An exciting qualifying session set the starting lineup for the first of two IndyCar races at Belle Isle Street Circuit this weekend.
IndyCar is back on the streets this weekend after a week off following the 105th running of the Indy 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with Belle Isle Street Circuit set to host the two races of the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix doubleheader today and tomorrow. Arrow McLaren SP’s Pato O’Ward took the pole position for this afternoon’s race.
The qualifying session for this race did not feature a Firestone Fast Six session. The top six drivers from two separate groups simply battled it out in the Firestone Fast 12 for the pole position, and O’Ward was the quickest driver of the 12 to secure one bonus point and move into a second place tie in the championship standings with Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon.
O’Ward took the pole position for this 70-lap race around the 14-turn, 2.35-mile (3.782-kilometer) temporary street circuit on the streets of Belle Isle in Detroit, Michigan by recording a top lap time of 75.5776 seconds (111.938 miles per hour) in the second and final round of qualifying behind the wheel of his #5 Chevrolet.
More from IndyCar
- IndyCar: Two teams with no drivers confirmed for 2024
- IndyCar: Chip Ganassi Racing news hints Alex Palou announcement
- IndyCar: ‘Addition by subtraction’ could pay off in a big way
- Team Penske should make a bold driver signing for 2024
- IndyCar: 5 teams that still have open seats for 2024
O’Ward is set to share the front row with Andretti Autosport’s Alexander Rossi in second place behind the wheel of his #27 Honda, just like he did in the season opener at Barber Motorsports Park in mid-April.
The second row is slated to feature both Dale Coyne Racing drivers after what was a very impressive session for the team. Dale Coyne Racing with Rick Ware Racing rookie Romain Grosjean qualified in third place behind the wheel of his #51 Honda and Dale Coyne Racing with Vasser-Sullivan’s Ed Jones qualified in fourth behind the wheel of his #18 Honda.
Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou qualified in 21st place, but a six-position grid penalty due to an unapproved engine change prior to the Indy 500 last month will drop him to 25th (last) on the grid. Dixon qualified in 11th.
Here is the full provisional starting lineup for the first race of the 2021 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix at Belle Isle Street Circuit.
Starting Lineup
1st – Pato O’Ward
2nd – Alexander Rossi
3rd – Romain Grosjean
4th – Ed Jones
5th – Josef Newgarden
6th – Colton Herta
7th – Will Power
8th – Ryan Hunter-Reay
9th – Simon Pagenaud
10th – Sebastien Bourdais
11th – Scott Dixon
12th – Rinus VeeKay
13th – James Hinchcliffe
14th – Felix Rosenqvist
15th – Marcus Ericsson
16th – Takuma Sato
17th – Conor Daly
18th – Max Chilton
19th – Jack Harvey
20th – Graham Rahal
21st – Alex Palou (-4)
22nd – Santino Ferrucci (+1)
23rd – Jimmie Johnson (+1)
24th – Scott McLaughlin (+1)
25th – Dalton Kellett (+1)
Be sure to tune in to NBC at 2:00 p.m. ET this afternoon for the live broadcast of the first race of the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix from Belle Isle Street Circuit. The second race is set to be broadcast live on the same network tomorrow afternoon beginning at 12:00 p.m. ET.