Alex Palou – Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix practice – Photo by Joe Skibinski

By John Sturbin, Raceday San Antonio

With the Month of May almost completely in his rearview mirrors, Alex Palou returned to the business of chasing another NTT IndyCar Series championship Friday in Downtown Motown.

Palou entered last year’s Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix on an ethanol high after winning the Sonsio Grand Prix and 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Palou qualified on-pole for this month’s separate events on the 2.439-mile IMS Road-Course and famed 2.5-mile oval before finishing fifth and seventh, respectively.

SEE: Practice Results

The four-time/reigning series champion and current point-leader, Palou drove to the top of the time sheet Friday via a hot lap of 1-minute, 2.7722-seconds/94.341 mph after 25 laps in Practice 1 on the 1.645-mile/nine-turn temporary circuit. The Spaniard won this race in 2023, first year it returned to Downtown Detroit after 30 years at Belle Isle Park.

“Good start,” said Palou, 29, and driver of the No. 10 HRC Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. “It’s just super- tough to get a lap here when everything feels good. Although we looked very good, I think we need to work on the car and try to make it a little bit better because I think there was a ton of people that couldn’t really get a good lap.”

Reigning Detroit winner Kyle Kirkwood led two Andretti Global drivers in the top-five after a disappointing Indianapolis 500 for the organization. Kirkwood placed second at 1:02.7914-seconds/94.312 mph in the No. 27 Sam’s Club Honda. Teammate and three-time Belle Isle winner Will Power of Australia was third at 1:02.9433-seconds/94.085 mph in the No. 26 TWG AI Honda.

Native New Zealander Marcus Armstrong was fourth at 1:03.1743-seconds/93.741 mph in the No. 66 Meyer Shank Racing with Curb Agajanian Honda.

Team Chevy was paced by 2021 Belle Isle winner Pato O’Ward, who completed the top-five at 1:03.1825-seconds/93.728 mph after 28 laps in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. The dozen fastest drivers were evenly split between those on primary Firestone Firehawk tires (black) and alternate rubber (red). O’Ward was second-quickest overall and quickest Chevrolet-powered entrant during the first 40 minutes of practice, in which all 25 drivers utilized only blacks. 

“I thought the first part of it was good on the blacks,” said O’Ward, a 27-year-old native of Mexico with family ties to San Antonio, Texas. “Quite tricky on the reds. I don’t think we’re the only one that struggled with it. I think the cars that are strong on the blacks, you might see these guys transfer like from Q1 to Q2 (Saturday) on blacks. Maybe as it rubbers-up, the reds are going to start to be a little bit better.”

O’Ward said the layout he originally described in 2023 as “gnarly, bro” has gradually improved. “I feel like in certain areas they’ve cleaned up like out in the chicane, I feel like the wall looks much nicer,” O’Ward deadpanned. “There’s different patches that I think Turn 9, there was quite a big dip when we were first coming here, now it’s not as aggressive. They’ve definitely made it much better for us.

“I don’t think the backstretch is as bumpy and aggressive as it used to be. The first year we came here I thought it was really aggressive. It’s gotten better and better, yeah.”

Felix Rosenqvist, winner of the closest finish in Indianapolis 500 history last Sunday, was 11th overall at 1:03.4064-seconds/93.398 mph in the No. 60 Meyer Shank Racing with Curb Agajanian Honda. The Swede’s car is sporting a special livery featuring the SiriusXM station of legendary Detroit rapper Eminem.

Indy 500 runnerup David Malukas was sixth overall at 1:03.2111-seconds/93.686 mph in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet.

“Detroit _ it’s bumpy,” said Malukas, a 24-year-old native of Chicago. “It is very bumpy, but overall we’re going to have to study and look at data. The track conditions were very tough. Very low grip. Overall I think the Verizon Chevy is good. We’re on the upper end but we want to be at the top, and it seems like a few guys have a little bit on us. So, we will study, look, and see what we can do to put it all together for qualifying to get it done.”

Dallas resident Santino Ferrucci paced the two-car entries for Waller, Texas-based A.J. Foyt Racing in 16^th at 1:03.9577-seconds/92.592 mph in the No. 14 Homes For Our Troops Chevrolet.

Ferrucci entered the weekend with momentum from another strong Indianapolis 500, in which he re-set his own record of consecutive top-10 finishes with eight. Ferrucci, who started fifth and placed eighth at IMS, has finished in the top-10 in every Indy 500 he has started.

Ferrucci posted his career-best finish of second last year in the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix via a strategy call. In addition, he will be celebrating his birthday at the racetrack _ Santino will turn 28 on Sunday.

