little wide going into turn 1, and Palou was able to slip by him.

I appreciate Alex Palou drinking the milk, then triumphantly raising the bottle in tribute instead of pouring it over his head. I always thought the winner pouring the milk over his head was ridiculous. I hope Palou has started a trend to end that practice. Now if he just hadn’t kissed the bricks…

I thought yesterday’s singing of the National Anthem was the worst I have heard at the 500 since Steven Tyler sang in 2001. Natalie Grant’s version reinforced my belief that at every sporting event, the venue should just paly an instrumental recording of the anthem by the US Army Band.

The helicopters that followed the field around on the pace and parade laps were distracting and annoying. The field for the Indianapolis 500 lined up in11 rows of three in perfect formation coming to the green flag is one of the most beautiful sights in all of sports. It doesn’t need a so called “enhancement” or any additive feature at all. It stands on its own.

Rookie of the Year?

While all the rookies finished 15th or lower, Robert Shwartzman winning the pole is the thing that will get him the award. Nolan Siegel was likely in line for it until his crash on the final lap.