Kyle Kirkwood mastered the bumps, cautions, and late-race drama to win the 2025 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear on Sunday, June 1, 2025. The victory marked Kirkwood’s second win of the season and fourth career NTT INDYCAR SERIES triumph, as the Andretti Global driver fended off Santino Ferrucci and Colton Herta in a tense finish on Detroit’s tight downtown street circuit.
Kirkwood Battles Damage and Strategy
Starting third in the No. 27 Siemens AWS Honda, Kirkwood was part of a lead group that began the race on softer Firestone alternate tires. Strategic pit stops shuffled the order, but Kirkwood first grabbed the lead on Lap 39 after Scott Dixon pitted. Even after picking up front wing damage while passing Kyffin Simpson for second late in the race, Kirkwood held his pace and continued to push forward.
Key Race-Changing Moments
- Lap 67 Caution: Callum Ilott’s crash brought out a caution that shook up strategies across the field.
- Palou’s Crash: Championship leader Alex Palou was knocked into the wall on the Lap 72 restart after contact with David Malukas, ending his day and cutting his points lead.
- Red Flag Finish: A late crash involving Felix Rosenqvist and rookie Louis Foster triggered a red flag with 16 laps to go. Kirkwood kept his cool and nailed the restart, holding the lead to the finish.
Final Push to Victory
Kirkwood made a decisive move under Ferrucci in Turn 3 on Lap 79, taking a lead he would not surrender. Despite the damaged wing, he built a gap on the final restart and crossed the finish line 3.5931 seconds ahead of Ferrucci. Colton Herta secured third place, giving Andretti Global two drivers on the podium for the first time since Toronto last July.
Top 5 Finishers
- Kyle Kirkwood – No. 27 Siemens AWS Honda (Andretti Global)
- Santino Ferrucci – No. 14 Sexton Properties Chevrolet (AJ Foyt Racing)
- Colton Herta – No. 26 Gainbridge Honda (Andretti Global)
- Will Power – No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet (Team Penske)
- Kyffin Simpson – No. 8 Ridgeline Honda (Chip Ganassi Racing)
Championship Impact and What’s Next
Palou’s crash marked his first finish outside the top three this season, trimming his lead to 90 points over Pato O’Ward. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES now turns its attention to the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway on June 15 before heading to Road America.
