Colton Herta Leads Andretti Global in Detroit Grand Prix Practice
The Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear has already set the stage for an electrifying weekend of racing. In the pre-qualifying practice session on Saturday morning, Colton Herta from Andretti Global shot to the top, setting the fastest time and raising expectations for the race.
Herta’s run on the nine-turn, 1.645-mile downtown street circuit brought a jolt of excitement for motorsport fans. With air temperatures in the mid-50s and overcast skies, drivers faced tough conditions, but they still found speed out there.
Colton Herta Leads the Pack
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Colton Herta showed what he’s made of by clocking the fastest lap of the hour-long session: 1 minute, 1.7823 seconds in the No. 26 Gainbridge Honda. That time was just a hair slower than his teammate Kyle Kirkwood’s Friday lap of 1:01.7509.
Herta’s steady hand and sharp focus make him a real threat this weekend. He’s looking dialed in—maybe more than ever.
Scott McLaughlin’s Consistent Performance
Scott McLaughlin from Team Penske kept himself planted in second place for the second session in a row. Piloting the No. 3 TireRack.com Chevrolet, McLaughlin laid down a best lap of 1:01.8995.
His steady results show both his skill and his team’s knack for nailing the setup. He’s definitely one to keep an eye on as the race approaches.
Kyle Kirkwood Stays Sharp
Kyle Kirkwood, who topped the charts on Friday, kept his momentum by taking third in the No. 27 Siemens AWS Honda with a 1:01.9423 lap. The guy just doesn’t seem to let up.
Kirkwood’s back-to-back strong sessions make you wonder if he’s got something extra for the main event.
Rising Stars and Surprising Performances
The session also brought some fresh faces into the spotlight. Callum Ilott from PREMA Racing landed fourth, clocking a 1:02.1450 in the No. 90 Chevrolet.
Ilott keeps inching closer to the front, and honestly, it’s hard not to root for a young driver making moves like that.
Robert Shwartzman and Louis Foster
Robert Shwartzman, Ilott’s rookie teammate, already grabbed attention by winning the pole for the 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. Another rookie, Louis Foster—the 2024 INDY NXT by Firestone champ—had maybe his best session yet, putting up a fifth-place 1:02.1696 in the No. 45 Mi-Jack Honda for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.
These up-and-comers are showing they belong out there with the best. It’s refreshing to see new talent mixing it up.
Challenges for Alex Palou
Not everyone found speed, though. Alex Palou, fresh off a win at the 109th Indianapolis 500, ran into trouble this session.
He only managed to climb to 12th with a 1:02.5318 in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. That’s a rare off day for Palou, who finished 15th out of 27 on Friday.
People are curious to see how he bounces back—he rarely stays down for long.
Looking Ahead: NTT P1 Award Qualifying and the Race
Now, drivers and teams are gearing up for the NTT P1 Award qualifying at noon ET. That session, airing on FS1, the FOX Sports app, and the INDYCAR Radio Network, will set the grid for Sunday’s 100-lap race.
The race itself kicks off at 12:30 p.m. ET on Sunday. You can catch it on FOX, the FOX Sports app, and the INDYCAR Radio Network. There’s no shortage of ways to tune in, so you probably won’t miss any of the action.
Key Takeaways
- Colton Herta tops pre-qualifying practice with a lap of 1:01.7823.
- Scott McLaughlin hangs on to second, clocking in at 1:01.8995.
- Kyle Kirkwood keeps the pressure on, grabbing third with 1:01.9423.
- Callum Ilott and Louis Foster both look strong, landing in fourth and fifth.
- Alex Palou runs into some trouble, finishing 12th at 1:02.5318.
The Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix is coming up fast, and honestly, the tension is real. Fans are already buzzing about who might take the win this year.
Practice has shown off some early strategies, and you get the sense that drivers are holding a few tricks back for race day. If you want to get into the weeds with stats or just keep tabs, check out the official INDYCAR news page.
