IndyCar’s first race with its new full-course caution procedure caused immediate controversy.
After an incident that left Alexander Rossi’s car stranded powerless on the IMS front straightaway in the Sonsio Grand Prix, IndyCar Officiating announced an “operating and process update,” stating that pit windows and the running order of cars won’t affect whether race control — led by race director Kyle Novak — deploys a local caution or full-course caution in given situations.
The change affected the Detroit Grand Prix, the first street or road course IndyCar went to since the procedure change was announced May 12. Race control was quick to deploy full-course cautions, which hurt 2025 Detroit Grand Prix winner Kyle Kirkwood, who typically extends his stints before pitting.
In the second half of the race, Kirkwood had taken the lead from Alex Palou, who led 71 of the race’s 100 laps. Kirkwood and Palou both pitted on Lap 34, but when Palou made his second and final pit stop on Lap 64, Kirkwood remained on track to take the lead. But two laps later, contact between Santino Ferrucci and Rinus VeeKay led to a full-course caution, which closed the pits and left Kirkwood on track.
Palou recaptured the lead after Kirkwood pitted under caution on Lap 69, and Palou won the race with Kirkwood finishing second.
After an incident that left Alexander Rossi’s car stranded powerless on the IMS front straightaway in the Sonsio Grand Prix, IndyCar Officiating announced an “operating and process update,” stating that pit windows and the running order of cars won’t affect whether race control — led by race director Kyle Novak — deploys a local caution or full-course caution in given situations.
The change affected the Detroit Grand Prix, the first street or road course IndyCar went to since the procedure change was announced May 12. Race control was quick to deploy full-course cautions, which hurt 2025 Detroit Grand Prix winner Kyle Kirkwood, who typically extends his stints before pitting.
In the second half of the race, Kirkwood had taken the lead from Alex Palou, who led 71 of the race’s 100 laps. Kirkwood and Palou both pitted on Lap 34, but when Palou made his second and final pit stop on Lap 64, Kirkwood remained on track to take the lead. But two laps later, contact between Santino Ferrucci and Rinus VeeKay led to a full-course caution, which closed the pits and left Kirkwood on track.
Palou recaptured the lead after Kirkwood pitted under caution on Lap 69, and Palou won the race with Kirkwood finishing second.
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