Detroit, MI
Scott Dixon claims Detroit Grand Prix for fourth time in race filled with crashes, stops
Scott Dixon’s calculated risk to emerge from the chaos paid off in the 2024 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix with his record-setting fourth win at the Detroit Grand Prix.
Dixon decided to remain on the course in his No. 9 Honda during Lap 65 while most of the field decided to make a pit stop under a caution flag, allowing the New Zealand Honda racer to move into the lead, which he did not relinquish in the final 35 laps for his fourth win in the Motor City and his second win of the 2024 IndyCar season.
This is the first time Dixon has won on the new downtown street course, which returned for the second year after he recorded three wins on Belle Isle between 2012 and 2019. He had to navigate a dizzying amount of crashes and yellow caution flags caused by the challenges of Detroit’s city streets and withstand a late push from second-place finisher Marcus Ericsson in the No. 28 Honda and third-place finisher Marcus Armstrong in the No. 11 Honda.
Ericsson finished 0.86 seconds behind Dixon, and Armstrong was 4.91 off the winning time. Kyle Kirkwood in the No. 27 Honda finished in fourth and Alexander Rossi, No. 7, was the lone Chevrolet driver in the top five, finishing fifth 8.95 seconds off Dixon.
The 100-lap race around the 1.645-mile track, circling the Renaissance Center in downtown Detroit started with a green flag at 12:42 p.m. and ran until 2:47.
Racers came into the week with more knowledge of the new downtown track, but bumpy roads, tight turns, narrow walls and a brief spell of rain caused most of the race to happen under the yellow caution flag. There were eight caution periods and a total of 1 hour, 5 minutes of race time spent under a yellow flag compared to an hour under a green flag. Tire choice in the rain, avoiding crashes, and ultimately fuel consumption over the 100-lap auto marathon proved to be the biggest factors in moving up and down the leaderboard.
Dixon was able to build a three-second lead after he stayed on the course instead of re-fueling, which he was able to maintain down the stretch with a crucial pass of pole winner Colton Herta to lap him and create distance between himself and Ericsson at the end. For most of the race, issues with Detroit’s narrow course and weather concerns were the defining moments of the race as cars crashed into each other often.
EARLIER THIS WEEKEND: IndyCar racer and Detroit native returns home for Detroit Grand Prix
On the very first turn of the race seconds after the green flag was waved, 2022 Grand Prix winner Will Power, driving the No. 26 Chevy for Team Penske, was hit while making the first turn in front of Hart Plaza by Theo Pourchaire driving the No. 6 Chevy on the inside, causing him to spin around and cause a seven-car pileup. The first yellow caution flag came out immediately to clear out the traffic jam in Turn 3.
Herta in the No. 26 Honda for Andretti Global started the race in pole position after finishing Saturday’s qualifying with the fastest time, followed by 2023 Grand Prix winner Alex Palou in second in the No. 10 Honda. Indy 500 winner Josef Newgarden started in third along with fellow Team Penske teammate and Chevy driver Scott McLaughlin in the second row.
Palou, who started the race on alternate tires, began dropping from second in Lap 10 with McLaughlin climbing to second and Kyle Kirkwood, driving the No. 27 Honda, moving to third. Palou had to pit for a new set of alternate tires, dropping into the 20s by Lap 11.
On Lap 16, Santino Ferrucci drove his No. 14 Chevrolet into the rear of Helio Castroneves, causing him and Kyffin Simpson to hit the barriers, bringing out a second caution flag. The caution lasted until Lap 22, with Herta, McLaughlin and Kirkwood in the top 3, and Ferrucci was assessed a stop-and-go penalty. On Lap 25, Christian Rasmussen had to bow out of the race after his engine failed, causing the No. 20 Chevy to go up in smoke.
The third caution flag came out on Lap 32 when McLaughlin lost his grip and slid into the barrier on Turn 5 while in second place, while Newgarden passed Kirkwood for third. When the caution flag was out, rain started falling, causing the track to be slicked up, adding a layer of strategy on tire choice a third of the way into the race.
Several cars pitted during Lap 35 to put on rain tires, while others remained on the track with slick tires, splitting the field. Christian Lundgaard, who started in the 11th spot in the No. 45 Honda, jumped to first while staying on the track with slick tires. The drama with the rain continued into Lap 38 with more cars pitting for new tires, but Lundgaard gambled and stayed out with the slicks.
The rain stopped minutes later, making the gamble pay off for Lundgaard, who remained in first when the green flag waved again on the Lap 41 restart. The green flag lasted all of 30 seconds, as Rinus Veekay and Power collided in the first turn, bringing out another caution.
