By: Spencer Neff
June 4,2023

Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix Results

After becoming the second driver of 2023 with multiple poles on Saturday, Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou would be the second driver to earn multiple race victories. The 2021 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Champion held off Team Penske’s Will Power by 1.1843 seconds to win the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix.

Palou joined Long Beach winner Kyle Kirkwood as the only drivers to win from the pole in the first seven races. He led 74 of 100 laps on the 1.7-mile Michigan street circuit.

Prior to his victory, the Spaniard had earned three podiums on street circuits, highlighted by a runner-up effort at St. Petersburg in 2022. All five of Palou’s wins before Sunday had been on permanent road courses. He now has two wins in the last three races (IMS Road Course) to go along with his consecutive pole positions.

By earning his sixth career win and first on a temporary street circuit, Palou’s lead over teammate Marcus Ericsson in the points standings is now 51.

Felix Rosenqvist earned his first podium finish of 2023 for Arrow McLaren. Palou’s teammate Scott Dixon would end the race fourth. Improving from his 13th-place qualifying effort, Alexander Rossi now has three consecutive Top Five finishes.

CGR also had Marcus Armstrong finish eighth as the best rookie in the field. With Ericsson finishing tenth, all four CGR drivers have been in the Top 10 in each of the last two races.

Race Recap

After the initial start was waved off due to a poor alignment, the second attempt would produce more issues. During the start on the back straightaway,

Juncos Hollinger Racing’s Callum Ilott was unable to avoid Kirkwood and rear-ended the No. 27. It would mark the end to Ilott’s first INDYCAR race in Detroit (he missed 2022 in Belle Isle with a broken thumb).

Palou would hold steady up front upon the Lap 7 restart. After pitting on Lap 29, Palou relinquished the lead to Power until Lap 34 when the No.12 pitted.

During his pit stops, Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward had a loose wheel nut. The driver of the No. 5 would lose a lap as his team rectified the issue, which the driver initially reported as a broken driveshaft.

On Lap 42, O’Ward would see his day end after making contact with the Turn 9 wall, sustaining heavy damage to the left side of his Chevrolet-powered entry.

The yellow flag would fly shortly after the Lap 49 restart. At the halfway point, the caution again flew when the No. 51 of Dale Coyne Racing with Rick Ware Racing’s Sting Ray Robb went off track in Turn 3.

During the ensuing caution, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Graham Rahal crashed into the outside wall in Turn 2. Moments later, A.J. Foyt Racing’s Benjamin Pedersen slid into Rahal’s crashed machine.

On the Lap 57 restart, Power used the draft to make his way around Palou for the lead of the race.

Nine laps later, Palou reciprocated the maneuver to put his car back up front. The No.10 crew helped stretch Palou’s lead after teammate Marcus Ericsson pitted on Lap 78.

On Lap 81, Andretti Autosport’s Romain Grosjean crashed into Turn 4, sustaining heavy damage to the left-front of his No.28 car and brought out the caution again.

During the Lap 87 restart, Dale Coyne Racing with HMD Motorsports’ David Malukas crashed into the Turn 9 wall.

On the Lap 91 restart, Rossi stormed from fifth to second behind Palou as Power’s contact with the leader in the Turn 3 restart zone stacked up he, Dixon, Rosenqvist and Kirkwood. On Lap 93, Robb and A.J. Foyt Racing’s Santino Ferrucci stalled off track in the Turn 3 runoff.

While the pack continued fighting behind, Palou held on for the victory. Seven cautions would slow the average speed of the race to 80.922 mph, which featured 10 lead changes among seven drivers.

Up Next

Next weekend will be an off weekend for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. The eighth race of the 2023 season will be on the famed 4.048-mile, 14-turn Road America. The Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin venue will host the Sonsio Grand Prix on June 18.

Opening practice for the 27-car field will be held from 4:00-5:15 p.m. on June 16. Second practice (10:55 a.m.-11:55) and three-round, knockout qualifying (1:55 p.m.) will be run on Saturday, June 17. Race day begins at 10:15 a.m. ET on June 18 with a 30-minute warmup.

At 1:30 p.m., the broadcast for the 55-lap race will begin on USA Network. All pre-race sessions will be streamed on Peacock. Times listed are EDT (Eastern Daylight Savings Time).

Stay with IndyCar1909 and all our platforms for the latest on the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.

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