Kyle Kirkwood overcame opening lap contact to earn a sixth place finish in Detroit. (Photo: Wayne Riegle | The Podium Finish)
DETROIT – As eventful as Kyle Kirkwood’s Detroit Grand Prix kicked off Sunday afternoon, it was like a podium finish when all was said and done in the 100-lap race.
For starters, Kirkwood could not have imagined another competitor’s car launching over his No. 27 AutoNation Dallara Honda entry’s rear wing on the opening lap. Then again, the 24-year-old Jupiter, Florida native was cool under pressure, even with that harrowing incident involving Callum Illott in Turn 3.
After Kirkwood’s Andretti Autosport team replaced the damaged rear wing, it was game, set and match for the sophomore sensation. By Lap 22, he worked his way up to the 14th position, essentially catching back up to where he qualified, 12th, for Round 7 of the 2023 NTT INDYCAR Series season.
Just 14 laps later, Kirkwood rocketed his way up to 10th, methodically sifting his way through the 1.7-mile, 10-turn street course.
Despite falling to 13th with 45 laps to go, he would work his way back up to sixth inside the race’s final 20 laps. In fact, he found himself in position to tally a top five, running within a half second of Alexander Rossi in a bit of a pack running from third to 10th.
Kirkwood had incredible pace in Sunday’s 100-lap race. (Photo: Wayne Riegle | The Podium Finish)
As Rossi and Felix Rosenqvist dueled for a podium finish, Kirkwood lurked from his sixth spot, ready to capitalize if there was an opening. Despite his best efforts, the 2021 Indy Lights champion settled for a sixth place result, a remarkable finish after a heartstopping moment with Illot in the course’s third corner.
Kirkwood, who was collected in a frightening Turn 2 accident in the 107th Indianapolis 500, was back on all four wheels, showcasing his competitive form when it mattered.
“It was a fantastic comeback for the No. 27 Autonation Honda and our crew,” Kirkwood said. “We crushed it when it mattered. We were all the way back in 26th after getting hit in an incident that wasn’t our fault.”
Moreover, Kirkwood was delighted about a strong effort and result in “The Motor City,” praising his team and observing his car’s incredible pace despite the Lap 1 damage.
“We dealt with damage the entire race,” he said. “But we still had a really fast race car, and fast pit stops. We were one of the fastest cars out there.
“So it was a good day all-in-all, based on how we came back to P6 at the end.”
Although Kirkwood remains in 12th place in the championship standings, he sits six points behind 10th place Rosenqvist. Earning his second top 10 finish of the 2023 NTT INDYCAR Series season, the Floridian awaits the Sonsio Grand Prix at Road America on Sunday, June 18, where placed 20th in his rookie start at the 4.014-mile road course.
