By: Spencer Neff
May 30, 2025
Following a thrilling yet arduous three weeks at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES moves on to the streets of Detroit. The Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix is the seventh of 17 races scheduled for 2025 and the third on a temporary street circuit.
For the sixth time and third consecutive season, the Renaissance Center in downtown Detroit hosts the Grand Prix. From 1992-2001, 2007-2008, 2012-2019 and 2021-2022, Belle Isle hosted INDYCAR.
The series made its return to downtown following a 32-year absence. From 1989 to 1991, the Renaissance Center held the GP.
Before the weekend starts, here’s a look at the major stories.
Headlines
Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou continued his torrid march to a fourth championship and third consecutive after winning the 109th Indianapolis 500. Palou’s 16th career victory was also his first on an oval.
While 2022 race winner Marcus Ericsson and teammate Kyle Kirkwood crossed the finish line second and sixth, they would be met with post-race infractions,
Andretti Global was in violation of:
- Rule 9.3.1. Improper Conduct – Any member attempting to or engaging in unsportsmanlike conduct, unsafe conduct, or conduct detrimental to racing; INDYCAR; and/or to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, whether during an Event or on/off the Track, may be subject to any or all penalties.
- Rule 14.1.2. Questions to be submitted and will be answered via IRIS. Modifications must be approved seven days prior to the date of intended use.
- Rule 14.1.3. All parts provided by an Approved Supplier must be used as supplied without modification unless otherwise approved by INDYCAR and stated in these Rules or in update bulletin
During INDYCAR’s routine inspection of the front wing assembly of PREMA Racing entry No. 90, the car failed to meet the minimum endplate height and location specification.
PREMA Racing was in violation of:
- Rule 9.3.1. Improper Conduct – Any member attempting to or engaging in unsportsmanlike conduct, unsafe conduct, or conduct detrimental to racing; INDYCAR; and/or to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, whether during an Event or on/off the Track, may be subject to any or all penalties.
- Rule 14.7.6.8. Front wing must adhere to the following Technical Inspection dimensions:
- Failure of the left side minimum endplate height
- Rule 14.7.6.4., which requires endplates, wing flaps and mainplanes remain in the designed location.
All three cars (Nos. 27, 28 and 90) have been re-ordered to the rear of the field in order of their placement in the unofficial results. Prize money and championship race points earned are commensurate to the final and official finishing positions.
Additionally, each car receives a $100,000 fine and the team/competition managers for the three entries have been placed on a one-race suspension to be served at the next NTT INDYCAR SERIES event at the Streets of Detroit.
The new finishing order can be found here.
Members may contest the imposition of the penalties detailed in the review and appeal procedures of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES rulebook.”
The updated results place David Malukas of A.J. Foyt Racing in second, matching his career-best INDYCAR finish. Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward and Meyer Shank Racing’s Felix Rosenqvist are classified as third and fourth with Malukas’ teammate Santino Ferrucci in fifth.
O’Ward is nows second in the series points standings, 118 behind Palou.
The second major headline of the week involves a reshuffling of engineering staff for Dale Coyne Racing.
Ed Nathman and John Dick served as lead engineers for the two-car team, prior to this weekend. Both entries will have new leadership.
Michael Cannon, who previously spent a portion of the offseason with PREMA, returns to DCR and will serve as the lead engineer for the No. 18 entry of Rinus VeeKay.
“I’ve always had a great deal of respect for Dale and the way he assembles his team,” said Cannon in Wednesday’s release. “It’s great to be back, and I’m looking forward to what we can accomplish together in the races ahead.”
VeeKay added: “I want to thank Ed for giving me a great car at Barber, where we earned our best finish of the season so far. I’ve known Michael for some time and have a lot of respect for his engineering talent. I’m excited to work with him as we continue to build momentum.”
VeeKay qualified 33rd and started 31st before a Lap 81 pit lane crash relegated him to 26th.
Teamamte Jacob Abel, whom VeeKay bumped from the Indianapolis 500, will have Mike Colliver as his lead engineer.
“I’ve worked with Jacob before, and I’m confident in his abilities,” said Colliver.
“We’ve got a lot to prove, and I’m ready to get to work. I’ve always enjoyed working with this team and group of people. I know what this team is capable of, and I’m excited to contribute however I can.”
Colliver most recently spent the Indianapolis 500 with Dreyer and Reinbold Racing on Jack Harvey’s crew.
Abel said of Colliver,“I’ve worked with Mike in the past and believe he’s the perfect fit for everything we’re aiming to achieve moving forward. I’m looking forward to hitting the ground running in Detroit and beyond.”
On Friday morning, IINDYCAR announced engine penalties for the No. 9 Chip Ganassi Racing and No. 15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing entries of Scott Dixon and Graham Rahal for una[pproved engine changes prior to the Indianapolis 500.
Per this morning’s release:
“Chip Ganassi Racing entry No. 9 was in violation of:
Rule 16.1.2.3.2. 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.
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing entry No. 15 was in violation of:
Rule 16.1.5.4. Once an Indianapolis 500 Mile Race Engine is fitted to the Car, removal prior to the Indianapolis 500 Race is an Unapproved Engine Change-Out, unless it is replaced for Repair.