Just before the crash, Kirkwood passed Lundgaard on the inside to take first. Lap 42 saw plenty of racers pit, but even that brought more issues. Lundgaard fell slightly after he bumped into a tire, and Newgarden nearly drove over one of Lundgaard’s pit members after he accidentally ran over an errant hose, causing his car to jerk towards the pit wall, also delaying his exit.
The next restart at Lap 46 saw Kirkwood in first with Scott Dixon in the No. 9 Honda trailing close behind, but Herta caused another caution trying to regain his lead. He attempted an inside pass on a turn but didn’t have the space and went into the barrier, bringing the yellow flag back out.
Kirkwood remained in the lead during the Lap 52 restart, followed by Dixon and Marcus Ericsson in the No. 28 Honda. Another caution came out on Lap 53 when Lundgaard tried to pass Romain Grosjean, instead hitting him on the inside of his car. Caution lasted until Lap 60, which saw another crash between Pourchaire and Agustin Canapino, but both continued to race. The peace didn’t last long after the rare consecutive laps under green flags. McLaughlin and Sting Ray Robb bumped each other in Lap 64, causing Robb to end up in the wall bringing the caution back out.
Most of the race pitted during Lap 65, but Dixon remained on the course to jump into the lead. The top five after the mass pit stop were Dixon, Marcus Armstrong, Tristan Vautier, Kirkwood and Newgarden. But Newgarden caused the eighth caution in Lap 70 when he drove into Kirkwood in Turn 3, causing him to spin into the wall, where Palou crashed into his side. The race restarted on Lap 74, bringing another span of peace before Newgarden collided with the wall on Lap 82 and had to exit the race, but no caution flag came out.
Dixon continued to stretch his lead out in the final 20 laps while Armstrong, Kirkwood and Ericsson battled between second and fourth. Ericsson passed Kirkwood for third in Lap 90 then got past Armstrong on Lap 98 for second.
As part of our 30th anniversary celebration last month, we asked Hour Detroit readers to vote for their favorite covers from the magazine’s history. With all votes tabulated, here are the top 10 Hour Detroit covers, as voted by our loyal readers.
10. May 2022
Our May 2022 cover story by Nolan Bianhi highlighted the rise of Detroit City Football Club. The cover itself, photographed by Sal Rodriguez and featuring DCFC’s rabid Northern Guard Supporters, also birthed the very funny #EdDuckerForever social media trend.
As explained by Editor-In-Chief Kate Walsh in her Editor’s Letter in the June 2022 issue, “When the DCFC fans noticed a fan holding a scarf that said “Ed Ducker Forever,” some were left scratching their heads…Most people figured out that Ed Ducker was born to cover a profanity front and center on our cover, but they didn’t leave it at that. #EdDuckerForever became a thing on Twitter, with DCFC fans and others creating a backstory for this fictional character, including tales of his prowess on the pitch and in the sheets, saving (or dropping) babies, his love of beer, etc.”
Truthfully, the whole incident is symbolic of the overall vibe at any DCFC match. If you’ve never attended one yet, what are you waiting for?
Another piece of trivia: former Hour Detroit digital editor Christina Clark is among the group of fans — she’s the one with pink hair. Coincidentally, the photo was taken before she joined the magazine.
9. July 2023
Featuring a stunning aerial photograph by William Cunningham, the cover for the July 2023 issue of Hour Detroit just draws you in with its beauty. The cover story by Kate Townley chronicled the many reasons (65, to be exact) why the Great Lakes are so great. Frankly, there are plenty more reasons to add to this already extensive list.
8. April 2024
Like the DCFC cover, the cover for the April 2024 issue, created by Ryan Olbrysh, has an incredible kinetic energy. Based around Detroit hosting the NFL Draft, the “City Guide” cover story explored all of the details any visitor to metro Detroit should know and featured contributions from Bill Dow, Dana White, Juliana Lumaj, Mickey Lyons, and Jack Thomas.
7. May 2020
For the May 2020 issue, Hour Detroit chronicled the impact of COVID-19 on metro Detroit in a nine-page special report by Steve Friess, Amy Haimerl, Joanne C. Gerstner, and Ashley Winn. The cover depicts the Spirit of Detroit monument wearing a mask and hospital scrubs. The poignant image is an original oil painting by Luke Mack for Hour Detroit.
6. January 2018
Abdul El-Sayed graced the January 2018 cover of Hour Detroit, was profiled by Lou Blouin, and photographed by Matthew LaVere. At that time, he was a 33-year-old Michigan gubernatorial candidate gaining lots of attention for his rising grassroots campaign.
