Alex Palou wins Detroit Grand Prix, extends lead

Alex Palou secured his fourth victory of the 2026 IndyCar season Sunday, winning a chaotic Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix on the downtown street circuit. The Chip Ganassi Racing driver started from pole position and led 71 of the race’s 100 laps, ultimately crossing the finish line 3.0584 seconds ahead of Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood. Graham Rahal completed the podium in third, marking an all-Honda sweep in Chevrolet’s home event.

The race was defined by frequent incidents and six full-course cautions on the tight, 1.645-mile course. Palou’s path to victory was not straightforward; he briefly lost the lead during an early stint but regained control through pit strategy. A critical decision to switch to the more durable primary tires on lap 63 proved decisive. Despite managing a tire lock-up late in the race and navigating repeated restarts under pressure, Palou maintained his composure. He described the win as incredibly tough and credited his team’s strategy and pit stops.

Kirkwood provided a persistent challenge on alternate tires in the closing stages but settled for second. Rahal’s third-place finish marked his third podium of the season, a result achieved despite being...