DETROIT — Colton Herta won the pole for the second-straight year at the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix, knocking David Malukas off the pole with a fast time of 1:00.4779 around the 9-turn, 1.645-mile street circuit.
It was the Andretti Global driver’s fist pole since Toronto in 2024.
It was Herta’s 15th career IndyCar pole.
“It was such an unknown and we were not really strong on the softer tires but the guys did a great job overnight,” Herta said. “We’ll have the best seat in the house and hope for a nice, easy race without any yellows like we had before Indy.”
Herta’s team used the Firestone Alternate Tire rather than save a set for the race because they knew they had a great shot at the pole.
Malukas continued his charge with a second-place qualification time of 1:00.6492 in the No. 4 Chevrolet for A.J. Foyt Racing.
“We’re starting off where we finished the Indy 500,” Malukas said. “We’re still in that P2 spot. The mood has really lifted up on us and we can see where that momentum is carrying us.
“First time in the Fast Six after a long time, so we’re really happy with that. To be, it’s a big thing for these engineers and all this hard work is finally starting to show.”
Kyle Kirkwood of Andretti Global was third at 1:00.7312 in the No. 27 Honda.
That means three drivers from the United States will start in the first three positions on a street course – a rarity in IndyCar.
“I’ve never been more disappointed with a third in my life,” Kirkwood said. “I was on pace heading into Turn 3, but brushed the wall just enough to break a tow-link.
“I threw it away, but congrats to Colton. I’m glad one of us at Andretti Global won the pole.
“We’ve been fast here the last couple years in races, but I keep throwing away poles. We’ll focus on tomorrow.”
Arrow McLaren’s Christian Lundgaard was fourth at 1:00.8938 in the No. 7 Chevrolet, making the driver from Denmark the highest starting international driver on the grid.
“We used our softer tires in Q1 and the others saved their tires for the Fast Six,” Lundgaard said. “But we proved today we are competitive. Kudos to the team.”
Graham Rahal of the United States was fifth at 101.0651 in the No. 15 Honda. He will start 11th because of a six-grid position penalty for surpassing his allotment of engines.
“It’s nice this weekend to be able to attack,” Rahal said. “Two years ago, we were awful here as a team. To see that sort of gain, I didn’t expect this at all.
“I know we have the grid penalty and will start 11th, but I’m excited. We have a lot of opportunity to make things happen. It’s going to be a mess tomorrow, that’s how it always is here.
“We have to keep it clean and stay out of the mess here, but we can do it and hopefully find our way through.
“We have speed and that is a good feeling.”
Last week’s Indianapolis 500 winner and the big story of the 2025 season, Alex Palou, was the last driver in the Fast Six at 1:01.4680 in the No. 10 DHL Honda for Chip Ganassi Racing.
“Honestly, I’m always happy when I’m in the Fast Six, especially have this weekend,” Palou said. “I’m happy, see what we can do on Sunday, a solid start for us.
“You cannot plan this race, it’s Detroit. When you have a fast car, it helps. We will try to have a fast car in warmup. I think the alternate tires will play a big role. We will try to make the soft tires last, but it will be interesting.”
Rahal was on top with 3:30 left in the Fast Six, before Malukas bounced him off the peak at 1:01.6889 in the No. 4 Chevrolet at 3:20 remaining.
Malukas pulled into the pits with 1:10 remaining and was finished. That meant he would have to endure the remainder of the session from pit lane.
And that is where he saw Herta move up to P1 at 1:00.4779 as he won the Verizon P1 Award.
In the first group in Segment One, many teams chose the softer alternate tire because of the cold temperatures on the track surface.
The session ran without incident and when it was completed, Team Penske’s Will Power was the fastest driver in the group with a lap at 1:00.9823 in the No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet. IndyCar Series points leader Alex Palou was second at 1:01.0246 in the No. 10 DHL Honda followed by Arrow McLaren’s Christian Lundgaard’s 1:01.0429 in the No. 7 Chevrolet. Team Penske’s Scott McLaughlin was fourth at 1:01.0952 in the No. 3 Chevrolet followed by Rinus VeeKay’s No. 18 Honda at Dale Coyne Racing with a time of 1:01.3714.
Marcus Ericsson of Andretti Global was the last driver to advance out of the first group of Segment One with a time of 1:01.3816 in the No. 28 Honda.
It was another clean session from start to finish with Andretti Global’s Colton Herta’s No. 26 Gainbridge Honda the fastest at 1:00.6878. Graham Rahal of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing had a fantastic effort in the No. 15 Honda and finished second at 1:00.7115 followed by Chevy driver David Malukas’ time of 1:00.8700 for AJ Foyt Racing.
ECR’s Christian Lundgaard was fourth at 1:00.9081 in the No. 21 Chevrolet followed by Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood at 1:00.9970 in the No. 27 Honda and Scott Dixon’s No. 9 PNC Bank Honda at 1:01.2008 to round out the Fast Six.
Less than one-hundredth of a second is all that kept Louis Foster from advancing into the top 12.
“We just missed it, it was close and there wasn’t more we could do,” Foster said. “We’re pretty happy with that. Graham Rahal has a fast car and hopefully he can do well in the next round.”
David Malukas closed the session with a brilliant lap of 1:00.5232 with 14 seconds left, but Herta could not be denied as he knocked him off the top spot at 1:00.4569 as the checkered flag waves. Herta’s teammate, Kirkwood, also went faster than Malukas at the checkered, for another frantic finish in knockout qualifying on a street race.
Christian Lundgaard was third at 1:00.5673 followed by Palou’s 1:00.6273 and Rahal’s 1:00.6952.
VeeKay was the first driver to miss the cut and will start seventh after a lap at 1:00.7208.
He was followed by McLaughlin, Power, Dixon, Armstrong and Rasmussen.
