Preview – 2017 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix
By Dylan Reynolds, The Open Wheel
The Verizon IndyCar Series continues this weekend with a double header at the Raceway at Belle Isle Park in Detroit for the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix. The Open Wheel will be on-site covering the action all weekend so stay tuned to this site and our Twitter page @openwh33l for all of the latest news.
Photo by Parker Hall/The Open Wheel
Weekend Schedule – Entry List – Spotter Guide – Circuit Map – Tickets
Verizon IndyCar Series Preview: Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix, Race 1 – Saturday, June 3 3:30PM (ET) ABC & Race 2 – Sunday, June 4 3:30PM (ET) ABC – It’s a doubleheader weekend at Belle Isle and that makes this as tricky of a weekend as any to make any predictions especially with the quick turnaround after Indianapolis. Former Formula 1 driver Esteban Gutierrez will make his series debut in the Dale Coyne Racing No. 18 for the injured Sebastien Bourdais this weekend. Previous driver experience at Belle Isle shows six former winners in the field in Helio Castroneves (3), Will Power (2), Scott Dixon (1), Tony Kanaan (1), Carlos Munoz (1), and Simon Pagenaud (1). No driver finished in the Top 5 in each Race 1 and Race 2 last year at Belle Isle but Conor Daly was the star of the weekend with a P2 and P6. Daly, Ryan Hunter-Reay, and Kanaan had Top 10 finishes in each race. My picks to win: Helio Castroneves & Alexander Rossi – Belle Isle often throws up unexpected results and this weekend should be no different with absurd depth through the field and weather concerns on both Saturday and Sunday. I’ve been a doubter of Helio’s race craft in recent years but his drive at Indianapolis was immaculate and he’s been so fast in qualifying all year. I think that pays off this weekend and he gets a win from pole in one of the two races. Rossi finished P10 and P12 last year from P17 and P18 starting spots and he’s been faster in qualifying and on race day this season. I think it’s time for the American to come through with his second Verizon IndyCar Series victory this weekend.
My fantasy.indycar.com picks: Helio Castroneves, Scott Dixon, Tony Kanaan, and Conor Daly – You know my thoughts on Castroneves. Scott Dixon has been fast all year and he’ll be a big factor as always this weekend with 7 Top 5’s and 2 poles in 12 Belle Isle starts. TK has 9 Top 10’s in 13 starts at Belle Isle so there’s something to be said for his consistency at a track that constantly produces wild results. Daly has 3 Top 10’s in 4 Belle Isle starts including a near-win and podium last year and he’s talked a lot about how much he loves the bumpy Belle Isle circuit. He’ll be one to watch this weekend! My picks for Race 2 will be similar but subject to results/incidents in Race 1. Don’t forget to select a lineup for EACH race this weekend!