The NTT IndyCar Series trades the speed of Indianapolis for the concrete walls of downtown Detroit this weekend, and a street-course specialist tops the odds board. Kyle Kirkwood, the defending winner of the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix, opens race week as the +225 favorite, just ahead of championship points leader Alex Palou at +250.
The 100-lap race around the 1.645-mile Streets of Detroit circuit takes the green flag at roughly 12:52 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 31. Below is a full breakdown of the latest 2026 Detroit Grand Prix odds, the favorites, mid-tier value, and longshots worth a look.
Last Updated: Thursday, May 28, 2026
2026 CHEVROLET DETROIT GRAND PRIX DATE, TIME & HOW TO WATCH | |
|---|---|
| Where | Streets of Detroit, Detroit, MI |
| When | Sunday, May 31 – 12:30 PM ET |
| TV | FOX |
Kyle Kirkwood Leads 2026 Detroit Grand Prix Odds
Kirkwood arrives in Detroit as the most logical favorite the market could pick for a street race. He won this event a year ago, and he has built a reputation as one of the strongest street-course drivers in the series. Five of his six career IndyCar victories have come on street circuits, a profile that fits a tight, wall-lined Detroit layout where car control matters more than raw horsepower. His Andretti Global No. 27 Honda also already has a 2026 win, the season-opening inaugural Arlington Grand Prix, so the speed is clearly there.
The case against Kirkwood starts with the price. At +225, his implied probability sits near 30.8 percent, which is a steep number in a 27-car field on a circuit that routinely produces contact and chaos. Detroit's downtown course offers limited passing room and invites mistakes, and a single wrong restart or piece of debris can end a strong run. Kirkwood also enters off a difficult Indianapolis 500, where he finished 16th and slipped to third in the standings. The talent and track history justify favorite status. The short price simply leaves little margin if the race turns messy, as Detroit street races often do.
Palou, meanwhile, is the steadier championship story at +250. He carries a 37-point lead into Detroit and is chasing a record-tying fourth straight title. He also won the 2023 Detroit street race from pole, so the venue is no mystery to him. The knock is that his last Detroit start ended against the Turn 1 barrier after contact, a reminder that even the best car is vulnerable here.
2026 CHEVROLET DETROIT GRAND PRIX – INDYCAR ODDS TO WIN | |
|---|---|
| Name | Odds |
| Kyle Kirkwood | +225 |
| Alex Palou | +250 |
| Christian Lundgaard | +700 |
| David Malukas | +800 |
| Pato O'Ward | +1000 |
| Scott McLaughlin | +1000 |
| Will Power | +1100 |
| Josef Newgarden | +1600 |
| Scott Dixon | +1600 |
| Felix Rosenqvist | +2000 |
Odds accurate as of Thursday, May 28, 2026 via TheSpread.com. Odds change, get the latest IndyCar Odds - Props
Detroit Grand Prix Mid-Tier Value Plays
The most defensible Detroit value usually sits in the +700 to +1100 band, where capable winners trade at far longer prices than the two favorites. These are drivers with the equipment to win but without the defending-champion or points-leader premium.
Christian Lundgaard (+700) heads the next tier. He sits fourth in the championship in his first season with Arrow McLaren, and his Chevrolet has shown consistent road and street pace. The upside is a top car at a price more than triple the favorites. The downside is that he has yet to convert that speed into a 2026 win, so buyers are paying for potential rather than recent results.
David Malukas (+800) may be the most motivated driver in the field. He is second in the standings and just lost the Indianapolis 500 to Felix Rosenqvist by 0.0233 seconds, the closest finish in race history. That sting can cut both ways. The Team Penske driver has clearly found front-running speed, however, Detroit is also where he was penalized for avoidable contact a year ago, so discipline will be the question.
Pato O'Ward (+1000) and Scott McLaughlin (+1000) round out the value tier. Both ran near the front of the closest Indy 500 finish on record, and both bring strong street-course history. O'Ward's aggression can produce a win or an early exit on a circuit this tight, while McLaughlin offers steadier execution but still chases his first victory of 2026. For context on how this group performed at the Brickyard, see our 2026 Indy 500 odds breakdown.
Longshots and Detroit Race-Day Storylines
At +1600, Scott Dixon is a classic Detroit deep play. The six-time champion drives the same Chip Ganassi Racing equipment that powers Palou, and his experience on chaotic street layouts makes him dangerous when attrition climbs. The price reflects a slow start to 2026 more than any loss of race-craft, though a quiet qualifying effort would leave him with track position to make up.
Felix Rosenqvist (+2000) headlines the longshots for an obvious reason. He won the 110th Indianapolis 500 just days ago and now returns to a street circuit with his Meyer Shank Racing Honda riding a wave of momentum. The counterpoint is that oval success rarely transfers cleanly to a downtown course, and the team faces a short turnaround. Still, a driver this hot at +2000 offers genuine ceiling for a small play.
Several storylines frame the weekend beyond the odds board. Detroit returns to its downtown layout with three former winners of that configuration entered, including Palou and Kirkwood. Qualifying for the NTT P1 Award is set for Saturday afternoon, so grid position, always premium on a low-passing street circuit, remains undecided as of publication. Our 2026 Indianapolis 500 predictions offer additional context on the form lines heading into the post-Indy stretch.
2026 Detroit Grand Prix Betting FAQ
Who is the favorite to win the 2026 Detroit Grand Prix?
Kyle Kirkwood is the favorite at +225. He is the defending Detroit Grand Prix winner and one of the series' top street-course drivers, narrowly ahead of championship leader Alex Palou at +250.
When is the 2026 Detroit Grand Prix?
The race runs Sunday, May 31, 2026 on the Streets of Detroit. FOX coverage begins at 12:30 PM ET, with the green flag scheduled for approximately 12:52 PM ET over 100 laps.
What channel is the 2026 Detroit Grand Prix on?
The 2026 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix airs on FOX, with streaming available on FOX One and radio coverage on the IndyCar Radio Network.
Who is on the pole for the 2026 Detroit Grand Prix?
The pole is not yet set. Qualifying for the NTT P1 Award takes place Saturday, May 30 on FS1, so the starting grid is undecided as of publication.
Who won the most recent IndyCar race?
Felix Rosenqvist won the 110th Indianapolis 500, beating David Malukas by 0.0233 seconds in the closest finish in race history. Kyle Kirkwood is the defending winner at Detroit, having taken the 2025 race.