NTT INDYCAR Race Report - Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix

June 2, 2024


Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix
Detroit, Michigan
June 2, 2024


JOSEF NEWGARDEN No. 2 ASTEMO CHEVROLET

START: 3RD  
FINISH: 26TH  
POINTS: 10TH (-88)


RACE RUNDOWN: The complexities and nuances of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES were on full display for Josef Newgarden and the No. 2 Astemo Chevrolet team in Sunday's Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix. One week after becoming a two-time winner of the Indianapolis 500, Newgarden and team suffered through a dramatic, 100-lap event of the streets of Detroit to finish in the 26th position. The two-time series champion started the race from the third position and looked to be in great shape when he entered pit lane on Lap 33 while running in the second position. It was here the race began to go in the wrong direction for the No. 2 team as the fuel probe valve would not initially open after being plugged into the car. As a result, Newgarden dropped to the 19th position when the skies briefly opened up before the race restarted. Needing to do something to gain back the lost track position, race strategist Tim Cindric was one of the first to call his driver down pit lane again, this time for Firestone rain tires just before the green flag waved. This proved to be a short stint as the skies quickly cleared but not before another caution flag flew just two laps back to the action. This allowed teams to revert back to Firestone racing slicks as the track quickly dried. After climbing back to the 13th position just before halfway, Newgarden was hit with another penalty for running over pit equipment as the left his stall following a Lap 43 pit stop. The resulting pass-through penalty on Lap 61 effectively ended Newgarden's chance at a top finish. 

NEWGARDEN'S THOUGHTS: "It is crazy how races in this series can turn on a dime. We were in a great position to capitalize on some of the drama going on around us to possibly win today. Unfortunately, Scott (McLaughlin) had his incident just before halfway and that helped us into second before we hit pit road. That's kind of where our day went south when the fuel probe valve wouldn't open initially, costing us a ton of track position. After restarting 19th, it just seemed our day went downhill. Definitely a wild afternoon for not just the Astemo Chevrolet team but for most of the field."

 


SCOTT MCLAUGHLIN No. 3 GALLAGHER CHEVROLET

START: 4TH  
FINISH: 20TH 
POINTS: 8TH (-75)
 
RACE RUNDOWN: As did his Team Penske teammates, Scott McLaughlin endured an eventful Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon, persevering for a 20th-place finish. The day started with promise for the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES race winner as he qualified fourth for the 100-lap event. Starting on the Firestone primary tires, McLaughlin was able to power his way up to the second position as those on the Firestone alternate tires suffered heavy tire wear early in the race. Unfortunately, McLaughlin locked his rear tires and made slight contact with a tire barrier just before making his way to pit road. He would lose a lap while the safety team tried to extract the car from the tires and would restart from the 24th position. As determined at the New Zealander was to get back to the lead lap, the inconsistent nature of the race did not provide any good possibilities to do so as he finished in the 20th position, one lap down to the race winner. 

MCLAUGHLIN'S THOUGHTS: "Just driver error there on that incident in the tires. We were in fantastic position up to that point. I hate it for my Gallagher Chevy team and for our partners, and I'm gutted that it cost us a shot at a win. We'll press on to Road America, one of my favorite race tracks in the world." 

 


WILL POWER No. 12 VERIZON CHEVROLET

START: 8TH 
FINISH: 6TH 
POINTS: 3RD (-31)
 
RACE RUNDOWN: In what could be described as a truly up and down day for Will Power and the No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet culminated with a sixth-place finish in Sunday's Chevrolet Grand Prix of Detroit on the streets of the Motor City. Power narrowly missed transferring to the Firestone Fast Six during Saturday's qualification session, giving INDYCAR's all-time pole winner plenty of motivation to drive his way to the front. Action on the 1.645-mile street circuit started early when Power would be spun at Turn 3 on the opening lap which caused damage to the Verizon Chevrolet. He was called to pit by INDYCAR Race Control for a mandatory rear wing change, and resumed competition at the back of the field on the lead lap. By Lap 30, Power would be back to 17th when rain would dampen the circuit forcing teams to make key strategy decisions. The No. 12 team would opt to keep Power on track and he would jump to third position which would be his highest of the day. Power would receive three separate penalties for various infractions, but a timely yellow on Lap 63 would allow the Australian to stay out and regain lost track position with enough fuel to the end. In a race that saw 47 of the 100 laps run under caution, Power managed to overcome obstacles to bring home a sixth-place finish. 

POWER'S THOUGHTS: "That's a good day for the No. 12 Verizon Chevy team. It was very tough, really. All sorts of stuff going on. Felt like Nashville. That's, I mean, you've got everything in there. Rain, everything. Happy to get back to sixth, and go from there, and see what we could do. That is a good points day, man. I knew when it was that sort of race, (Scott) Dixon was going to win it somehow. We just wanted to salvage something."

 


The seventh round of the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season will take place at America's National Park of Speed, the beautiful Road America circuit in Wisconsin on Sunday, June 9.