Kyle Kirkwood Triumphs in Detroit Grand Prix as Alex Palou Crashes

The IndyCar Series is wrapping up a wild five-week run with the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix. This 100-lap race unfolds on a tight, 9-turn, 1.645-mile street circuit right in downtown Detroit.

Colton Herta grabbed pole position for the second year in a row. Meanwhile, Scott Dixon and Graham Rahal got slapped with six-position grid penalties for engine changes that weren’t approved.

The field mixes cagey veterans and hungry young drivers. It’s shaping up to be a real showdown—maybe even a little unpredictable.

Here’s a quick rundown of what’s in store and some storylines worth following.

Race Details and Key Information

The Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix sits at a crucial spot on the IndyCar calendar. Here’s what you need to know:

• Race Length: 100 laps
• Track Layout: 9-turn, 1.645-mile downtown street circuit
• Push-to-Pass: 150 total seconds, up to 15 seconds at a time
• Tire Allotment: Five sets of primary tires (six for rookies) and five sets of alternate tires. Each team must use at least one set of primary and one set of new alternate tires for two laps during the race.

Starting Grid and Penalties

Colton Herta showed off his street circuit skills again, locking in the top spot. Scott Dixon and Graham Rahal, though, will have to claw their way up after those tough grid penalties.

Here’s how the starting grid stacks up:

• Row 1: Colton Herta, David Malukas
• Row 2: Kyle Kirkwood, Christian Lundgaard
• Row 3: Alex Palou, Rinus Veekay
• Row 4: Scott McLaughlin, Will Power
• Row 5: Marcus Armstrong, Christian Rasmussen
• Row 6: Graham Rahal, Marcus Ericsson
• Row 7: Louis Foster, Felix Rosenqvist
• Row 8: Alexander Rossi, Scott Dixon
• Row 9: Callum Ilott, Pato O’Ward
• Row 10: Kyffin Simpson, Jacob Abel
• Row 11: Santino Ferrucci, Robert Shwartzman
• Row 12: Devlin DeFrancesco, Josef Newgarden
• Row 13: Conor Daly, Sting Ray Robb
• Row 14: Nolan Siegel

Key Drivers to Watch

This race isn’t just about whoever’s on the front row. A handful of drivers are itching to shake up the championship standings.

Alex Palou

Alex Palou’s been the guy to beat this year, winning five out of six races. His consistency and raw speed are hard to ignore, even if it’s almost unfair to call him a “contender” at this point.

Scott Dixon

Scott Dixon’s a survivor—he dodged trouble and penalties to bag his 58th career win on this tricky course. Even with that grid penalty, you can’t count him out; his experience is gold here.

Colton Herta

Colton Herta starts from pole and wants to erase the memory of last year’s 19th-place finish. He’s got the speed, but Detroit’s narrow streets don’t offer much forgiveness.

Team Insights

The Detroit Grand Prix brings together a wide mix of teams, each with their own approach. Here’s a look at who’s fielding cars:

• A.J. Foyt: Santino Ferrucci, David Malukas
• Andretti Global: Colton Herta, Kyle Kirkwood, Marcus Ericsson, Marco Andretti*
• Arrow McLaren: Pato O’Ward, Nolan Siegel, Christian Lundgaard, Kyle Larson* (with Rick Hendrick)
• Chip Ganassi: Kyffin Simpson, Scott Dixon, Alex Palou
• Dale Coyne: Jacob Abel, Rinus Veekay
• Dreyer & Reinbold: Ryan Hunter-Reay*, Jack Harvey*
• Ed Carpenter: Alexander Rossi, Christian Rasmussen, Ed Carpenter*
• Juncos Hollinger: Conor Daly, Sting Ray Robb
• Meyer Shank: Felix Rosenqvist, Marcus Armstrong, Helio Castroneves*
• Prema: Callum Ilott, Robert Shwartzman, Romain Grosjean (reserve)
• Rahal Letterman Lanigan: Graham Rahal, Louis Foster, Devlin DeFrancesco, Takuma Sato*, Toby Sowery (reserve)
• Team Penske: Josef Newgarden, Scott McLaughlin, Will Power

Broadcast Information

Don’t want to miss it? Here’s how you can tune in:

• TV Coverage: Starts at 12:30 p.m. ET on Fox. The green flag drops at 12:47 p.m. ET.
• Play-by-Play: Will Buxton
• Analysts: James Hinchcliffe, Townsend Bell
• Pit Reporters: Kevin Lee, Jack Harvey
• Streaming: FoxSports.com, Fox Sports app. There’s a free Fubo trial if you want to check it out.
• Radio: IndyCar Nation on SiriusXM Channel 218, IndyCar Live, and the IndyCar Radio Network (check local affiliates)

Weather and Conditions

Forecast says race day should be sunny, with highs around 70 degrees. Pretty much ideal for pushing the limits—at least, if the forecast holds up.

Final Thoughts

The Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix is shaping up to be a wild ride. There are so many storylines—Colton Herta snagging pole, Scott Dixon chasing yet another win, and all the chaos that comes with a tight downtown street circuit.

You’ve got seasoned veterans and some hungry up-and-comers out there. If you love motorsport, you probably won’t want to miss this one.

Want more details or updates? Check out IndyStar’s comprehensive coverage.