General | May 29, 2026 | 13:38

The Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear returns to the streets of Detroit on May 29-31, marking the fourth time the event has been held downtown since 1991. The 1.7-mile track boasts nine turns, and racers reaching up to 190 MPH will roar past iconic landmarks such as the Spirit of Detroit, the Joe Louis Fist, and the Detroit Riverfront.

While the weekend is filled with events, such as the IMSA races, Grand Prix Cruise Night, and the IndyNXT races, the main event is the Chevrolet IndyCar Grand Prix on Sunday, May 31. A part of an 18-race NTT INDYCAR SERIES across the United States and Canada, the Detroit Grand Prix follows the historic Indianapolis 500 and features an international field of the world's most versatile drivers.

Want to know who to root for at this year's Detroit Grand Prix? Here is who has been on top this season, who is looking to continue their success from last season, and one of the top rookies to support as the underdog.

Kyle Kirkwood – USA
Currently ranked third overall with one win and 224 points in the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship standings, Kyle Kirkwood is the reigning champion of the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix. Despite some front wing damage towards the end of the race and multiple restarts, Kirkwood pulled away with the victory, less than four seconds ahead of Santino Ferrucci in 2025.

The victory marked Kirkwood's second of three wins in the 2025 season and the fourth of his NTT INDYCAR SERIES career, which led to a fourth overall finish in the championship standings. Returning to the Motor City, Kirkwood looks to become the first back-to-back champion since Graham Rahal won both races during the 2017 Detroit Grand Prix.

This season, Kirkwood has already won one race: the inaugural Java House Grand Prix of Arlington. The Florida native won the race by just 0.314 seconds over runner-up Alex Palou back in March, which came right after his runner-up finish at the Good Ranchers 250 the week before. His season has been nothing short of a success, finishing in the top 10 in all but one of his starts this year, with five of his top finishes placing in the top five.

Alex Palou – Spain
At the top of the championship rankings leaderboard is Alex Palou. The reigning four-time INDYCAR SERIES champion currently leads with three wins, three poles, and 273 total points. While he was forced out of the race after making hard contact with the Turn 1 barrier on lap 72 at last year's Detroit Grand Prix, Palou looks to earn yet another top finish to this season's accolades.

Last season, Palou earned eight wins, six poles, and 14 top-five finishes in 17 starts. His most notable performance of the season was winning the 109^th running of the Indianapolis 500, making history as the first Spaniard to claim both an INDYCAR title and the Indy 500.

In the first seven races of the INDYCAR 2026 season, Palou has been crowned the champion of the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, the Children's of Alabama Indy Grand Prix, and the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. The No. 10 Honda driver aims to secure his fourth victory of the year in Detroit and his second Detroit Grand Prix win, having previously won the title in 2023.

Scott Dixon – New Zealand
Looking to avenge his 2024 Detroit Grand Prix title is New Zealand driver Scott Dixon. The 45-year-old is in his 26^th NTT INDYCAR SERIES season, currently holds the most wins of any active driver with 59, and set the all-time record for series starts in 2025. Still awaiting his first victory of the 2026 season, Dixon ranks ninth in the championship standings with five top 10 finishes in seven races.

Dixon placed just 19 points ahead of Kirkwood in 2025 to take third in the championship standings. His lone win of the season was at the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio, finishing less than 0.5 seconds ahead of Chip Ganassi Racing teammate, Alex Palou. With 12 top 10 finishes, including six top-five finishes last season, Dixon remains one of the best racers.
In his 26 years of racing, Dixon has won six series championships: 2003, 2008, 2013, 2015, 2018, and 2020. Other notable achievements include winning the 2008 Indianapolis 500, being inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2024 and being knighted by New Zealand in 2025.

Dennis Hauger – Norway
The leading rookie racer is 23-year-old Dennis Hauger. Nicknamed the "Norwegian Nightmare," Hauger has performed well thus far, winning the 2021 FIA Formula 3 championship and the 2025 INDY NXT championship with six wins and eight poles.

In his seven starts at the INDYCAR level, Hauger sits at 18^th overall with two top 10 finishes -- the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg and the Sonsio Grand Prix. He currently sits at the top of the rookie standings with 111 points and has been enjoying every moment of his first season and sharing it all on social media. Hauger is the perfect person to root for if you want to see an underdog rise to the top. 

Catch these racers take the streets of Detroit this Sunday at 12:30 p.m. (ET) to see who will take home this year's Detroit Grand Prix title!