2018 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix

Last updated

Flag of the United States.svg 2018 Detroit
Race details
7th and 8th round of the 2018 IndyCar Series season
Detroit Grand Prix on Belle Isle 2015.svg
DateJune 2 and 3, 2018
Official name Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear Corporation
Location The Raceway on Belle Isle
CourseTemporary street circuit
2.350 mi / 3.782 km
Distance70 laps
164.500 mi / 264.737 km
Race 1
Pole position
Driver Flag of the United States.svg Flag of the United States.svg Marco Andretti  (Andretti Herta Autosport with Curb-Agajanian)
Time1:14.8514
Fastest lap
Driver Flag of the United States.svg Flag of the United States.svg Ryan Hunter-Reay  (Andretti Autosport)
Time1:15.8049 (on lap 40 of 70)
Podium
First Flag of New Zealand.svg Flag of New Zealand.svg Scott Dixon  (Chip Ganassi Racing)
Second Flag of the United States.svg Flag of the United States.svg Ryan Hunter-Reay  (Andretti Autosport)
Third Flag of the United States.svg Flag of the United States.svg Alexander Rossi  (Andretti Autosport)
Race 2
Pole position
Driver Flag of the United States.svg Alexander Rossi  ( Flag of the United States.svg Andretti Autosport)
Time1:33.3143
Fastest lap
Driver Flag of the United States.svg Flag of the United States.svg Ryan Hunter-Reay  (Andretti Autosport)
Time1:15.0590 (on lap 59 of 70)
Podium
First Flag of the United States.svg Flag of the United States.svg Ryan Hunter-Reay  (Andretti Autosport)
Second Flag of Australia (converted).svg Flag of Australia (converted).svg Will Power  (Team Penske)
Third Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Ed Jones  (Chip Ganassi Racing)

The Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear Corporation was the lone doubleheader event of the 2018 IndyCar Series season, consisting of the 7th and 8th rounds of the championship. The event was held at The Raceway at Belle Isle in Detroit, Michigan. Scott Dixon won Race 1, and Ryan Hunter-Reay won the Sunday race.

Contents

This event also marked the final IndyCar Series broadcast for ABC, ending a half-century stint covering the series (and its predecessors), as starting in 2019, NBC Sports was the series' only broadcaster. This would ultimately mark the end of Scott Goodyear's commentary career after 17 seasons with ESPN.

Race 1 – Saturday, June 2

Results

IconMeaning
RRookie
WPast winner
W1Past winner of race 1 in doubleheader
W2Past winner of race 2 in doubleheader

Qualifying

PosNo.NameGroupTime
198 Flag of the United States.svg Marco Andretti 21:14.8514
29 Flag of New Zealand.svg Scott Dixon W11:15.4186
36 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Robert Wickens R21:15.3267
427 Flag of the United States.svg Alexander Rossi 11:15.4946
528 Flag of the United States.svg Ryan Hunter-Reay 21:15.3351
612 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Will Power W1W211:15.7210
730 Flag of Japan.svg Takuma Sato 21:15.3920
815 Flag of the United States.svg Graham Rahal W1W211:15.8273
95 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg James Hinchcliffe 21:15.5402
1059 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Max Chilton 11:16.0396
1110 Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Ed Jones 21:15.8876
1221 Flag of the United States.svg Spencer Pigot 11:16.1430
1322 Flag of France.svg Simon Pagenaud W221:16.0099
141 Flag of the United States.svg Josef Newgarden 11:16.1923
1510 Flag of Brazil.svg Tony Kanaan W21:16.0740
1626 Flag of the United States.svg Zach Veach R11:16.3157
1718 Flag of France.svg Sébastien Bourdais W221:16.2205
1819 Flag of the United States.svg Santino Ferrucci R11:15.8343
1988 Flag of Colombia.svg Gabby Chaves 21:16.7531
2020 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jordan King R11:16.9075
214 Flag of Brazil.svg Matheus Leist R21:16.4182
2223 Flag of the United States.svg Charlie Kimball 11:17.2067
2332 Flag of Austria.svg René Binder R21:18.6108
OFFICIAL BOX SCORE [ permanent dead link ]

