IndyCar surpasses 1 million viewers again with Detroit Grand Prix

IndyCar followed the Indianapolis 500 by getting more than 1 million viewers in the Detroit Grand Prix. The street race, which was in its fourth year back in downtown Detroit, was watched by 1.167 million viewers on Fox on Sunday afternoon.

The Detroit Grand Prix's viewership peaked with 1.524 million viewers from 2:45 to 2:52 p.m., when Alex Palou took the checkered flag to win his fourth race of the year and the second Detroit Grand Prix of his career. The race received a 10% increase in viewership from 2025, when 1.061 million viewers watched Kyle Kirkwood win the Detroit Grand Prix in its first year on Fox.

Six of IndyCar's eight races have had over 1 million viewers this year, including all four street courses so far and both ovals. The two road course races, at Barber Motorsports Park and the IMS road course, didn't get 1 million viewers. Fox is averaging 2.241 million viewers per race.

The Detroit Grand Prix could be headed for changes in the near future, as the 750-foot-tall Renaissance Center in downtown Detroit — which is on the infield of the course — is set to be demolished after the city hosts the Final Four next spring .

After the race, Detroit Grand Prix president Michael Montri said the event's coordinators have been in contact with Bedrock, which has purchased the Renaissance Center from General Motors. Montri said that the removal of the first two towers of the building won't come until after next year's race, and that he's "pretty sure" the construction won't impact the race in 2028 either. The contract for the race expires after 2028, with an option through 2031 .

"After that, we'll see what we have to do to continue to make this race happen downtown," Montri said. "But I can assure you, just like it has in the previous 36 runnings, it will happen. We might have to adjust some things. We might have to adjust where the paddock is, where the pit lane is, where the race is — but I can assure you that this is a firm cornerstone of the events in this community, and it will continue."

The IndyCar schedule continues in the first weekend of June, as the series returns to an oval with the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 in Madison, Illinois, just outside of St. Louis. The race, which has a 9:25 p.m. green flag, is the lone night race on the schedule (although two races' start times are to be determined). Last year's Bommarito Automotive Group 500 received 1.012 million viewers.

Zion Brown is IndyStar's motorsports reporter. Follow him at @z10nbr0wn . Get IndyStar's motor sports coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Motor Sports newsletter . Subscribe to the YouTube channel IndyStar TV: IndyCar for a behind-the-scenes look at IndyCar and expert analysis .