And just like that, another year has passed by. It is time for the infamous “Month of May” to come to a close. After a controversial Sonsio Grand Prix and a record-breaking Indianapolis 500, the month rounds out with a street course. The Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix sees the original 25 drivers head to Detroit, Michigan, for a tight and twisting visit around the city.
After a late red flag halted the race in 2025, Kyle Kirkwood tasted victory here last year. His Andretti Global teammate, Colton Herta, took pole position ahead of David Malukas. Cautions and a red flag plagued the race, with seven drivers retiring. Most notably, Louis Foster suffered a front suspension failure. This lead to him colliding with Felix Rosenqvist. Both were unharmed, but Race Control red-flagged the race, allowing marshals to rebuild the barriers and for a 10-lap shootout for the win.
Coming to the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix
First held as a Formula 1 race in 1982, the Detroit Grand Prix joined the INDYCAR calendar in 1989. Initially, the Renaissance Centre was the backdrop for this street race. However, complaints over visibility and poor layout saw the series move venues after three years. Consequently, Belle Island became the new host. Whilst its smooth track and visibility were praised, drivers found issues with the narrow design and its lack of passing opportunities.
With fan attendance slipping and the track degrading, 2001 saw the last race at Belle Island. Organisers opted not to renew its contract. However, after Roger Penske worked with organisers to make track amendments, 2007 saw INDYCAR return to Detroit for a brief two-year revival. It made its second return in 2012, when Detroit took over the coveted post-Indianapolis 500 race weekend at the end of May. COVID-19 saw the race take a brief break in 2020. Belle Island made a brief return before the race was moved in 2023.
Now, the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix is held in downtown Detroit, near the original Renaissance Centre. Although in the same area, organisers made many adjustments to improve fan visibility and track conditions. The new circuit features nine corners, with only two being from the original layout. This track sees the longest street circuit straight on the INDYCAR calendar, with the straight between Turns 2 and 3 being 0.7 miles long. Reaching high speeds here also sees drivers brake heavily as they then navigate the tight Turn 3 hairpin. This challenging part also serves as one of the track’s overtaking areas.
The most unique aspect of the track, however, is the pits. Here, drivers face a double-sided pit lane. Consequently, drivers pit alongside each other and have to navigate two lanes going into one at the pit exit. This makes entry and exit a crucial part to optimise during the race.
Nearing the Halfway Point
In 2026, this race is the eighth round. As the NTT INDYCAR SERIES nears the halfway mark, the championship fight is still underway. Álex Palou still leads the standings, but a heartbreaking second-place finish at the 500 saw David Malukas overtake Kyle Kirkwood for P2. The newest Team Penske driver now sits 37 points adrift of the reigning champion, and after losing the race by the smallest of margins, he’ll be hungry to take that maiden win.
The Spaniard may be leading, but he’s facing more challenges this year as the field looks to beat him. With heavy breaking zones, tight corners, and a tricky pit lane, anything can happen in Detroit. We’ve seen five winners in just seven races, showing that the grid is closer than previous years. Palau hasn’t checked out yet, and he’ll still be fighting to achieve a fifth championship.
At only 1.7 miles long, Detroit is a short and fast track. The heavy breaking zones and high speeds make it one of the calendar’s most demanding races, and therefore it can never be predicted. Integrating into the culture of the city, it is also a standout event for fans, with live music, art exhibitions, and fan zones making it an electric event. With nine wins, Team Penske holds the most wins for a team. But Palou’s teammate Scott Dixon holds the driver record here, having four wins in the city. Eight of the current grid hold wins around this track. Will 2026 see a ninth join that group?
Schedule
The schedule for the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix is as follows. Please note, all times are in CEST.
Following the Indianapolis 500 is no easy feat, but year after year Detroit has rounded out the “Month of May” with action and unpredictable results. Fresh off his historic win, Felix Rosenqvist will be high on the glory, so he’ll be aiming to build momentum as the series continues.
However, plenty of drivers will be hoping to make amends for their 500. Keep an eye on Malukas as he’s hungry to take that maiden win. And Rosenqvist’s teammate, Marcus Armstrong, achieved his maiden podium here. Can he also reset after losing the lead on the final lap and make a statement in Detroit?