Race

PosNo.DriverTeamEngineLapsTime/RetiredPit StopsGridLaps LedPts. 1
19 Flag of New Zealand.svg Scott Dixon W Chip Ganassi Racing Honda 701:39:24.6189223954
228 Flag of the United States.svg Ryan Hunter-Reay Andretti Autosport Honda 70+1.824935741
327 Flag of the United States.svg Alexander Rossi Andretti Autosport Honda 70+4.17712435
498 Flag of the United States.svg Marco Andretti Andretti Herta Autosport with Curb-Agajanian Honda 70+11.5191212234
530 Flag of Japan.svg Takuma Sato Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda 70+11.87572730
610 Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Ed Jones Chip Ganassi Racing Honda 70+13.764921128
712 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Will Power W1W2 Team Penske Chevrolet 70+15.07332626
86 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Robert Wickens R Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Honda 70+21.47153324
91 Flag of the United States.svg Josef Newgarden Team Penske Chevrolet 70+21.562231422
1021 Flag of the United States.svg Spencer Pigot Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet 70+21.952321220
115 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg James Hinchcliffe Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Honda 70+22.31584919
1226 Flag of the United States.svg Zach Veach R Andretti Autosport Honda 70+23.062121618
1318 Flag of France.svg Sébastien Bourdais W2 Dale Coyne Racing with Vasser-Sullivan Honda 70+23.344121717
1414 Flag of Brazil.svg Tony Kanaan W A. J. Foyt Enterprises Chevrolet 70+26.187731516
154 Flag of Brazil.svg Matheus Leist R A. J. Foyt Enterprises Chevrolet 70+26.547132115
1620 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jordan King R Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet 70+27.015632014
1722 Flag of France.svg Simon Pagenaud W2 Team Penske Chevrolet 70+29.803831313
1888 Flag of Colombia.svg Gabby Chaves Harding Racing Chevrolet 70+33.724631912
1923 Flag of the United States.svg Charlie Kimball Carlin Chevrolet 70+34.091132211
2059 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Max Chilton Carlin Chevrolet 70+34.858431010
2132 Flag of Austria.svg René Binder R Juncos Racing Chevrolet 67+3 laps2239
2219 Flag of the United States.svg Santino Ferrucci R Dale Coyne Racing Honda 55Contact2188
2315 Flag of the United States.svg Graham Rahal W1W2 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda 45Crash2828
OFFICIAL BOX SCORE [ permanent dead link ]

Notes: 1 Points include 1 point for leading at least 1 lap during a race, an additional 2 points for leading the most race laps. For Detroit only, 1 bonus point was awarded to the fastest qualifier from both groups.

Championship standings after Race 1

Race 2 – Sunday, June 3

Results

IconMeaning
RRookie
WPast winner
W1Past winner of race 1 in doubleheader
W2Past winner of race 2 in doubleheader

Qualifying

PosNo.NameGroupTime
127 Flag of the United States.svg Alexander Rossi 11:33.3143
26 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Robert Wickens R21:33.6605
312 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Will Power W1W211:33.8295
410 Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Ed Jones 21:33.9256
59 Flag of New Zealand.svg Scott Dixon WW111:33.9544
65 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg James Hinchcliffe 21:34.1370
726 Flag of the United States.svg Zach Veach R11:34.6464
822 Flag of France.svg Simon Pagenaud W221:34.2315
915 Flag of the United States.svg Graham Rahal W1W211:35.0256
1028 Flag of the United States.svg Ryan Hunter-Reay 21:34.5021
1120 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jordan King R11:35.1374
1298 Flag of the United States.svg Marco Andretti 21:34.5475
1319 Flag of the United States.svg Santino Ferrucci R11:35.4664
1488 Flag of Colombia.svg Gabby Chaves 21:35.6045
1521 Flag of the United States.svg Spencer Pigot 11:36.3713
1618 Flag of France.svg Sébastien Bourdais W221:35.6692
1759 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Max Chilton 11:36.9796
184 Flag of Brazil.svg Matheus Leist R21:36.0439
191 Flag of the United States.svg Josef Newgarden 11:38.3041
2030 Flag of Japan.svg Takuma Sato 21:37.0851
2123 Flag of the United States.svg Charlie Kimball 11:39.3597
2210 Flag of Brazil.svg Tony Kanaan W2No time
2332 Flag of Austria.svg René Binder R2No time
OFFICIAL BOX SCORE [ permanent dead link ]

Race

PosNo.DriverTeamEngineLapsTime/RetiredPit StopsGridLaps LedPts. 1
128 Flag of the United States.svg Ryan Hunter-Reay Andretti Autosport Honda 701:33:50.57843101851
212 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Will Power W1W2 Team Penske Chevrolet 70+11.35492340
310 Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Ed Jones Chip Ganassi Racing Honda 70+13.22912435
49 Flag of New Zealand.svg Scott Dixon WW1 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda 70+13.76522532
515 Flag of the United States.svg Graham Rahal W1W2 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda 70+16.62802930
66 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Robert Wickens R Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Honda 70+34.939832630
714 Flag of Brazil.svg Tony Kanaan W A. J. Foyt Enterprises Chevrolet 70+41.632812226
823 Flag of the United States.svg Charlie Kimball Carlin Chevrolet 70+47.355322124
998 Flag of the United States.svg Marco Andretti Andretti Herta Autosport with Curb-Agajanian Honda 70+56.629331222
1022 Flag of France.svg Simon Pagenaud W2 Team Penske Chevrolet 70+59.58912820
1159 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Max Chilton Carlin Chevrolet 70+1:04.686821719
1227 Flag of the United States.svg Alexander Rossi Andretti Autosport Honda 70+1:06.6419314622
1326 Flag of the United States.svg Zach Veach R Andretti Autosport Honda 70+1:07.64381717
144 Flag of Brazil.svg Matheus Leist R A. J. Foyt Enterprises Chevrolet 70+1:11.674221816
151 Flag of the United States.svg Josef Newgarden Team Penske Chevrolet 70+1:14.282021915
165 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg James Hinchcliffe Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Honda 70+1:17.37293614
1730 Flag of Japan.svg Takuma Sato Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda 69+1 lap22013
1820 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jordan King R Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet 69+1 lap11112
1988 Flag of Colombia.svg Gabby Chaves Harding Racing Chevrolet 69+1 lap21411
2019 Flag of the United States.svg Santino Ferrucci R Dale Coyne Racing Honda 69+1 lap31310
2118 Flag of France.svg Sébastien Bourdais W2 Dale Coyne Racing with Vasser-Sullivan Honda 67+3 laps4169
2232 Flag of Austria.svg René Binder R Juncos Racing Chevrolet 66+4 laps2238
2321 Flag of the United States.svg Spencer Pigot Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet 21Mechanical2157
OFFICIAL BOX SCORE [ permanent dead link ]