“Always loved going to Detroit, find it a great city,” Ferrucci said. “You know, I think having a consistent car and good team has definitely been helpful for me over the years. My favorite street circuit was Belle Isle, but I do like the new Detroit circuit as well. I think also coming off a (successful) Indy, we just carry a lot of momentum, and we just try to continue to ride the wave.”

Practice 2 was booked for Saturday morning, followed by NTT P1 Award qualifying at 1 p.m. (EDT on FS1, FOX One and INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls).

Sunday’s 100-lap/170-mile race is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. (EDT on FOX, FOX One, INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls).

May 224, 2026; Speedway, IN, USA; Crowds file out of the speedway after the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Photo Credit: Michael C. Johnson

FOX Sports’ live broadcast of the 110th Indianapolis 500 drew an average audience of 6,635,000 viewers last Sunday.

Felix Rosenqvist’s record-setting victory over David Malukas fell short of last year’s 7,087,000 average viewers _ down 6.4 percent. Viewership peaked at 8,349,000 fans from 4 to 4:15pm (EDT) as the 34-year-old native of Sweden edged Chicago native Malukas by 0.0233-seconds _ the closest finish in history of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”

Rosenqvist rode the high line against the concrete wall exiting Turn 4 on Lap 200 in the No. 60 SiriusXM Honda of Meyer Shank Racing with Curb Agajanian and powered past the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet of Malukas. The previous closest finish in 500 history was recorded in 1992, when Al Unser Jr. held off a charging Scott Goodyear by 0.043-seconds.

With the Indy 500 now factored into audience averages across the first seven races of the 2026 NTT IndyCar Series season, INDYCAR is drawing 2,383,000 viewers per event. That is an increase of 9.7 percent from the 2,173,000 average over the first seven races from 2025.

Lochie Hughes – Detroit Grand Prix – INDY NXT by Firestone – Photo by Joe Skibinski

Lochie Hughes led four Andretti Global drivers in the top-five spots Friday after the opening practice for the INDY NXT by Firestone Detroit Grand Prix.

Hughes paced the 45-minute session with a best lap of 1-minute, 7.2741-seconds/88.028 mph in the No. 26 Andretti Global machine around the 1.645-mile/nine-turn temporary street circuit in Downtown Motown.

SEE: Practice Results

Hughes entered this season as the top returning driver from the team that also fielded the championship-winning car of Norwegian Dennis Hauger in 2025. Hughes placed third in the point standings as a series rookie. This season hasn’t started as well, however, as he ranks fifth in points _ two spots behind new teammate Max Taylor.

“Really happy with the balance,” said Hughes, a 24-year-old native of Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. “The track felt a bit weird, especially compared to the first session last year. Just a bit slippery in a few places, which is to be expected.

“Yeah, that was nice. Back where we ‘belong.’ I kind of so far this year have felt like a chameleon in a bag of Skittles. Just been a bit confused. That was really good, and it’s nice to start a weekend off on the right foot.”

Series veteran and Andretti newcomer Josh Pierson was second at 1:07.3555-seconds/87.922 mph in the No. 29 Starchive Andretti car, followed by veteran teammate Seb Murray of Scotland at 1:07.3832-seconds/87.885 mph in the No. 27 Megatron machine as Andretti Global drivers swept the top three spots.

Matteo Nannini of Italian/Argentinian descent was the only non-Andretti driver in the top-five, placing fourth at 1:07.3864-seconds/87.881 mph in the No. 20 ENVE Motorsports car of Cape Motorsports Powered by Ed Carpenter Racing. Andretti Global driver Taylor completed the top-five at 1:07.4789-seconds/87.761 mph in the No. 28 Susan G. Komen entry.

Experience paid off on the tight circuit, as veterans of INDYCAR’s developmental series filled the top-six positions on the time sheet. Series leader and rookie Nikita Johnson was 12th at 1:08.1277-seconds/86.925 mph in the No. 21 Cape Motorsports Powered by ECR car.

“I think it’s going to change a lot,” said Hughes, commenting on the circuit’s grip levels. “Especially with a two-hour IMSA race (Saturday afternoon).”

There was one incident involving contact. Rookie Max Garcia, the 2025 USF Pro 2000 champion, hit the concrete barrier at the exit of Turn 1 in the No. 12 Abel Motorsports car, sitting against the wall in a blind corner. The trailing No. 11 Chip Ganassi Racing machine driven by rookie Carson Etter could not evade Garcia’s stricken car and hit the rear of it. Neither driver was injured.

Practice 2 for the 24 entrants Saturday morning will be followed by qualifying at noon (EDT on FS1, FOX One and INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls).

The 45-lap/55-minute race is scheduled for Sunday at 10:30 a.m. (EDT on FS1, FOX One, INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls).

