Alex Palou Earns Redemption in the Detroit Grand Prix

Alex Palou earned redemption at the Detroit Street Circuit in the No. 10 Honda for Chip Ganassi Racing.

Last season, he DNF’d following contact from David Malukas during a restart, resulting in a 25th place finish. The season prior was a disappointing 16th-place finish, but this season saw a trip to Victory Lane.

This is Palou’s fourth win of the season, all on street courses, and 23rd of his career. 

“It was a tough one,” Palou said, “but the team did an incredible job once again with the strategy.”

This victory extends his lead in the championship standings, now maintaining a 62-point lead over Detroit’s runner-up Kyle Kirkwood. Rounding out the podium for the third time this season, Graham Rahal finished in third.

The race began with Palou maintaining the lead from the pole, keeping it until the first caution for Christian Rasmussen who hit the wall hard. This was the latest in a disastrous month of May for ECR. Alexander Rossi hit the wall on the parade laps and earned multiple penalties, yet his 17th-place finish stands as the only ECR car to actually finish an event all May. Meanwhile, Rasmussen sits 24th in points with his No. 21 sitting 14 points out of the Leader’s Circle.

Christian Rasmussen's day is done in Detroit. pic.twitter.com/yfWcu5k0qg

— INDYCAR on FOX (@IndyCarOnFOX) May 31, 2026

Palou led the field back to green on Lap 15 and briefly maintained his lead before losing it to Will Power two laps later. A four-car battle for the lead between Power, Scott McLaughlin, Christian Lundgaard, along with the Spaniard erupted right before pit stops.

Palou pitted on Lap 34 with the following lap showing McLaughlin and Lundgaard pass Power before the former Penske teammates pit together.

Lap 39 saw a second full-course caution for Rahal, which brought the top-3, Marcus Armstrong, Felix Rosenqvist, and Josef Newgarden, to pit road. Palou maintained the lead on the restart six laps later, then made his final pitstop Lap 64 for hard tires. 

Kirkwood’s plan to stay out longer on his hard tires was foiled by a caution on Lap 66 due to Santino Ferrucci spinning Rinus VeeKay. This caution promised a chaotic running order, but Lap 73 saw yet another caution with Mick Schumacher and David Malukus spinning after a hard battle for 3rd-place. This allowed Kirkwood to return to third, which turned into second when Rossi served his first of two penalties. 

With 22 to go, the Florida-born driver wound up right on the Spaniard’s bumper, but a move could not be attempted because of a caution for Ferrucci being stalled on track. Power also retired from the race during this caution. Palou had a 2-second lead erased with 10 to go due to Rossi spinning out Romain Grosjean, earning the American his second penalty.

Also during this cycle was major contact between Power and McLaughlin. The two were battling for position, when McLaughlin pushed Power’s car into the wall and sent his front wheels air born. Both drivers retired from the race due to the contact.

"Fuck off." 😬

Will Power had a message for the camera operator after an exit from the Detroit GP, understandably frustrated following contact with Scott McLaughlin. pic.twitter.com/JvTq6YPYQD

— Taylor Kitchen (@_TaylorKitchen_) May 31, 2026

The final restart came with 7 to go, and Palou earned the victory. Other notable finishers include the McLaren teammates of Pato O’Ward and Lundgaard rounding out the top-5, a 6th-place from the Indianapolis 500 winner Rosenqvist, and an impressive top-10 from Newgarden despite nursing injury.

Official Results: