Colton Herta – Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix – Photo by Joe Skibinski

By John Sturbin, Raceday San Antonio

Andretti Global’s Colton Herta continued to master the tight, bumpy and basically mean Streets of Detroit Saturday en route to earning pole position for today’s Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear.

Colton Herta – Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix – Photo by Paul Hurley

Herta repeated as NTT P1 Award winner with a best lap of 1-minute, 0.4779-seconds/97.920 mph on the 1.645-mile/nine-turn layout in Downtown Motown. Herta logged his first pole of the season and 15th of his NTT IndyCar Series career during the Firestone Fast Six.

Herta secured P1 last year in this event with a lap in 1:00.5475-seconds/97.808 mph. The 25-year-old native Californian also set the series qualifying record with a lap in 1:00.2304-seconds/98.322 mph last June 1, 2024 during Round 2 of knockout qualifying.

SEE: Qualifying Results

Herta’s pole came after a bit of a gamble in the final qualifying segment, as he was the only driver to start the session on used primary Firestone Firehawk tires before switching to a new set of softer but grippier alternate rubber early in the session. The other five drivers ran the entire Firestone Fast Six on a combination of new and used Firestone alternates.

Colton Herta – Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix – Photo by Joe Skibinski

“It was such an unknown and we were not really strong, to be completely honest, yesterday with the softer tires,” Herta said. “The guys did a great job overnight. The Gainbridge Honda was super-fast today.

“Happy to start P1 _ the best seat in the house. Now we just need a nice, easy race _ no yellows, go back to how it was before Indy _ and make it easy on us.”

Today’s schedule began with a warm-up session at 9:30 a.m. (EDT), followed by the 100-lap/170-mile race at 12:30 p.m. Live broadcast coverage will be provided by FOX Sports, FOX Sports app and the INDYCAR Radio Network.

Team Chevy _ still seeking its first victory six races into the schedule _ received a boost from David Malukas of Waller, Texas-based A.J. Foyt Racing. Malukas reprised his runner-up finish in last Sunday’s 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge with a career best-tying second qualifying spot at 1:00.6492-seconds/97.643 mph in the No. 4 Clarience Technologies Chevrolet.

It was Malukas’ career-best qualifying performance on a road or street circuit.

“We’re starting off where we finished (at Indy) in that P2 spot,” said Malukas, a 23-year-old native of Chicago. “Really good session. As soon as we unloaded the car in Detroit, we knew we had a good car. I’ve been really happy. Having that whole month, being with the guys and understanding what we want, having Clarience Technologies on board with us, they’re ecstatic. I think the mood is really lifted up on us and I think we can see this momentum carrying.

“What a good car, what a good group of guys here. We’re on a good run here. We’re a little bit butt-hurt, because I think we had a car to compete with Herta’s time. We just made a few tweaks. First time back in the Fast Six for a while. Very happy run.”

Malukas also tied his career-best qualifying on oval tracks _ having previously scored P2 efforts at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Ill., and The Milwaukee Mile last year. Prior to those runs, his best qualification on a road or street course came at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course last July in his second race back after sustaining a wrist injury in a mountain-biking accident in the winter of 2023.

Malukas underwent an additional surgery on his left wrist this past off-season to gain more range of motion, which he believes played a part in his slow start to 2025. That fact and getting to know a new crew while learning the nuances of the powerband of the twin-turbocharged Chevy V-6 engine after spending most of his INDYCAR career driving with Honda power.

“I had another surgery to clean up some scar tissue and get more movement out of it,” Malukas said. “So going back into the car, no matter what PT or training I can do, nothing is like the real deal, and the hand kind of got a little bit beat up on those first few races. But it’s at a good state now where there’s no more pain, and it’s pretty much at the maximum it will be. I obviously have a little bit of movement that’s never really going to come back. But we’ve done a good job with moving things around in the car and kind of getting things to what I like, and I had to change my driving a little bit, and things are good now.”

For the record, Malukas advanced to his first Firestone Fast Six as a rookie on the former Raceway at Belle Isle course nearby in 2022. “That was kind of the first big transition for me _ knowing that I actually had a strong opportunity to be quick and get good results here in INDYCAR,” Malukas said. “So, Detroit was my ‘turnaround racetrack.’^”

Kyle Kirkwood added to Andretti Global’s stout weekend by qualifying third at 1:00.7312-seconds/97.512 mph in the No. 27 Siemens AWS Honda. Kirkwood paced practice Friday, while Herta led Saturday morning’s session.

Christian Lundgaard of Denmark will join Kirkwood in Row 2 after qualifying fourth at 1:00.8938-seconds/97.251 mph in the No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet.

“We had a pretty good qualifying,” Lundgaard said. “Leaving Practice 1 (Friday) and going into Practice 2  in much colder conditions, we knew which direction to go and made the car better into qualifying. We knew the Andretti cars would be strong in the street-course, and I think being one of the few cars fighting them, it’s something we’re happy with for now. I was happy with the balance, but we didn’t save another set of Firestone alternates for the Fast Six, like three other cars did. We did a good job; we followed track evolution and put ourselves in a good spot for the race.”

