Seven years after his INDYCAR debut in Detroit, Santino Ferrucci is preparing to make a powerful comeback in this weekend’s race, fueled by fresh momentum and strong backing from Chevrolet. Having built a promising career with consistent top-10 finishes at the Indy 500, Ferrucci sees the Detroit street circuit as a key opportunity to continue his streak and improve his standing in the season.
Early Career Challenges and Growing Connection to Detroit
Ferrucci’s first appearance in Detroit did not go as planned; he failed to finish the opening race of the doubleheader and came in 20th, one lap behind his competitors in the other event. Despite this rough start, the weekend marked the beginning of a flourishing INDYCAR career and a special bond with Detroit. Ferrucci expressed his affection for the city, highlighting his annual birthday celebrations there and his appreciation for the local restaurants. He also emphasized the personal significance of competing with Chevrolet, a brand linked to his family since childhood.
“I came up here early so I can eat at all the restaurants I can and I celebrate my birthday here basically every year, too. So this place is very special to me in that sense, but also being partnered with Chevrolet, I’ve had them in my family since I was a kid, so being here, it means a lot.” — Santino Ferrucci, INDYCAR driver
Recent Success and Optimism Ahead of Detroit Race
Ferrucci, who turned 27 years old on Saturday, arrives in Detroit buoyed by a strong performance at the Indianapolis 500, where he finished fifth. This marks his seventh consecutive top-10 Indy 500 finish—a remarkable feat early in his career. He is confident he can replicate that success on Detroit’s challenging street course and is hopeful of securing a top-10 finish once again this weekend.
“I’m really happy with our car right now and we had a really good street car in Long Beach that should carry over here to Detroit,”
Ferrucci said.
“Chevrolet has done a lot of work on drivability for the street courses, too, so we’re hoping that, especially with this place being as tight and as slow as it can be, that it plays a factor for us to put it in victory lane.” — Santino Ferrucci, INDYCAR driver
Challenges This Season and The Drive for Consistency
Currently ranked 16th in the INDYCAR standings, Ferrucci is eager to close the gap with his teammate David Malukas, who holds 10th place and leads by just seven points. Ferrucci believes that bad luck early in the season, including unfavorable race strategies and difficult starting positions, has prevented him from competing higher up. He is optimistic that a clean, consistent weekend at Detroit could help elevate him among the top drivers.
“We’ve had so many races this year where strategy hasn’t gone in our favor, or like Long Beach for example, where we were fast but started last,”
Ferrucci highlighted.
“Just having a clean weekend is going to be huge. If we can just be consistent, I think we have the pace to start rolling in the top 10s, and even some top fives and some wins.” — Santino Ferrucci, INDYCAR driver
Embracing Detroit’s Street Circuit and Its Unique Challenges
The Detroit course is known for its tight layout and aggressive nature, which suits Ferrucci’s bold driving style. Starting 21st on the grid, he appreciates the track’s bumps and rough surfaces, which create passing chances and add an element of unpredictability that he enjoys navigating. While track officials plan to smooth out some of the bumps, Ferrucci hopes the signature rough patches remain, as they add diversity to the racing experience.
“I think they suit me a bit better,”
Ferrucci said of the bumps.
“I think they add a bit of diversity to this place and change it up. When the track is smooth, everybody’s hitting the same line all the time, but the bumps throw people off. You don’t hit them perfectly right and you can lose time or have a moment and that creates some passing opportunities.”
“I know they’re trying to make the surface somewhat smoother, but I’m hoping they don’t get rid of all of them.” — Santino Ferrucci, INDYCAR driver
Looking Ahead: Potential Impact of a Strong Detroit Performance
If Ferrucci can harness his momentum and Chevrolet’s improvements in car performance, a strong finish in Detroit could mark an important turning point in his 2024 INDYCAR season. Closing the gap in the points standings and maintaining a streak of top-10 finishes could elevate his profile and add to A.J. Foyt Racing’s competitive momentum. The coming weekend in Detroit provides a crucial chance for Ferrucci to capitalize on his confidence and aggressive racing style amid one of the season’s toughest street circuits.