The former director of the Detroit Health Department lost the Democratic nomination to Gretchen Whitmer. However, the man some thought could be the first Muslim governor in the United States now has a chance at becoming the first Muslim person elected to the United States Senate. El-Sayed, now 41, is in a very competitive 2026 Democratic primary race against Rep. Haley Stevens and State Sen. Mallory McMorrow. Primary elections for the open Michigan Senate seat vacated by a retiring Sen. Gary Peters will take place on Aug. 4, with the Democratic and Republican primary winners facing off in the midterm elections on Nov. 3.
5. February 2021
On this cover photographed by Julia Pickett, contributor Steve Friess summed up Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s 2020 rather perfectly: “A pandemic. An ‘SNL’ parody. A kidnapping plot. And mean tweets from the president. Did anyone have a more bizarre and intense 2020 than ’the woman in Michigan’?” Friess’ cover story on Whitmer explored her 2020 experiences and describing them as “surreal” could be the most apt use of that word ever.
4. January 2024
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell headlined our annual “Detroiters” list in 2024, which highlights the people making unique impacts on metro Detroit. His striking portrait, courtesy of the Detroit Lions, appeared on the cover, with contributor Jim McFarlin detailing the rise of Campbell becoming one of the most beloved Detroit sports figures in recent history.
3. June 2005
Detroit has been very fortunate to have some incredible local news anchors over the years. WDIV-TV’s Carmen Harlan is certainly among the most iconic. A Detroit native, Harlan joined WDIV-TV in 1978 as a general assignment reporter. Three years later, she became an anchor. Paired with Mort Crim, another legendary Detroit news anchor, Harlan continued to serve as anchor until her retirement in 2016. Photographed by Roy Ritchie, Harlan appeared on the cover of Hour Detroit in June 2005 for our “Best of Detroit” issue. In the 2005 edition of our readers’ poll, Harlan won three honors: Best local TV anchor, best TV hairdo (female), and best-looking TV personality.
2. April 2026
Our latest “City Guide” feature took on the theme of “Hidden Detroit.” In it, we examined lesser-known aspects and treasures in metro Detroit. The cover was of Tintoretto’s “The Dreams of Men,” which is featured in the Detroit Institute of Arts, but it’s in a surprising location. If you’re looking to find out where to spot this gorgeous painting, Jack Thomas and Kate Walsh share its location in their piece appropriately titled “Things You May Have Missed at the Detroit Institute of Arts.”
1. June 2019
The 2019 “Best of Detroit” list served as a tribute to Aretha Franklin, who passed away in Aug. 2018 at age 76. Not only did the “Queen of Soul” win the honor of “Detroit Legend,” but she appeared on the cover via an original oil painting by Kim Frank Fujiwara. (Fujiwara won in the category of “Best Fine Artist.”) Simply put: This is a breathtaking cover. We admire and agree with our readers’ outstanding taste in their choice for the best Hour Detroit cover.
Detroit, MI
First responders honored after rescuing 12 people from capsized sailboats near Belle Isle
DETROIT – Detroit first responders and several private citizens are being credited with helping rescue a dozen people after multiple sailboats capsized in the Detroit River near Belle Isle during severe weather last week.
The incident occurred shortly after 7:30 p.m. on June 10 as a line of thunderstorms moved through southeast Michigan, bringing strong winds to the area.
According to the Detroit Fire Department, crews were dispatched to Belle Isle near the beach following reports of overturned boats and people in the water.
Firefighters, EMS personnel, Engine 27, and Fireboat 2, known as the Sivad Johnson, responded to the scene.
When crews arrived, they found multiple small sailboats overturned in the river.
Officials said 20 people aboard seven sailboats were involved in the incident.
Twelve people were rescued from the water, while eight others safely returned aboard two boats that remained upright.
Fireboat 2 rescued four people from the water.
The Detroit Police Department Harbormaster rescued two more, while a private boater assisted three people. Another three were brought to safety by a nearby boat club vessel.
The operator of the sailing group said as many as 26 people were on the water before the storm arrived, with six making it back to shore on their own before rescue efforts began.
Despite the dangerous conditions, no serious injuries were reported. Officials said all rescued individuals declined medical treatment.
Authorities praised the coordinated response among firefighters, police officers, boat club members, and private boaters who assisted during the emergency.
“Be aware of your surroundings,” said Detroit Fire Department Fireboat Operator Daniel Familant. “To be honest, we do make a lot of the saves by the private boaters out there that are fishing or just having a good time, and people were out there screaming, ‘Help, help,’ and there they go, so everyone helps out. It’s an all-hands effort.”
Emergency crews remained on scene until everyone involved was accounted for.
Officials noted that one member of the Fireboat 2 crew was serving on the vessel for the first time during the rescue operation.
Copyright 2026 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit – All rights reserved.