NTT IndyCar Series Point Standings _ 1, Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing, 273; 2, David Malukas, Team Penske, 236; 3, Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global, 224; 4, Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren, 195; 5, Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren, 188;  6, Scott McLaughlin, Team Penske, 181; 7, Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing, 176; 8, Josef Newgarden, Team Penske, 167; 9, Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing, 167; 10, Marcus Armstrong, Meyer Shank Racing, 154;

11, Graham Rahal, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, 151; 12, Marcus Ericsson, Andretti Global, 129; 13, Alexander Rossi, Ed Carpenter Racing, 127; 14, Rinus VeeKay, Juncos Hollinger Racing, 125; 15, Santino Ferrucci, A.J. Foyt Racing, 122; 16, Kyffin Simpson, Chip Ganassi Racing, 116; 17, Will Power, Andretti Global, 112; 18, Dennis Hauger, Dale Coyne Racing, 111; 19, Louis Foster, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, 95; 20, Nolan Siegel, Arrow McLaren, 95;

21, Romain Grosjean, Dale Coyne Racing, 92; 22, Caio Collet, A.J. Foyt Racing, 76; 23, Christian Rasmussen, Ed Carpenter Racing, 71; 24, Mick Schumacher, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, 66; 25, Sting Ray Robb, Juncos Hollinger Racing, 62; 26, Derek Daly, Dryer & Reinbold Racing, 24; 27, Takuma Sato, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, 20; 28, Jack Harvey, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, 8; 29, Jacob Abel, Abel Motorsports, 6; 30, Helio Castroneves, Meyer Shank Racing with Curb Agajanian, 5;

31, Ed Carpenter, Ed Carpenter Racing, 5; 32, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Arrow McLaren, 5; 33, Katherine Legge, HMD Motorsports with A.J. Foyt Racing, 5.

FOX SPORTS’ 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES BROADCAST SCHEDULE/(RACE WINNER)

Note _ All times Eastern

Sunday, March 1 _ Streets of St. Petersburg, Fla., (Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing)

Saturday, March 7 _ Phoenix Raceway, Avondale, Ariz., (Josef Newgarden, Team Penske)

Sunday, March 15 _ Streets of Arlington, Texas, (Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global)

Sunday, March 29 _ Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, Ala., (Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing)

Sunday, April 19 _ Streets of Long Beach, Calif., (Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing)

Saturday, May 9 _ Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road-Course, (Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren)

Sunday, May 24 _ 110^th Indianapolis 500, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Oval, (Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing with Curb Agajanian)

Sunday, May 31 _ Streets of Downtown Detroit, 12:30 p.m.

Sunday, June 7 _ World Wide Technology Raceway, Madison, Ill., 9 p.m.

Sunday, June 21 _ Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis., 2 p.m.

Sunday, July 5 _ Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio, 12:30 p.m.

Sunday, July 19 _ Nashville Superspeedway, Lebanon, Tenn., TBA

Sunday, Aug. 9 _ Portland (Ore.) International Raceway, 4 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 16 _ Streets of Markham, Canada, Noon

Sunday, Aug. 23 _ Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C., TBA

Saturday, Aug. 29 _ The Milwaukee Mile Race 1, West Allis, Wis., 2:30 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 30 _ The Milwaukee Mile Race 2, West Allis, Wis., 1 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 6 _ WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, Calif., 2:30 p.m.

Note _ Dates and times subject to change.

2026 INDYCAR NXT BY FIRESTONE SCHEDULE/(RACE-WINNER)

Sunday, March 1 _ Streets of St. Petersburg, Fla., (Nikita Johnson, Cape Motorsports Powered by ECR)

Sunday, March 15 _ Streets of Arlington, Texas, (Max Taylor, Andretti Global)

Saturday, March 28 _ Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, Ala., (Nikita Johnson, Cape Motorsports Powered by ECR)

Sunday, March 29 _ Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, Ala., (Alessandro de Tullio, A.J. Foyt Racing)

Friday, May 8 _ Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road-Course Race 1 (Enzo Fittipaldi, HMD Motorsports)

Saturday, May 9 _ Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road-Course Race 2 (Tymek Kucharczyk, HMD Motorsports)

Sunday, May 31 _ Streets of Downtown Detroit

Sunday, June 7 _ World Wide Technology Raceway, Madison, Ill.

Saturday, June 20 _ Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis., Race 1

Sunday, June 21 _ Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis., Race 2

Saturday, July 4 _ Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio, Race 1

Sunday, July 5 _ Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio, Race 2

Sunday, July 19 _ Nashville Superspeedway, Lebanon, Tenn.

Sunday, Aug. 9 _ Portland (Ore.) International Raceway

Sunday, Aug. 30 _ The Milwaukee Mile, West Allis, Wis.

Saturday, Sept. 5 _ Weather Tech Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, Calif., Race 1

Sunday, Sept. 6 _ Weather Tech Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, Calif., Race 2