Graham Rahal qualified fifth at 1:01.0651-seconds/96.978 mph in the No. 15 JJ Curran Crane Company Honda. That effort continued Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s recent speed upgrade on circuits with left-and-right turns, as Rahal qualified second earlier this month for the Sonsio Grand Prix on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road-Course.

Rahal’s P5 qualifying position is his highest on the downtown course and best start on a street-course since a sixth-place result in Long Beach in 2019. However, he will serve a six-grid engine change penalty as will defending event champion Scott Dixon. Native New Zealander Dixon _ a six-time series champion _ will start 10^th after a lap in 1:01.1595-seconds/96.829 mph in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.

“I feel pretty good with a fifth-place qualifying position, even with the grid penalty,” said Rahal, the son of team-founder/1986 Indy 500 champion Bobby Rahal. “The car has been shockingly good this weekend, and I say that because we’ve struggled at this track and what the boys have brought here is way more forgiving and a car that I can attack with. And that doesn’t even compare with what we’ve had here before, so I’m pleased with it.

“I feel like we’re getting better and are a team on the rise. I feel like this is a sign this weekend because (teammates) Louis (Foster) and I, and Dev (Devlin DeFrancesco) also have been quite fast here. We didn’t have a new set of Firestone reds to battle with like most of the guys in the Fast Six but that’s OK; it’s a good sign overall. I honestly feel like we have a car that I can attack with so I like that, particularly in the race if you’ve got to get your elbows out and be a little aggressive. I feel like I can, and that the JJ Curran Crane car gives me a little window of opportunity.”

Series point-leader Alex Palou completed the Firestone Fast Six at 1:01.4680-seconds/96.343 mph in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. Palou has won five of the first six races this season, including the 1ndy 500 last Sunday for his first career oval victory.

While sixth tied Palou’s second-worst qualifying performance this season, it was a solid recovery from the first two practices in which the native Spaniard ranked 15th and 12th, respectively. Palou leads second-place Pato O’Ward of Arrow McLaren by a staggering 112 points _ more than two races’ worth _ after just six of 17 events.

O’Ward failed to advance out of the first round of qualifying and will start 18th in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet after lapping at 1:01.6819-seconds/96.009 mph. “It’s been a really difficult and challenging weekend,” said O’Ward, a native of Mexico with family ties to San Antonio, Texas. “We’ll just have to see what (Sunday) could bring.”

Dallas resident Santino Ferrucci was mired in 21^st after a lap in 1:01.5795-seconds/96.168 mph in the No. 14 Sexton Properties Chevrolet fielded by A.J. Foyt Racing. It was a disappointing way to mark his 27^th birthday. Ferrucci said he made a mistake in his qualification run on a day when track temperatures barely climbed out of the 60s.

“Obviously, not happy with myself in qualifying, made just a couple mistakes,” said Ferruci, who finished a revised fifth in the Indy 500. “Still trying to figure out a really, really, solid balance. But you know, we’re definitely getting closer on it. Should have qualified a little bit better than we did but it’s a long race; we’ll be fine.”

Team Penske ace Josef Newgarden, a two-time series champion, wound up a puzzling 24^th after a lap in 1:02.2055-seconds/95.201 mph in the No. 2 Astemo Team Penske Chevrolet. 

The intramural INDY NXT by Firestone squabble between Andretti Global teammates Dennis Hauger and Lochie Hughes accelerated Saturday as Hauger edged fellow-series rookie Hughes for pole position at the Detroit Grand Prix.

Hauger earned his third pole in five races this season _ Hughes grabbed the other two _ with a series-record lap of 1-minute, 4.9896-seconds/91.122 mph in the No. 28 Rental Group car. That broke the series track record of 1:05.1079 set last June by eventual series champion Louis Foster of Great Britain, also of Andretti Global. Foster currently is an INDYCAR rookie with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.

SEE: Qualifying Results

“It was so messy, but I pushed to the limit and got the pole,” said Hauger, a 22-year-old native of Norway. “That was intense.”

Hughes, a 23-year-old native of Australia, was second at 1:05.0516-seconds/91.035 mph in the No. 26 McGinley Clinic/USF Pro Championship machine, also under Foster’s track record.

There was a gap of nearly one second to third on the starting grid for the 45-lap/55-minute race Sunday (10:30 a.m. EDT, FS1, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network), as 17-year-old rookie Max Taylor qualified third at 1:05.9554-seconds/89.788 mph in the No. 18 HMD Motorsports car in just his second start in the INDYCAR developmental series.

Brazilian Caio Collet, the 2024 Rookie of the Year, qualified fourth at 1:05.6249-seconds/90.240 mph in the No. 76 HMD Motorsports machine. Salvador de Alba of Mexico was the third Andretti Global driver in the top-five with his lap of 1:05.9772-seconds/89.758 mph in the No. 27 Grupo Indi car.