Archbishop Edward Weisenburger and Fr. Mario Amore on restructuring
Archbishop Edward Weisenburger and Fr. Mario Amore on the archdiocese restructuring on Nov. 17, 2025 in Detroit
The list of Catholic parishes targeted for the possible stoppage of weekend Masses has grown to about 90 parishes across southeast Michigan, according to the latest proposed models the Archdiocese of Detroit has released as part of its major restructuring process.
The archdiocese released on Thursday the models for potential parish groupings for the six remaining planning areas in the archdiocese, and 32 parishes wouldn’t have weekend Mass under at least one of the models. Previously released models showed that 58 other parishes could stop holding weekend Mass.
The Archdiocese of Detroit recently completed listening sessions meant to garner feedback on the models, but parishioners can still share input through a survey that is open until July 31.
The archdiocese has been divided into 15 planning areas, or geographic areas, and three or four models are being proposed for each planning area, said the Rev. Mario Amore, executive director of parish renewal for the Archdiocese of Detroit.
The models have different proposed groupings of parishes ― called pastorates ― in which a grouping would share a pastor and potentially other priests. In some cases, selected churches in the grouping would no longer hold Saturday Vigil or Sunday Mass.
The models released on Thursday are for planning areas 6, 7, 8, 11, 14 and 15, which include parts of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties and parishes in St. Clair and Lapeer counties.
Sixteen of the parishes wouldn’t have weekend Mass under any of the models, including St. Alphonsus-Clement Parish in Dearborn, Our Lady of Loretto Parish in Redford Township and Our Lady of Hope Parish in St. Clair Shores.
The models are part of the archdiocese’s biggest restructuring plan in years. Announced last fall, Archbishop Edward Weisenburger said the archdiocese can’t maintain the roughly 200 existing parish buildings and is working to “right-size” the archdiocese, along with its personnel and financial resources.
Holly Fournier, a spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Detroit, emphasized that the models are just draft proposals “intended to solicit feedback from parishioners.” She said no decisions have been made regarding pastorate groupings, weekend Mass schedules or any other aspect of the restructuring process.
The Rev. Mario Amore, executive director of parish renewal for the Archdiocese of Detroit, said in May that parishioners understand that the archdiocese “needs to do something” about its challenges. But when it becomes personal for people, it’s “very difficult,” he said.
“And there’s a lot of human emotions, and … we need to honor that,” Amore said. “We need to be attentive to that, and no one’s saying that it’s an easy process, and it’s not a process that … we’re happy that we need to undertake, but it is one that we do need to undertake.”
What the latest Wayne County models show
Planning Area 6, which is in the southern section of Wayne County, excluding the Downriver area, includes 16 parishes. Eight of them would stop holding Saturday Vigil or Sunday Mass under at least one of the models for the planning area.
They include St. Mary, Cause of Our Joy in Westland, St. Richard in Westland, St. Aloysius in Romulus, St. Sabina in Dearborn Heights, St. Linus in Dearborn Heights, Divine Child in Dearborn, St. Alphonsus -St. Clement in Dearborn and St. Kateri Tekakwitha in Dearborn.
Planning Area 7, which includes the northwest portion of Wayne County, has 15 parishes, four of which wouldn’t hold weekend Mass under at least one model. They include Our Lady of Loretto in Redford Township, St. John XXIII in Redford Township, St. Priscilla in Livonia and Resurrection in Canton Township.
What the latest Oakland and Macomb Co. models show
Planning Area 8, which is in southern Oakland County, has 13 parishes, six of which wouldn’t have weekend Mass under at least one of the models. They include St. William in Walled Lake, St. Gerald in Farmington, Prince of Peace in West Bloomfield, St. Joseph in South Lyon, Church of the Transfiguration in Southfield and Our Lady of Albanians in Southfield.
Planning Area 11, which includes the southeastern section of Macomb County, the Grosse Pointe communities and one parish in Detroit, has 14 parishes. Seven of them wouldn’t have weekend Mass under at least one model. They include Our Lady of Hope in St. Clair Shores, St. Lucy in St. Clair Shores, St. Basil the Great in Eastpointe, St. Margaret of Scotland in St. Clair Shores, Holy Innocents-St. Barnabas in Roseville, St. Matthew in Detroit and St. Clare of Montefalco in Grosse Pointe Park.
What the models in St. Clair, Lapeer counties show
Planning Area 14, which is in St. Clair County, has 12 parishes, five of which wouldn’t have Saturday Vigil or Sunday Mass in at least one model. They include Sacred Heart in Yale, St. Edward on the Lake in Lakeport, Holy Trinity in Port Huron, St. Christopher in Marysville and Immaculate Conception in Ira Township.
Planning Area 15, which is in Lapeer County and part of northern Macomb County, includes ten parishes. Two wouldn’t hold weekend Mass under at least one model. They include St. Mary Burnside in North Branch and St. Cornelius in Dryden.
asnabes@detroitnews.com
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