Notes: 1 Points include 1 point for leading at least 1 lap during a race, an additional 2 points for leading the most race laps. For Detroit only, 1 bonus point was awarded to the fastest qualifier from both groups.

Championship standings after Race 2

Pace car incident

During the opening pace laps of Race #2, the 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 pace car leading the field and being driven by General Motors executive Mark Reuss lost control and crashed head-on into the left-hand retaining wall coming out of the exit of turn two of the track, shortly after leaving pit road. Neither Reuss nor Mark Sandy, an IndyCar official who was a passenger in the car, were injured in the crash and were able to exit the vehicle after the crash. [1] Because the race cars had just left pit road and were being led by the pace car, all of the drivers in the race, except for Alexander Rossi, stopped on the track behind the wrecked car as safety crews and track workers cleaned up debris from the accident and removed the damaged vehicle. Rossi, who was to start the race from the pole position and was directly behind the pace car when the incident occurred, was the only driver to drive past the crash and returned to pit road afterwards. Approximately 20 minutes after the crash, the cars still on the track had their engines re-fired and were directed to drive to pit road in order to reset the starting grid for the race start. An identical back-up pace car of the same make and model was brought out to pace the field, this time driven by former IndyCar driver and official Oriol Servià who regularly drove the pace car during caution periods. The incident delayed the start of the race by over 30 minutes from its scheduled start time of 3:50pm local time. [1] The race eventually went green sometime past 4:20pm.

An official statement from General Motors, of which Chevrolet is a division of, read in part, "It is unfortunate that this incident happened. Many factors contributed, including weather and track conditions. The car’s safety systems performed as expected." [2] Reuss, who had previous experience driving high powered cars in his tenure at General Motors, posted his own statement onto his Facebook page apologizing for the mishap: "I have driven this course many many many times. I have paced this race in the wet, cold, hot, and calm. On Z06’s, Grand Sports, and other things. It is never a casual thing for me, but an honor to be asked. Today I let down my friends, my family, IndyCar, our city and my company. Sorry does not describe it. I want to thank our engineers for providing me the safety I know is the best in the world." [2] IndyCar drivers Will Power and eventual race winner Ryan Hunter-Reay were sympathetic to Reuss in their comments on the incident following the race, with Power saying, "I felt really bad for whoever was in the pace car. It's very easy to do, and the traction control must have been turned off. Wasn't really his fault." [1]

The unusual incident garnered massive amounts of attention on social media and news outlets, with Adam Stern of Sports Business Journal tweeting that the exposure that the crash gave to Chevrolet was " more than 70 times" worth the exposure Chevrolet earned from the race itself. [3] The incident was briefly mentioned by television presenter Jeremy Clarkson in series 3, episode 8 of the Amazon Prime Video motoring show The Grand Tour while Clarkson was test driving a Corvette similar to the one Reuss had crashed. Nearly one year after the crash, Reuss was given the opportunity to drive the pace car for the opening laps of the 2019 edition of the race, this time doing so without incident. [4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Krupa, Gregg. "GM exec: 'Sorry does not describe' crashing pace car at Detroit Grand Prix". The Detroit News. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  2. 1 2 Bonkowski, Jerry. "GM exec who crashed Corvette before IndyCar race issues apology". NBC Sports. NBC Sports. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  3. Stern, Adam. "Adam Stern on Twitter: "The exposure that @Chevrolet and its Corvette brand got yesterday due to ZR1 pace car crash was more than 70 times' worth the exposure it got during @DetroitGP 's race No. 1 Saturday, per Apex Marketing Group ( @ApexMGAnalytics ). ➖ It generated $3.47M in exposure as of this AM."". Twitter. Adam Stern. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  4. Phelan, Mark. "GM's Mark Reuss gives Grand Prix track another try. Here's what happened". Detroit Free Press. Detroit Free Press. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
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2018 Indianapolis 500
IndyCar Series
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2018 DXC Technology 600
Previous race:
2017 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix
Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix Next race:
2019 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix