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Alex Palou Takes Charge With Fastest Time in Detroit Practice
Highlights
- Alex Palou led first practice at Detroit Grand Prix Friday
- Palou recorded fastest lap of 1:02.7722 in No. 10 Honda
- Kyle Kirkwood and Will Power finished second and third respectively
- Felix Rosenqvist was 11th with special Eminem-themed Meyer Shank livery
- Second practice Saturday 9 a.m. ET; qualifying at 1 p.m. ET
- 100-lap Detroit race scheduled Sunday at 12:30 p.m. ET
Alex Palou sets the early benchmark in first practice for the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear, reinforcing his championship lead on Detroit’s tight, unforgiving downtown street circuit.
The Chip Ganassi driver clocks 1:02.7722 in the No. 10 HRC Honda, sustaining momentum after taking pole positions in both Indianapolis events earlier this month.
Palou’s record on this layout is strong. He won here in 2023 as the race returned downtown. The 1.645-mile, nine-turn course punishes imprecision and compresses traffic.
Palou tops Practice 1 with 1:02.7722 in the No. 10 HRC Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.
“Good start,” said Palou. “It’s tough to link a clean lap here. We still need to improve balance, because many didn’t get representative runs.”
Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood is next at 1:02.7914 in the No. 27 Sam’s Club Honda. Will Power takes third with 1:02.9433 in the No. 26 TWG AI Honda.
[phew]
Kirkwood clocks 1:02.7914 for P2; Power posts 1:02.9433 for P3.
Marcus Armstrong and Pato O’Ward complete the top five, underscoring a multi-team contest. Early laps suggest setup refinement and traffic management will decide qualifying windows.
Indianapolis 500 winner Felix Rosenqvist is 11th at 1:03.4064 in the No. 60 Meyer Shank Honda, running an Eminem-inspired SiriusXM tribute livery, a local nod detailed in Detroit special delivery.
Indy 500 winner Rosenqvist places P11 at 1:03.4064 with an Eminem-themed Meyer Shank livery.
The weekend intensifies Saturday: practice at 9 a.m. ET and qualifying at 1 p.m. ET. The 100-lap race starts Sunday at 12:30 p.m. ET.
Schedule: Practice Saturday 9 a.m. ET; Qualifying 1 p.m. ET; Race Sunday 12:30 p.m. ET.
Expect another attritional street fight, with walls and short braking zones punishing errors, a theme explored in our Motown preview for this demanding venue.
For Palou, the priority is converting practice pace into grid position without traffic compromises, then controlling strategy on the streets of Detroit to extend his points margin.
Visual Summary
Palou blazes Detroit again!
1:02.772 (Palou, Fastest Lap)
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Kirkwood
1:02.791
Kirkwood
1:02.791
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Palou
1:02.772
Palou
1:02.772
?
Power
1:02.943
Power
1:02.943
2024 Detroit GP: The Chase for the Streets Is On
⬆️ Palou sends a message: Still the one to beat
Rosenqvist brings Eminem to the grid!
Brian Thompson focuses on IndyCar Series news, from qualifying speeds at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to street-course race strategy. He delivers concise feature stories and technical breakdowns on chassis setups, tire choices, and championship standings for open-wheel enthusiasts.
