What the F1?

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Formula 1 released its 2026 schedule yesterday. The most glaring item is the placement of the Canadian Grand Prix on May 24 in direct conflict with the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500. If you’re shocked by this move, you don’t know F1 very well.

F1 has continually shown themselves to be arrogant and prideful, believing they can do whatever they want, no matter the consequences. They have established a base in North America with three races in the United States in Miami, Austin, and Las Vegas, and now they are getting greedy with their scheduling.

To have a race in North America on the same day as the 500 which overlaps the iconic event, is pure arrogance and insensitivity. F1 is justifying the date by saying it fits their new sustainability model having two races in May on the same continent. I would agree- if the races were on consecutive weekends. The Maimi Grand Prix is the first weekend of May, three weeks before Canada. You’re telling me all the crews and drivers are going to stay in the U.S. for three weeks? I find that doubtful.

Someone who is familiar with “F1’s thinking” told Adam Stern the decision was made in part in conjunction with the wishes of the promoters. I can’t believe a Canadian promoter is thinking, “Yeah, let’s go against the Indianapolis 500.”

I don’t think the F1 race will have much effect on the 500. I’m not sure how many people attend both events on a regular basis, but with the price of F1 tickets I’m assuming there aren’t that many. There are two distinct fan bases as well as many crossover fans. I never watched Monaco live on Race Day any way, but I recorded it to watch later in the week. I’ll do the same next year with the Canadian GP. F1 races usually start around 2 pm local time. which should be around the 75-lap mark of the 500.

My issue is the infringement, no matter how small, on the 500. The last Sunday in May belongs to Indy, and there should be no conflicts. Begin the GP later if you must, around 4 pm Eastern.

I think IndyCar and FOX should conduct a massive Indy 500 advertising assault on the Miamai Grand Prix with billboards, track signage, and television ads during that race. Distraction is a two-way street.

My hope is that 2026 is a one year thing with the Canadian Grand Prix., and that if F1 wants to race on Memorial Day weekend, they have a European race that ends by 11 am Eastern time. The triple header Sunday is one of the greatest days in motorsports.

INDYCAR Announces Detroit Grand Prix Post-Race Technical Violation, Penalty

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From IndyCar:

  No. 14 Failed To Meet Required Driver Ballast Weight
INDIANAPOLIS (Monday, June 2, 2025) – INDYCAR has announced a post-race technical inspection penalty for the entry No. 14 of A.J. Foyt Enterprises following Sunday’s Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear after it was found to be under the required driver ballast weight following the event.
During post-race inspection of car No. 14, INDYCAR discovered the driver ballast needed to bring the combined weight of the driver and driver ballast to 185 pounds was underweight and not within the driver ballast weight tolerance of 0.00 to + 1.00 pounds.However, also during inspection, the series found the weight of car No. 14, itself, was 10 pounds over the minimum weight for road and street circuits of 1,785 pounds and competed over the minimum weight requirement on-track.A.J. Foyt Enterprises was in violation of:
Rule 14.4.2. Driver Equivalency Weight Rule 14.4.2.2. Driver Equivalency Weight must bring the combined weight of the Driver and Driver ballast to 185 pounds.
Rule 14.4.2.5. The Driver ballast weight tolerance is 0.00 to + 1.00 pounds. The Driver Equivalency Weight must be installed and secured in the designed location forward of the seatback. This location may only be used for Driver ballast.
This rule is in place to equalize the weight of varying-sized drivers so there is no advantage based on the weight of the driver. Post-race weight determination, as implemented by INDYCAR, is a common practice after every event and in nearly all forms of motorsports to ensure an equal playing field.
The No. 14 will be allowed to keep the second-place finish; however, the entry has been fined $25,000 and will forfeit 25 championship driver and entrant points. The bonus point for leading a lap also is not awarded.
The No. 14 also is ineligible for engine points and prize money associated with the race.
Updated results of the 2025 Detroit Grand Prix 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. 

