IndyCar - Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix

The Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix, presented by Lear, returns to the Streets of Detroit for the 2026 racing season. This premier IndyCar event brings the NTT IndyCar Series to downtown Detroit, Michigan, along with the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and INDY NXT by Firestone. The race marks the 36th Grand Prix weekend in Detroit's racing history and continues the tradition of street circuit racing that first began in the city in 1982.

The Streets of Detroit Circuit

The temporary street circuit measures 1.7 miles in length and features nine turns. The track layout uses several well-known downtown roads including Jefferson Avenue, Bates Street, Atwater Street, St. Antoine, Franklin Street, and Rivard Street. The circuit offers a mix of elevation changes and corner types that range from slow hairpins to high-speed sections.

Jefferson Avenue hosts a 0.7-mile front straightaway, which stands as the longest straight on any IndyCar street circuit. This extended stretch leads directly into Turn 3, a wide hairpin that creates opportunities for overtaking. The track also incorporates a unique double-sided pit lane configuration.

NTT IndyCar Series Competition

The Chevrolet INDYCAR Grand Prix serves as the headline race of the weekend. The NTT IndyCar Series event runs for 100 laps, covering approximately 170 miles on the Detroit street circuit. FOX will broadcast the race live, with FOX 2 Detroit serving as the local affiliate.

All IndyCar entries use Dallara chassis paired with either Chevrolet or Honda engines. Firestone supplies tires for all competitors and provides both primary and alternate tire compounds for street course racing. Teams must use the alternate compound twice and the primary compound once during the race, with each set requiring at least two green-flag laps.

Push-to-Pass System

IndyCar drivers have access to 150 seconds of total Push-to-Pass time during the race. Each activation can last up to 15 seconds maximum. This system allows drivers to temporarily increase engine power output for overtaking maneuvers.

Race Officiating

The 2026 season introduces INDYCAR Officiating, a new independent organization that manages all competition officiating. An Independent Officiating Board with three members oversees this organization. Technical inspections occur five times throughout each race weekend to maintain competitive balance and ensure rule compliance.

Supporting Race Series

INDY NXT by Firestone showcases developing talent in the IndyCar driver development system. The series runs a 45-lap race with a 55-minute time limit. FS1 provides broadcast coverage of the INDY NXT race. Teams in this series can field a maximum of four cars, and drivers receive 50 Push-to-Pass activations or 150 seconds of total Push-to-Pass time.

The IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship brings GTP and GTD PRO class competitors to Detroit. NBC broadcasts the sports car race, with WDIV Local 4 as the Detroit-area station.

Expected Teams and Competitors

The full field of NTT IndyCar Series teams will compete on the Streets of Detroit. Team Penske has earned nine victories in Detroit throughout the event's history. Chip Ganassi Racing, Andretti Global, and Arrow McLaren represent other major teams expected to contend. Scott Dixon holds the record for most Detroit wins with four victories across his career.

Detroit Grand Prix History

Detroit first hosted a Grand Prix in 1982 as a Formula One event on downtown streets. The race transitioned to CART sanctioning in 1989 and continued on a modified downtown circuit until 1991. From 1992 through 2022, the race took place on Belle Isle, an island park in the Detroit River. Various sanctioning bodies including CART, Champ Car, and the IndyCar Series have organized the event over the decades.

The Grand Prix returned to downtown streets in 2023 for the first time since 1991. Economic challenges caused race cancellations from 2002-2006 and 2009-2011, while the COVID-19 pandemic led to a 2020 cancellation. Since 2012, the Detroit Grand Prix has been scheduled for the weekend following the Indianapolis 500.

Notable Circuit Features

The downtown Detroit street circuit creates opportunities for on-track passing at multiple points around the lap. The combination of the long Jefferson Avenue straightaway and the Turn 3 hairpin produces side-by-side racing action. The track surface and concrete walls typical of street circuits demand precision from drivers.

IndyCar legend Helio Castroneves earned his "Spiderman" nickname in Detroit in 2000. After scoring his first career IndyCar victory, Castroneves climbed the catch fence in celebration, creating one of the sport's memorable moments.

Community Connection

The Detroit Grand Prix organization invested over $13 million in Belle Isle park improvements during the race's time at that venue. The organizers work with city officials to reduce disruption and support local park improvement projects. The race brings three days of professional racing to Detroit streets while maintaining access for residents and businesses.

The 2026 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix offers IndyCar fans a street circuit race that combines high-speed action with technical driving challenges. The Streets of Detroit provide a unique venue for the NTT IndyCar Series and create a distinctive racing atmosphere in downtown Detroit, Michigan.