Photo: James Black / Penske Entertainment
For the last time, the NTT IndyCar series ran today at Belle Isle Park in Detroit. The Detroit Grand Prix will return to downtown Detroit in 2023 on a circuit in the shadow of the Renaissance Center. Formula 1 and then the CART IndyCar World Series ran on some of the same streets until the race moved to Belle Isle in 1992.
After a weak Indianapolis 500, Penske’s Josef Newgarden won pole by just over a tenth of a second over Dale Coyne Racing’s Takuma Sato. David Malukas, Sato’s teammate and the best-placed debutant in the Indianapolis 500 Miles, placed sixth. Meyer Shank Racing blocked the second row with Simon Pagenaud in third and Hélio Castroneves in fourth.
Newgarden held the lead at the start when Sato was overtaken by Meyer Shank’s two cars. Newgarden drove his entire first stage unquestionably until his set of optional composite tires began to fade. Teammate Will Power took the lead with the primary tires when Newgarden dropped to sixth place and then pitted on lap 18 of 70. Power was followed by Ganassi duo Scott Dixon and Alex Palou , as well as Foyt debutant Kyle Kirkwood.
Alexander Rossi of Andretti drove spectacularly through the field during his last stage, passing by the second position but more than ten seconds behind the leader Will Power. Power made its final stop with 20 laps to go for the optional tires. The Penske rider has had to balance surviving the long final stage with the optional compound tires and keeping the difference with Rossi.
Rossi was able to narrow the gap to one second on the final lap, but Will Power was able to hold on to win the Detroit Grand Prix.
Race result – Top 10
- Willpower
- Alexandre Rossi
- Scott Dixon
- Josef Newgarden
- O’Ward Duck
- Álex Palou
- Marcus Ericsson
- Colton Herta
- Simon Pagenaud
- Álex Palou
Will Power leads the standings by 3 points over Marcus Ericsson. IndyCar will return for the Grand Prix at Road America next week.