Quick Thoughts- Detroit GP

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Andretti Redemption Week continues as Kyle Kirkwood wins the Grand Prix of Detroit. The win, coupled with Colton Herta’s pole on Saturday, eases some of the pain from their disqualifications at last Sunday’s Indianapolis 500.

Kirkwood said that this entire week had all the emotions a driver feels through a season.

“The lows make the highs that much better,” Kirkwood said.

Alex Palou is human after all. After spending much of the race in the bottom half of the top 10, the points leader and winner of the 500 had his ay end early when David Malukas bumped Palou from behind, sending him into the tire barrier on lap 72. Malukas was penalized for the contact.

The Grand Prix of Detroit was arguably the best race so far this year. The start was clean, and all =cars got through the hairpin. Cars were able to pass, cautions were spread out, and there were alternate pit strategies. The race saw a pass for the win on lap 79 as well as other passes for the lead. Today was the first time I actually enjoyed watching a race at this track.

A. J. Foyt Racing appears to have become competitive again. David Malukas finished second in the 5400 and started on the front row today. Santino Ferrucci has a shot at victory today and finished second. It is nice to see this team mixing it up with the big four again. I think they could get a win this year.

Meanwhile woes at Rahal letterman Lanigan continue. Graham Rahal made the Fast Six, although an engine penalty caused him to start 11th. Rahal and teammates Devlin DeFrancesco and Louis Foster all had wheel issues. Rahal was running at the finish, but DeFrancesco and Foster retired, Foster in a horrific crash when his right front suspension broke.

FOX

I thought the broadcast was decent, but I still don’t know why the network can’t have a pit stop timer. I felt the post-race coverage was skimpy- just three brief interviews and no podium celebration.

I do not recall a season other than 1964, which had fewer, where there have been just two different winners after seven races.

Thanks for following along this wee3kend. I am going to lay low for a couple of days and have something up around midweek.

Detroit Race Day-Starting Tire Choices, Warm Up Results

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First- Congratulations to the Indian Pacers on reaching the NBA Finals for the first time in 25 years. I’m sure there are going to be some tired IndyCar officials in Detroit today.

Felix Rosenqvist led the morning warmup which featured some contact between cars. Colton Herta had contact late in the session, and Alexander Rossi was involved in another incident. Both cars were able to to continue with minor damage.

I will be back this afternoon with some quick thoughts on the race. I’m still picking Kirkwood to win, but I think David Malukas and Marcus Ericsson may also have a shot.

Tire selections- Includes official line up

Results

Redemption-Detroit Qualifying

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After two long weeks, Colton Herta finally has something to smile about. On May 17th he crashed hard as he began his Indianapolis 500 qualifying lap and started the race in 27th. He finished 17th, but was moved to 14th after two of his teammates and another car were disqualified.

Today Herta won the pole for tomorrow’s Chevrolet Grand Prix of Detroit, edging David Malukas by two tenths of a second.

Kyle Kirkwood, started the 500 23rd and drove to a 6th place finish on track before being disqualified, will start third tomorrow.

Overall, it was a day of redemption for Andretti Global.

Notes

David Malukas qualified second, a nice follow up to his second place last Sunday. He held the provisional pole for quite a while, then pulled into the pits with time left, allowing Herta to post a faster time.

Where are IndyCar’s priorities? No action was taken against Will Power for his dangerous pushing of Kyle Kirkwood in yesterday’s practice session, but Alexander Rossi was held out for 10 minutes of practice time this morning because he missed a required weigh in. This a bit skewed in the wrong direction.

Team Penske looked strong for a while. Will Power led his first round group without a tow. Josef Newgarden brushed the wall while on a lap that would have put him in round 2 and he will start 24th. Scott McLaughlin and Power got to the second round, and they will star on the fourth row.

Results

Note– Graham Rahal and Scott Dixon will serve 6 place grid penalties for engine changes. Rahal will start 11th and Dixon starts 16th.

The official starting lineup with starting tire choices will be published after tomorrow’s warm up.

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.