IndyCar | FP2 | Detroit | Herta tops session as colder temperatures affect tyre performance - Motorsport

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FP2 for the 2025 IndyCar Detroit GP is completed as FP2 took place Saturday morning, view the full report and results of the session here. Kyle Kirkwood went fastest overall during FP1, despite an incident with Will Power at the beginning of the session. No further action will be taken against Power.

The session began with several drivers, including Marcus Ericsson, Pato O’Ward, and Scott McLaughlin, locking up and going into the run-off area. The cooler temperatures made it harder to warm up the tyres.

Alex Palou immediately jumped to the top of the leaderboard with a 1.06.68s. As the tyres started to reach temperature, Kyle Kirkwood went to the lead, going two seconds faster than Palou. Colton Herta set the first time in the 1.02s range.

Cold temperature affects lap times

The tyres are taking up to five laps to get up to temperature. It’s unsure how representative practice times will be given the cold temperature this morning.

Alexander Rossi set the second fastest lap after Herta. Rookie Louis Foster put in consistent lap times, staying within the top five of the leaderboard.

In the middle of the session, Kyffin Simpson exited the pit lane of fresh tyres into the path of David Malukas. Simpson was able to avoid contact with Malukas.

With 20 minutes left in the session, Ericsson sets the fastest lap time at 1.02.594s ahead of Rossi and Herta.

Pato O’Ward hits the barriers

O’Ward ran into the barriers after exiting the pit lane with fresh tyres. He was able to back out and return to the pits. He had damage to the nose piece of his car. Mechanics worked quickly to changed the piece and set him back on track.

As O’Ward returned to track, he yet again locked up and went into the run-off area. He had yet to set a representative lap time.

More drivers off-track

Santino Ferrucci was the next driver to go off into the run-off area with 10 minutes left in the session. Christian Rasmussen jumped to the top of the leaderboard.

Marcus Armstrong brushed the barriers with his car. There appeared to be slight damage to his side pod.

Reigning Detroit GP champion Scott Dixon reported struggling with understeer. He sat P13 with 10 minutes remaining in the session.

Josef Newgarden brushed the barriers, returning to the pits and ending his practice session early. Will Power had a slide into Turn 1 but saved the car.

Rinus VeeKay and Robert Shwartzman went into the run-off area at the end of the session. Callum Ilott impressed, jumping into the top five as the session ended. Last year’s pole-sitter Colton Herta set the fastest time in the 1.01s range, ahead of McLaughlin and Kirkwood.

Full results of the FP2 session at the IndyCar Detroit GP