Despite starting from pole position, Colton Herta was unable to convert his qualifying performance into victory at the IndyCar Detroit GP. Instead, it was his Andretti teammate Kyle Kirkwood who claimed the chequered flag, delivering a masterful drive whilst managing significant front wing damage throughout the latter stages of the race.
The IndyCar Detroit GP 2025 began
The opening lap saw Christian Lundgaard surge past pole-sitter Herta at the first corner to claim the early advantage. However, Herta’s response was immediate, reclaiming the lead before the lap was complete. Championship frontrunner Alex Palou moved into third position, whilst David Malukas suffered an early setback, sliding from second to fifth. Rinus VeeKay’s race was compromised following contact with Christian Rasmussen.
By the second tour, Kirkwood had begun his charge through the field, dispatching both Palou and Lundgaard in quick succession to establish an Andretti one-two formation.
The soft compound tyres began to deteriorate by lap eight, prompting the first wave of pit stops. Felix Rosenqvist was amongst the early visitors to the pit lane, followed by Malukas who opted for the harder compound. Lundgaard followed suit a lap later.
VeeKay’s troubles continued as he reported a power deficit on the straights, ultimately forcing his retirement from the contest.
Andretti employed contrasting strategies for their drivers. Kirkwood switched to scuffed hard tyres to maximise his outlap performance, though he emerged behind Arrow McLaren’s Nolan Siegel. When Herta and Palou made their stops on lap 12, Herta managed to exit ahead of his teammate.
Kirkwood takes control
Siegel’s aggressive defending on lap 13 inadvertently assisted Kirkwood, as the Arrow McLaren driver’s move on Herta created an opportunity for Kirkwood to overtake his teammate. Simultaneously, Rosenqvist’s spin brought out the first caution period.
The alternate strategy runners, led by Rasmussen, temporarily assumed control with Graham Rahal and Marcus Ericsson in support positions.
Racing resumed on lap 17, but Scott McLaughlin’s contact with Siegel quickly brought out another yellow flag as Siegel spun to the back of the field.
Lap 19 witnessed another dramatic incident when Devlin DeFrancesco’s wheel detached from his car after apparent wall contact, necessitating another caution period. Rookie Louis Foster capitalised on the situation to move into third position behind Rasmussen.
Battles at the IndyCar Detroit GP intensify
The restart on lap 22 saw Rasmussen maintain his advantage despite a lock-up at turn one. Herta’s attempt to pass Palou resulted in contact with Will Power, whilst McLaughlin received a drive-through penalty for his earlier incident with Siegel.
Scott Dixon’s progress on the alternate strategy was noteworthy, climbing to fifth by lap 25. The Detroit circuit holds special significance for Dixon, being the venue of his most recent IndyCar victory.
As the race progressed, tyre management became crucial for the Andretti drivers. The alternate strategy runners began their second stops around lap 36, with Rasmussen leading the charge. Dixon inherited the race lead alongside teammate Kyffin Simpson and Power, though his late stop on lap 39 dropped him to sixth.
Kirkwood assumed race leadership by lap 41, with Power and Herta in pursuit. The proximity of Kirkwood and Power was particularly noteworthy given their earlier contact during practice.
Mechanical issues continued to plague various competitors, with a piece of Kirkwood’s diffuser detaching and affecting Power’s car on lap 45. Rasmussen’s ambitious stint on soft tyres ended with barrier contact during his outlap, though he continued.
Multiple leaders emerge
Pato O’Ward’s alternative strategy briefly put him at the front before his final stop on lap 53. His remarkable recovery from 18th on the grid to sixth position exemplified the day’s competitive nature. Similarly, Josef Newgarden’s climb of 17 positions highlighted the possibilities offered by strategic variation.
Callum Ilott’s barrier contact after exiting the pits on lap 67, caused by an insecure wheel nut, brought out the third caution. This triggered the final round of pit stops, temporarily promoting drivers like Santino Ferrucci, Simpson, and Marcus Armstrong who had completed their mandatory stops.
The most significant incident occurred on lap 73 when Malukas made contact with championship leader Palou, sending the Indy 500 winner into the tyre barriers. This marked the end of Palou’s perfect season and earned Malukas a drive-through penalty for avoidable contact.
The closing stages
Following the restart, Kirkwood managed to overtake Ferrucci for the lead despite sustaining front wing damage after contact with Simpson. Power emerged as his primary challenger but was unable to mount a successful challenge.
A dramatic incident on lap 83 saw Foster suffer a suspension failure, collecting Rosenqvist in a significant crash that required medical attention for both drivers. Rosenqvist was transported to hospital with leg pain, whilst Foster was cleared at the scene.
The red flag period allowed for final preparations, though regulations prevented Kirkwood from repairing his damaged front wing.
Final lap
The final restart with 12 laps remaining saw Kirkwood maintain his advantage despite his aerodynamic handicap. Power’s wall contact on the restart compromised his challenge, allowing Ferrucci to claim second position with Herta completing the podium positions.
Kirkwood’s victory demonstrated exceptional racecraft, managing his damaged car whilst maintaining pace sufficient to secure his maiden win of the season. Ferrucci’s second-place finish marked his first podium on a street circuit, whilst Herta salvaged a podium position despite missing out on victory from pole position.
