Mathieu WARNIER, Media365, published on Monday June 06, 2022 at 00:41
Despite Alexander Rossi’s charge at the end of the race, Will Power held on and won the Detroit Grand Prix. Simon Pagenaud finished 9th when Romain Grosjean took 17th place.
IndyCar is not taking a break. A week following Marcus Ericsson’s victory in the Indianapolis 500, the drivers had an appointment this Sunday in Detroit for the last race organized on the Belle Isle circuit. Indeed, from 2023, the event will take place in the heart of “Motor City”. Starting from pole position, Josef Newgarden kept the lead ahead of Simon Pagenaud and Takuma Sato. But, very quickly, the strategy was invited in the race with Alexander Rossi who tipped over three stops by diving into the pit lane from the 4th lap. Will Power followed a lap later as did Scott Dixon. Taking advantage of the difficulties of the drivers wearing soft tyres, the Australian was able to move up in the peloton. After the first wave of stops, the Penske driver had Scott Dixon, Alex Palou, Alexander Rossi and Kyle Kirkwood behind him. Thanks to a solid pace, Will Power was able to widen the gap on his pursuers before the second passage through the pits.
Rossi might not return to Power
On lap 48, Alexander Rossi made his third and final stop and, coming out in second place, he chased behind the undisputed leader of this Detroit Grand Prix. His lead of around ten seconds with seven laps remaining was undermined by traffic, which allowed Alexander Rossi, who has signed up for McLaren for next season, to close. However, on the finish line, Will Power won with a little more than a second ahead of the American when Scott Dixon completed the podium at seven seconds. On the French side, with a less effective strategy, Simon Pagenaud finished in ninth position. A week following his accident in Indianapolis, Romain Grosjean had a bad day with a 17th place following starting in 12th position. Taking advantage of Marcus Ericsson’s seventh place, Will Power took advantage of his victory to take over the reins of the championship standings ahead of the Swede and Pato O’Ward, fifth this Sunday in Detroit.
INDYCAR / GRAND PRIX DE DETROIT
Final classification – 70 laps (265.860km) – Sunday June 5, 2022
1- Will Power (AUS/Team Penske) in 1h32’08”8183
2- Alexander Rossi (USA / Andretti Autosport) at 1”0027
3- Scott Dixon (NZL/Chip Ganassi Racing) at 7”1239
4- Josef Newgarden (USA / Team Penske) at 10”6716
5- Pato O’Ward (MEX/McLaren) at 11”2348
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9- Simon Pagenaud (FRA / Meyer Shank Racing) at 41”2942
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17- Romain Grosjean (FRA / Andretti Autosport) at 1 lap
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Championship standings following 7 races (out of 17)
1- Will Power (AUS/Team Penske) 255 points
2- Marcus Ericsson (SUE/Chip Ganassi Racing) 252
3- Pato O’Ward (MEX/McLaren) 243
4- Alex Palou (ESP/Chip Ganassi Racing) 241
5- Josef Newgarden (USA/Team Penske) 208
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8- Simon Pagenaud (FRA/Meyer Shank Racing) 179
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14- Romain Grosjean (FRA / Andretti Autosport 141
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