DETROIT, Mich — This is an inaugural race so no trends to look at here specifically for the track. However, 3 of the 5 street course races a year ago were won from a front row starting spot. St. Pete this past year, was won from the second row (4th place). Long Beach this year was won from the pole.

The big teams are strong on them with Penske winning 7 of those last 18 races, Ganassi with 5 and Andretti with 4. Arrow McLaren SP is the only other team to have won.

They make up 12 of the top 13 starters for Sunday’s Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix (3 p.m. ET, NBC, INDYCAR Radio Network) too.

Penske won 3 of the 5 street races last year with Ganassi and Scott Dixon taking the other two. Ganassi (Marcus Ericsson) is 1-for-2 this year with being winners in 3 of the last 4 while Andretti won the last time out in Long Beach.

Honda is 2-for-2 on street courses this season with taking 5 of the 6 podiums too. It went Ganassi-McLaren-Ganassi in St. Pete and Andretti-Andretti-Ganassi in Long Beach.

Right now, this is an Andretti vs. Ganassi battle on street courses.

In Long Beach, the two organizations swept the entire top five of the finishing order and had 6 of the top 8 finishers in general.

However, Penske has all three drivers starting in the top 7 and has joined the fray.

Top 5 Picks

1. 9 Dixon – In the 2012 race here but on the Belle Isle track, Dixon won. That was the first time there since 2008. In 2013, Dixon won the first trip back to Pocono since 1989. In that same season, Dixon won the first race back at Houston since 2007. In 2016, Dixon won the first race back at Phoenix since 2008. Also in 2016, Dixon won the first race back at Watkins Glen since 2010. Last year was the first trip to Toronto since 2019. Dixon won. In the first race back to downtown Detroit since 1991….Dixon? He was second and first respectively in both practice sessions and starts fourth.
2. 3 McLaughlin – In the 5 previous times that he’s qualified on the front row, he’s finished in the top 2. He’s finished first three times (St. Pete, Mid-Ohio, Portland) and second twice (Texas, Nashville).
3. 28 Grosjean – Has had great street course pace. He should have won in St. Pete and was runner-up in Long Beach.
4. 27 Kirkwood – Strategy gets up back towards the front He was third in both practice sessions and won Long Beach.
5. 10 Palou – He’s 1-for-2 in race wins from the pole. Just twice in the last 22 races has the pole winner won the race. In fact, just twice all season has the pole winner finished on the podium. The last two finished fourth…