Native New Zealander Callum Hedge, 21, completed the first three rows by qualifying sixth at 1:06.1315-seconds/89.549 mph in the No. 17 Abel Motorsports car.

There was plenty of suspense throughout qualifying. The session was split into two groups, with Hughes in the first group and Hauger in the second to build the drama. Hauger leads his teammate by 15 points atop the series standings after four races. They are the only drivers to win races this season _ Hauger has three victories, Hughes one.

Hughes laid down his huge lap on his final trip around the tight-and-bumpy, 1.645-mile/nine-turn street circuit in Downtown Motown, finally getting clear track for his last qualifying run.

Hauger was working up his response when James Roe of Ireland suffered his second crash of the weekend with about seven minutes left in the session. Roe’s No. 29 Topcon car sustained heavy right front damage after impacting a section of concrete wall. Roe was uninjured.

Only three minutes, 56 seconds remained in the session when the track reopened, and Hauger and his group hustled back onto the circuit to complete as many laps as possible. Hauger dropped to 1:05.287 on his second-to-last lap, just behind Hughes, but grabbed the pole via his track-record lap on his final trip around the circuit.

NTT IndyCar Series Point Standings _ 1, Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing, 306; 2, Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren, 191; 3, Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global, 180; 4, Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren, 177; 5, Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing, 163; 6, Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing, 150; 7, Scott McLaughlin, Team Penske, 145; 8, Will Power, Team Penske, 140; 9, Colton Herta, Andretti Global, 117; 10, Marcus Armstrong, Meyer Shank Racing, 115;

11, David Malukas, A.J. Foyt Racing, 105; 12, Rinus VeeKay, Dale Coyne Racing, 105; 13, Alexander Rossi, Ed Carpenter Racing, 104; 14, Josef Newgarden, Team Penske, 103; 15, Graham Rahal, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, 102; 16, Marcus Armstrong, Meyer Shank Racing, 100; 17, Santino Ferrucci, A.J. Foyt Racing, 99; 18, Christian Rasmussen, Ed Carpenter Racing, 91; 19, Nolan Siegel, Arrow McLaren, 79; 20, Conor Daly, Juncos Hollinger Racing, 79;

21, Kyffin Simpson, Chip Ganassi Racing, 67; 22, Robert Shwartzman, Prema Racing, 65; 23, Louis Foster, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, 64; 24, Sting Ray Robb, Juncos Hollinger Racing, 61; 25, Devlin DeFrancesco, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, 61; 26, Callum Ilott, Prema Racing, 58; 27, Takuma Sato, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, 33; 28, Jacob Abel, Dale Coyne Racing, 28; 29, Helio Castroneves, Meyer Shank Racing, 17; 30, Ed Carpenter, Ed Carpenter Racing, 13;

31, Jack Harvey, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing/Cusick Motorsports, 9; 32, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing/Cusick Motorsports, 7; 33, Kyle Larson, Arrow McLaren with Henrick Motorsports, 5; 34 Marco Andretti, Andretti Herta with Marco & Curb-Agajanian, 5.

FOX SPORTS’ 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES BROADCAST COVERAGE SCHEDULE

Sunday, March 2 _ Streets of St. Petersburg, Fla. (Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing)

Sunday, March 23 _The Thermal Club, Thermal, Calif.  (Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing)

Sunday, April 13 _ Streets of Long Beach, Calif. (Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global)

Sunday, May 4 _ Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, Ala. (Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing)

Saturday, May 10 _ Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road-Course (Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing)

Sunday, May 25 _ Indianapolis Motor Speedway Oval (Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing)

Sunday, June 1 _ Streets of Detroit (FOX, 12:30 p.m.)

Sunday, June 15 _ World Wide Technology Raceway, Madison, Ill. (FOX, 8 p.m.)

Sunday, June 22 _ Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis. (FOX, 1:30 p.m.)

Sunday, July 6 _ Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington (FOX, 1 p.m.)

Saturday, July 12 _ Iowa Speedway, Newton, Race 1 (FOX, 5 p.m.)

Sunday, July 13 _ Iowa Speedway, Newton, Race 2 (FOX, 1 p.m.)

Sunday, July 20 _ Streets of Toronto, Canada (FOX, noon)

Sunday, July 27 _ WeatherTech Raceway, Laguna Seca, Monterey, Calif. (FOX, 3 p.m.)

Sunday, Aug. 10 _ Portland (Ore.) International Raceway (FOX, 3 p.m.)

Sunday, Aug. 24 _ The Milwaukee Mile, West Allis, Wis. (FOX, 2 p.m.)

Sunday, Aug. 31 _ Nashville Superspeedway, Lebanon, Tenn. (2:30 p.m.)

NOTE _ All times Eastern. Dates and times subject to change.