Kyle Kirkwood Sets Rapid Pace in Warmup on Streets of Detroit

Kyle Kirkwood sent notice Sunday morning that his defense of his 2025 victory at the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear will be strong, as he led the morning warmup for this year’s race in the Motor City.

Kirkwood (photo, top) was quickest at 1 minute, 2.4051 in the No. 27 Sam’s Club Honda of Andretti Global, a surprising gap of more than six-tenths of a second to his closest pursuer. He will start sixth in the 100-lap race (12:30 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX One, INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls) on the nine-turn, 1.645-mile temporary street circuit.

SEE: Warmup Results

2026 Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge winner Felix Rosenqvist jumped to second in the 30-minute final practice at 1:03.0140 in the No. 60 Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian Honda. Rosenqvist will start 16th in the 25-car field.

Pato O’Ward was the fastest Chevrolet-powered driver at the manufacturer’s home race, ending up third at 1:03.1780 in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. O’Ward qualified seventh.

Scott McLaughlin continued to stake his claim as the top Chevy driver at this event. He backed up his third-place qualifying performance – the quickest with Chevrolet power – by clocking in fourth in the warmup at 1:03.2625 in the No. 3 Clarience Technologies Team Penske Chevrolet.

McLaughlin’s teammate David Malukas rebounded from a heavy crash in qualifying Saturday to round out the top five in the warmup at 1:03.2943 in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet.

NTT P1 Award winner and NTT INDYCAR SERIES leader Alex Palou was eighth at 1:03.5794 in the No. 10 HRC Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.