Colton Herta secured the pole position for the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear on Saturday, ending any speculation about which Andretti Global driver would lead the team in qualifying. With a fastest lap of 1 minute, 0.4779 seconds in the No. 26 Gainbridge Honda during the Firestone Fast Six, Herta earned his first pole of the season and the 15th of his NTT INDYCAR SERIES career on the downtown Detroit street circuit.
Herta’s pole-winning effort came after a daring gamble in the final qualifying round, where he started on used primary Firestone Firehawk tires before switching early to a fresh set of the softer alternate tires. While the other five Fast Six competitors used a mix of new and used alternate tires throughout, Herta’s choice to change tires mid-session paid off, delivering superior grip and speed.
Herta Reflects on Tire Challenge and Race Expectations
After clinching pole, Herta acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding the softer tires, stating,
“It was such an unknown, and we were not really strong, to be completely honest, yesterday with the softer tires.”
He praised his team’s overnight work and the performance of the Gainbridge Honda on Saturday.
“It was such an unknown, and we were not really strong, to be completely honest, yesterday with the softer tires,”
—Colton Herta, Driver
Herta expressed optimism ahead of the race, adding,
“Happy to start P1 tomorrow – the best seat in the house. Now we just need a nice, easy race – no yellows, go back to how it was before Indy – and make it easy on us.”
“Happy to start P1 tomorrow – the best seat in the house. Now we just need a nice, easy race – no yellows, go back to how it was before Indy – and make it easy on us.”
—Colton Herta, Driver
Additional Sessions and Race Time Schedule
The race day continues with a warm-up session scheduled for 9:30 a.m. ET, followed by the main 100-lap Detroit Grand Prix race at 12:30 p.m. ET, both broadcast on FS1 and available through the FOX Sports app and INDYCAR Radio Network.
Other Top Qualifiers Shine Alongside Herta
David Malukas kept his strong form going for A.J. Foyt Enterprises, earning a career-best-tying second place in qualifying with a lap time of 1:00.6492 in the No. 4 Clarience Technologies Chevrolet. This marked his best qualifying result on a road or street course, having previously achieved second-place starts only on ovals. Malukas finished as runner-up in the recent Indianapolis 500, further showcasing his growth on diverse tracks.
Kyle Kirkwood continued to deliver a solid weekend for Andretti Global by qualifying third at 1:00.7312 in the No. 27 Siemens AWS Honda. Kirkwood had shown strong pace in practice sessions, leading Friday and demonstrating consistent speed throughout the weekend.
Sharing the second row with Kirkwood, Christian Lundgaard qualified fourth in the No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet with a lap of 1:00.8938. Lundgaard rounds out the strong front at the start.
Graham Rahal secured fifth place with a time of 1:01.0651 in the No. 15 JJ Curran Crane Company Honda, continuing Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s recent success on circuit tracks that feature both left and right turns. Rahal’s recent second-place qualifying effort at the Sonsio Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course underscores his improved road course performance.
Points Leader Alex Palou Qualifies Sixth Despite Early Session Challenges
Alex Palou, who leads the series standings with five wins out of six races including last weekend’s Indianapolis 500, qualified sixth at 1:01.4680 in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. This marked a modest recovery after ranking 15th and 12th in the initial practice sessions. Despite this qualifying result tying Palou’s second-worst for the season, his sizeable points lead of 112 over second-place Pato O’Ward remains unthreatened.
Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward experienced a setback during qualifying and will start 18th after not advancing past the first round in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet.
Detroit Pole Puts Herta in Strong Starting Position Ahead of Crucial Race
Colton Herta’s decision to pursue a bold tire strategy and secure pole position sets Andretti Global up for a commanding presence in the Detroit Grand Prix. With the team showing strong pace throughout the weekend, particularly on this challenging street circuit, Herta and his teammates are well-positioned to contend for top race results. Herta’s pole not only bolsters his momentum but also keeps the spotlight on Andretti Global’s competitive edge this season. The upcoming race will test the drivers’ ability to maintain consistency and capitalize on their qualifying performances amid Detroit’s tight urban layout and evolving track conditions.