Preview – 2016 Chevrolet Dual in Detroit
By Dylan Reynolds, The Open Wheel
The Verizon IndyCar Series’ lone doubleheader takes place this weekend for the Chevrolet Dual in Detroit in Belle Isle. The doubleheader format usually throws up at least one surprise winner and last year was no different as Sebastien Bourdais and Carlos Munoz grabbed wins. This weekend will also feature the Ed Carpenter Racing debut of Spencer Pigot as ECR announced on Thursday that the American will drive the No. 20 on the road and street courses for the rest of the year. The Open Wheel will be live on site covering the race weekend so stay tuned to this site and our Twitter page @openwh33l for all the action.
Photo by Parker Hall/The Open Wheel
Schedule – Entry List – Spotter Guide – Circuit Map – Pit Lane Assignments – Tickets
Verizon IndyCar Series Preview: Chevrolet Dual in Detroit Race 1, Saturday June 4, 2016 3:30PM (ET) ABC & Chevrolet Dual in Detroit Race 2, Sunday June 5, 2016 3:30PM (ET) ABC – Previous driver experience shows us very sporadic history on this race. Helio Castroneves and Scott Dixon are the most accomplished drivers in the field at this circuit but Castroneves has been so inconsistent on race day over the last year and a half that it’s tough to count on him for me. 2015 Race 1 and Race 2 box scores as well as 2014 Race 1 and Race 2 show recent history from Belle Isle is very chaotic. Andretti and Hawksworth were the only drivers to finish in the Top 10 of each race last year while the Team Penske drivers of Will Power and Helio Castroneves were strongest in normal weather in 2014. Carlos Munoz is a man to watch here though as he has Top 10 finishes (including a win last year) in the last three races he’s finished at Belle Isle (mechanical failure in Race 2 last year) and is surely hungry for a big result after his emotional P2 finish in the 500. My picks to win: Simon Pagenaud and Carlos Munoz – I’m still sticking with Pagenaud because he’s the man on road and street courses at the moment. He’s almost 50% for Top 5 finishes at Belle Isle and until proven otherwise has to be considered a favorite on any non-oval at the moment. I love Carlos Munoz this weekend due to his success here the last couple years and how devastated he was by coming so close at Indy. I think he’ll use that as motivation to grab another Belle Isle victory.
My fantasy.indycar.com picks: Race 1 – Will Power, Scott Dixon, Marco Andretti, Conor Daly … Race 2 – Will Power, Carlos Munoz, Josef Newgarden, and Jack Hawksworth