By: Spencer Neff
May 31, 2024
Following a thrilling 108th Indianapolis 500. the NTT INDYCAR SERIES heads to the temporary street circuit in Detroit, Michigan for the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix.
The 1.7-mile, 10-turn circuit in Michigan hosts the series for a 100-lap race for the second year in a row. It will be INDYCAR’s 35th appearance on the streets of Detroit and fifth in the downtown area.
Before the on-track action starts, here’s a look at the stories to watch this weekend.
Headlines
After repeating their victories during the month of May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou and Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden both look to continue their hot streaks into a third series championship.
Last year, Palou started on the pole and led 74 of 100 laps en route to his first street course win. Palou would then win the next two races and ultimately the 2023 championship.
Newgarden, who became the sixth driver to win consecutive Indianapolis 500s and the first since Helio Castroneves in 2001-2002, won Race 1 at Belle Isle in 2019. He also has won three poles on Belle Isle.
Ahead of this weekend, there were two driver changes of the 27 entries.
First announced was Helio Castroneves returning to the No. 66 Meyer Shank Racing entry. The three-time Belle Isle winner replaces Tom Blomqvist.
“Making this decision was by far the hardest one we have had to make,” said MSR co-owner, Mike Shank.
“Tom is 100% still a part of the MSR family and will remain a part of the team for the rest of the season. The decision was not made lightly and after much discussion with Tom, and with back-to-back races coming up, we have decided to have Helio drive in Detroit and at Road America.”
“It is fair to say that the last couple of days have been some of the hardest in my career,” said Blomqvist, who was involved in a Lap 1 crash at his Indianapolis 500 debut.
“Everyone who knows me knows how much I love being a part of the MSR family and together we have enjoyed some amazing successes and victories. I am looking forward to remaining part of the MSR family and contributing to the MSR vision as we chase down further successes in the future.”
At Dale Coyne Racing with Rick Ware Racing, Tristan Vautier returns to the series as the driver of the No. 51.
“I’m very happy to be returning to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and Dale Coyne Racing this weekend,” the 2013 INDYCAR Rookie of the Year expressed.
Vautier’s last INDYCAR appearance was at Texas Motor Speedway in 2017. As a substitute for Sebbastien Bourdais, he started fifth and led 15 laps before a crash left him in 16th place.
“It’s been a while since I’ve been in an Indy car but I’m very much looking forward to getting back behind the wheel this weekend and to be discovering the Detroit track. Coming back to Dale Coyne Racing is like coming back to family and I want to thank Dale and Falcon Motorsport for giving me this opportunity.
In four starts on Detroit’s Belle Isle circuit, Vautier’s best start was sixth in Race 1 of the 2013 doubleheader. At the second race of the 2015 doubleheader, he finished fourth, the best of his 31 career starts.
Ahead of this weekend, the series also implemented six-place grid penalties for the No. 4 Chip Ganassi Racing entry (Kyffin Simpson) and the No. 15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing entry (Graham Rahal).
Per INDYCAR’s Friday morning release:
The teams were in violation of:
Rule 16.2.3.2. 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.
According to Rule 16.6.1.2., 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 2 on the Streets of Detroit.
Fast Facts
Race weekend: Friday, May 31 – Sunday, June 2
Track: Streets of Detroit, a 1.645-mile, Nine-turn temporary street course (counterclockwise)
Race distance: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: 100 laps / 170 miles | INDY NXT by Firestone: 45 laps/55 minutes
Push-to-pass parameters: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: 150 seconds of total time with a maximum time of 15 seconds per activation | INDY NXT by Firestone: 150 seconds of total time with a maximum time of 15 seconds per activation
Firestone tire allotment: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: Six sets primary, four sets alternate (weekend). Teams must use one set of primary and one new set of alternate tires in each race. One additional set is available for the weekend’s first session. to teams fielding a rookie driver. INDY NXT by Firestone: Three new sets to be used during the race weekend. Two carryover sets from the Indianapolis event may be used in practice sessions before qualifying.
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Event website: www.DetroitGP.com
INDYCAR website: www.IndyCar.com
2023 race winners:
NTT INDYCAR SERIES
Alex Palou (No. 10 Ridgeline Lubricants Honda)
INDY NXT by Firestone
Race 1: Reece Gold (No. 10 HMD Motorsports)
Race 2: Nolan Siegel (No. 39 HMD Motorsports)
2023 NTT P1 Award winner: Alex Palou (No. 10 Ridgeline Lubricants Honda) 1:01.9410, 95.734 mph
2023 INDY NXT by Firestone pole winners:
Race 1: Louis Foster (No. 26 Andretti Autosport) 1:06.9468, 88.458 mph
Race 2: Louis Foster (No. 26 Andretti Autosport) 1:06.8374, 88.603 mph
Qualifying lap record:
NTT INDYCAR SERIES
Kyle Kirkwood, 1:01.5305, 96.245 mph, June 3, 2023 (Set in Round 1 of knockout qualifying)
INDY NXT by Firestone
Louis Foster, 1:06.8374, 88.603 mph, June 2, 2023
USA Network race telecast: Noon (ET) Sunday, June 2, USA Network (live). Leigh Diffey is the play-by-play announcer for NBC’s coverage of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, alongside analysts Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe.
Peacock live streaming: All NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice sessions and qualifying will stream live on Peacock, NBC’s direct-to-consumer livestreaming product. NBC’s Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear race telecast for the USA Network will be simulcast on the streaming service. The INDY NXT by Firestone Detroit Grand Prix will be streamed on Peacock with practice and qualifying shown on INDYCAR LIVE.
INDYCAR Radio Network broadcasts: Mark Jaynes is the anchor alongside driver analyst Davey Hamilton. Jake Query and Nick Yeoman are the turn announcers. Michael Young and Ryan Myrehn are the pit reporters. The Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear race (noon ET Sunday), INDY NXT by Firestone Detroit Grand Prix (10:15 a.m. Sunday) and all NTT INDYCAR SERIES and INDY NXT by Firestone practices and qualifying sessions air live on network affiliates, SiriusXM 218, racecontrol.indycar.com and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA.
At-track schedule (all times local):
FRIDAY, MAY 31 (All times local)
1:50-2:35 p.m. INDY NXT by Firestone practice #1, INDYCAR LIVE
3-4:15 p.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice #1 (45 minutes all car session followed by two 10-minute group sessions), Peacock
SATURDAY, JUNE 1
8-8:45 a.m. INDY NXT by Firestone practice #2, INDYCAR LIVE
9:10-10:10 a.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice #2 (45 minutes), Peacock
11:20-11:50 a.m. INDY NXT by Firestone Qualifying (Two groups, 12-minute session), INDYCAR LIVE
12:15-1:45 p.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES Qualifying for NTT P1 Award (Three rounds of knockout qualifying), Peacock (live)
SUNDAY, JUNE 2
9:30-10 a.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES warmup, Peacock
10:25 a.m. INDY NXT by Firestone Command to start engines
10:30 a.m. INDY NXT by Firestone Detroit Grand Prix (45 Laps/55 minutes), Peacock (U.S.)/INDYCAR LIVE (Most international markets)
Noon USA Network on air
12:38 p.m. Command to start engines
12:45 p.m. Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear (100 laps/164.5 miles), USA Network (live)
Header Image By James Black/INDYCAR
IndyCar1909.com 