Sun Jun 01 19:00:00 UTC 2025: **News Article:**

**Herta Grabs Pole in Chaotic Detroit Grand Prix Qualifying**

**Detroit, MI** – Colton Herta of Andretti Global secured the pole position for Sunday’s Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix after a wild and unpredictable qualifying session on the city’s temporary street circuit. The session, marked by close calls and brushes with the wall, hinted at a potentially chaotic race ahead on the narrow, bumpy 1.7-mile course.

Herta’s pole-winning lap time of 1:00.477 edged out David Malukas of A.J. Foyt Racing (1:00.649) and Herta’s teammate Kyle Kirkwood (1:00.731). Christian Lundgaard and Graham Rahal rounded out the top five. Defending race winner and reigning IndyCar Series champion Alex Palou qualified sixth.

“I’m happy to be P1, best seat in the house,” said Herta, son of Warren native Bryan Herta. Despite securing the pole, Herta remains cautious about the race itself, acknowledging the potential for unpredictable strategy due to frequent caution flags.

The session was filled with drama as several drivers, including Pato O’Ward and even the experienced Palou, encountered issues with the challenging track, tapping walls or locking up their brakes. Team Penske, fresh off a frustrating Indianapolis 500, struggled to find their rhythm, with Josef Newgarden damaging his car after hitting the wall.

Kirkwood, despite qualifying third, expressed frustration, stating, “I threw away a pole.” He noted he’d tapped the wall in the final session.

Palou, who has dominated the IndyCar Series this season, admitted the week following his Indy 500 win was busy but remains optimistic about his chances in Sunday’s race. “It’s Detroit, and it always helps when you have a fast car,” he said.

Race organizers are hoping for a thrilling race with fewer cautions than last year, aiming for more green flag racing to showcase the speed and skill of the IndyCar drivers. The Detroit Grand Prix is scheduled for Sunday at 12:30 p.m. EDT and will be broadcast on Fox.

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