Preview – 2018 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix
By Dylan Reynolds, The Open Wheel
The INDYCAR season continues this weekend with the doubleheader Verizon IndyCar Series Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix at The Raceway at Belle Isle Park in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Dual in Detroit, Race 1 – Saturday, June 2, 2018 3:30PM (ET) ABC … Race 2 – Sunday, June 3, 2018 3:30PM (ET) ABC – Previous driver experience shows six former winners at Belle Isle in the field in Sebastien Bourdais (2), Will Power (2), Graham Rahal (2), Scott Dixon (1), Tony Kanaan (1), and Simon Pagenaud (1). The active Top 5 in laps led at Belle Isle are Rahal (107), Pagenaud (93), Dixon (83), Power (47), and Sato (44). Rahal swept the two races in 2017 and Power and Bourdais won back in 2016. Three current drivers have two poles at Belle Isle in Dixon, Pagenaud and Takuma Sato. Looking at the box scores from 2017 Race 1, 2017 Race 2, 2016 Race 1, and 2016 Race 2, Rahal and Josef Newgarden have three Top 5’s in the last two years. If that’s expanded to the Top 10, those two are joined by Kanaan, Alexander Rossi, and Sato. My picks to win: Alexander Rossi & Graham Rahal – I’m going with Alexander Rossi and Graham Rahal to get the wins in the Chevrolet Dual in Detroit. These two have been the most exciting drivers on race day this year and with the doubleheader format they get the chance to nail qualifying on at least one of the two days and then stay at the front from there. Rahal’s dominance of this event last year should have some carryover, especially with Sato’s success here in the past. Rossi and Andretti Autosport have dramatically improved on street courses as seen by his win at Long Beach and near win at St. Pete.
My fantasy.indycar.com picks: Alexander Rossi, Graham Rahal, Will Power, and Jordan King – You know my thoughts on Rossi ($31) and Rahal ($30). How can you not include Rahal after his sweep last year and race pace this year? Power is an excellent “value” choice at just $24. The winner of the last two Verizon IndyCar Series has had plenty of success at Belle Isle with a 50% rate of finishing in the Top 5 and there’s a good chance of that continuing and even improving this weekend. I feel like I keep saying this without being proven right, but Jordan King is a steal at $12. With any luck at all he could have some big points so far this season but things just haven’t panned out for him quite yet. That will change in at least one of the two races this weekend.