IndyCar: Friday Morning Report from Detroit Grand Prix

INDYCAR has announced a six-position starting grid penalty for the entries of No. 9 Chip Ganassi Racing and No. 15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing for unapproved engine changes prior to the Sunday, May 25 race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

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.

May 30, 2025

Hello from the streets of downtown, where the third Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear is getting started this morning. Fans of racing will be entertained with IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship cars, the NTT INDYCAR Series, and the INDY NXT by Firestone around this 1.7-mile, nine-turn street circuit.

After today’s racing is completed on the streets, the Grand Prix track will be transformed into a Cruisin’ car show. Over 100 classic cars, hot rods, and muscle machines will take a parade lap and then park on the track for display from 6:30-8:30 pm in the inaugural Detroit Grand Prix Cruise Night.

Three major Grand Prix fan activation areas—Woodward Avenue, Spirit Plaza, and Hart Plaza—will be open to the public for free throughout the weekend. The Meijer Fan Zone is now located on Woodward and will feature interactive games, free ice cream, and guest appearances and autograph sessions with Detroit sports legends throughout the weekend.

Hart Plaza will have racing simulators, giveaways from Verizon and Java House, and kids can get behind the wheel of an IndyCar. Fans can shop for official merchandise and catch the Mountain Bike Stunt Show led by Andrei Burton, an eight-time Guinness World Records holder, performing daily near the fountain in Hart Plaza.

The fan activation zones are open to the public throughout the race weekend, beginning today from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Scene from 2023 race that had 32 laps of caution

Is there any IndyCar driver who can beat Alex Palou this weekend? Palou won the inaugural race in 2023. It will be interesting to see the strategy this weekend.

The first IndyCar practice is scheduled for 3:05 pm this afternoon.

Lucille Dust reporting live from Detroit