According to Rule 16.1.6.1.2., 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 1 on the Streets of Detroit.”
Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prixpresented by Lear Fast Facts
Race weekend: Friday, May 30-Sunday, June 1
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: 45laps/55 minutes
Push to Pass parameters: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: 150 seconds of total time with a maximumtime of 15 seconds per activation. | INDY NXT by Firestone: A maximum of 50 activations total or150 seconds of total Push to Pass time.
Hybrid energy deployment parameters: Unlimited activation, with a maximum deployment of 425 kilojoules (kj) per lap
Firestone tire allotment: Five sets primary (hard/black sidewall) and five sets alternate(soft/green sidewall) to be used during the event weekend. Teams fielding a rookie driver mayuse one additional set of primary tires. Teams must use one set of primary and one set of new(sticker) alternate tires for at least two laps in the race.
INDY NXT by Firestone: Three new sets to be used during the race weekend. Two carryover sets from the Indianapolis event may beused in practice sessions before qualifying.
X: @DetroitGP, @IndyCar, @INDYNXT, #DetroitGP, #INDYCAR
Instagram: @DetroitGP, @INDYCAR, @INDYNXT, #DetroitGP, #INDYCAR
Threads: @DetroitGP, @INDYCAR, @INDYNXT
Facebook: @DetroitGP, @INDYCAR, @INDYNXT, #DetroitGP, #INDYCAR
TikTok: @INDYCAR @INDYNXT, #INDYCAR
YouTube: @DetroitGP, @INDYCAR
Event website: http://www.DetroitGP.com
INDYCAR website: http://www.IndyCar.com
2024 race winners:
NTT INDYCAR SERIES
Scott Dixon (No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda)
INDY NXT by Firestone
Louis Foster (No. 26 Andretti Global)
2024 NTT P1 Award winner: Colton Herta (No. 26 Gainbridge Honda), 1:00.5475, 97.808 mph
2024 INDY NXT by Firestone pole winner:
Louis Foster (No. 26 Andretti Global), 1:05.1079, 90.957 mph
Qualifying lap record:
NTT INDYCAR SERIES
Colton Herta, 1:00.2304, 98.322 mph, June 1, 2024 (Set in Round 2 of knockout qualifying)
INDY NXT by Firestone
Louis Foster, 1:05.1079, 90.957 mph, June 1, 2024
FOX Sports telecasts: NTT INDYCAR SERIES:
Practice 1, 3 p.m. ET Friday, FS2 (live)
Practice 2, 9 a.m. ET Saturday, FS1 (live)
Qualifying, noon ET Saturday, FS1 (live)
Warmup,9:30 a.m. ET Sunday, FS1 (live)
Race, 12:30 p.m. ET Sunday, FOX (live).
INDY NXT by Firestone:
Practice 1, 2 p.m. ET Friday, FS2 (live)
Practice 2. 8a.m. ET Saturday, FS1
Qualifying, 11:30 a.m. ET Saturday, FS2 (live)
Race, 10:30 a.m. ET Sunday, FS1 (live).
Kevin Lee is the play-by-play announcer for FOX Sports’ coverage of INDYNXT by Firestone alongside analyst Jack Harvey. Georgia Henneberry is the pit reporter.
INDYCAR Radio Network broadcasts: Mark Jaynes is the anchor alongside driver analystDavey Hamilton. Jake Query and Michael Young are the turn announcers. Nick Yeoman, Joel Sebastianelli and DJ Clark are the pit reporters. The Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear race (noon ET Sunday), INDY NXT by Firestone Detroit Grand Prix (10:25 a.m. Sunday) and all NTT INDYCAR SERIES practices and qualifying sessions air live on network affiliates, SiriusXM INDYCAR Nation 218, indycar.com/leaderboard and the INDYCAR App powered byNTT DATA. All INDY NXT by Firestone practices, qualifying sessions and races are available onSiriusXM INDYCAR Nation 218, indycar.com/leaderboard and the INDYCAR App powered byNTT DATA.
At-track schedule (all times local):
FRIDAY, MAY 30
2-2:45 p.m. INDY NXT by Firestone practice #1, FS2 (live)
3:05-4:25 p.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice #1 (45 minutes all car session followed by two10-minute group sessions), FS2 (live)
SATURDAY, MAY 31
8-8:45 a.m. INDY NXT by Firestone practice #2, FS1(live)
9:05-10:05 a.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice #2 (limited guarantee of 45 minutes greenflag), FS1 (live)
11:30 a.m.-noon INDY NXT by Firestone qualifying (Two groups, 12-minute session), FS1 (live)
12:20-1:50 p.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES qualifying for NTT P1 Award (Three rounds of knockoutqualifying), FS1 (live)
SUNDAY, JUNE 1
9:32-9:57 a.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES warmup, FS1
10:31 a.m. INDY NXT by Firestone command to start engines
10:36 a.m. INDY NXT by Firestone Detroit Grand Prix (45 laps/55 minutes), FS1 (live)
12:30 p.m. FOX on air
12:45 p.m. Command to start engines
12:52 p.m. Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear (100 laps/164.5 miles), FOX (live)
Header Image By Paul Hurley/INDYCAR
IndyCar1909.com 