IndyCar Detroit 2026: Crash in Q1 slows Mick Schumacher down

– Even on his sixth attempt, Mick Schumacher (RLL-Honda; 23rd) did not make it into Q2 of a qualifying session at an IndyCar race on a street or road course. At the race in Detroit, he was again stuck in Q1. (His statement after the accident)

Read more After qualifying crash in Detroit: This is what Mick Schumacher says

His time of 1:03.849 minutes would not have been enough to advance to Q2 anyway. However, this was also disqualified because he caused a red flag. Two minutes before the end, he crashed his Dallara-Honda from Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing into the wall exiting the chicane at turn 6/7.

The footage only showed the outcome of the accident, as he went into the “Grey” area exiting turn 7, meaning the dirty part of the track. According to initial information, Schumacher was like a pinball: already in the right-hand turn, turn 6, he apparently touched the inside wall, which threw him into the wall at turn 7, the left-hand corner, and from there into the wall at the corner exit.

Street circuits are particularly tough in the IndyCar series because a lot of dust and dirt accumulates off the racing line. The grip differences are greater than on permanent race tracks. Schumacher’s counted lap is now a 1:07.449, which places him at the back of the field. Due to IndyCar regulations with two qualifying groups, he starts 23rd from the penultimate row.

Schumacher was lucky in misfortune, as accidents like this are not without risk in the IndyCar series. The so-called “kickback” into the steering wheel during an impact is also dangerous in such cases.

Wall impacts can cause hand injuries in IndyCars because, due to the lack of power steering, the force of the impact is transmitted directly to the steering wheel, which is then violently jerked. Schumacher had already slightly injured his hand in the crash at the season opener in St. Petersburg.

Schumacher’s weekend in Detroit has been extremely tough so far, as his pace has not been good enough for the top 20. However, races on street circuits are often so chaotic that good results are possible even without speed, with a good strategy.

Schumacher was also eliminated in Q1 at the qualifying sessions in St. Petersburg, Arlington, Birmingham, and the Indianapolis Grand Prix. He performed better on the ovals, especially with a fourth place start in Phoenix.

Read more 368.6 km/h Top speed: Jorge Martin breaks MotoGP record in Mugello

Malukas crashes into the wall at the same spot

Just a few minutes after Schumacher’s impact, David Malukas (Penske-Chevrolet; 25th) was the next driver to hit the wall at the same spot. Malukas, who was narrowly beaten by Felix Rosenqvist (MSR-Honda; 16th) at the Indy 500, also had a nasty crash.

It was clear here that he entered the chicane too fast, got slight oversteer, and therefore was at an unfavorable angle for the left-hand corner. He then touched the inside wall and quickly took his hands off the steering wheel before the impact on the opposite side.

A little later, Marcus Ericsson (Andretti-Honda; 10th) was lucky. He hit the same wall, but with both wheels. The suspension held, and the former Indy 500 winner was able to make it into Q2, where his run ended.

The pole position was claimed in the final “Fast Six” shootout, which, as in Arlington, was held as a single-lap time trial, by defending champion Alex Palou (Ganassi-Honda; 1st) ahead of Will Power (Andretti-Honda; 2nd).

The pole favorite was actually Kyle Kirkwood (Andretti-Honda; 6th), who completely botched his qualifying lap. He locked up already on his outlap and got two flat spots on his tires. Apparently, he adjusted the brake balance too much to the rear in reaction, because when braking for turn 3, the hairpin, the rear completely broke loose and he had to slowly drive through the “Grey” area – the lap was lost.

The beneficiaries were Scott McLaughlin (Penske-Chevrolet; 3rd), Scott Dixon (Ganassi-Honda; 4th), and Christian Lundgaard (McLaren-Chevrolet; 5th). Schumacher’s teammates Louis Foster and Graham Rahal (both RLL-Honda) start side by side from the sixth row in 11th and 12th place.

Read more IndyCar Detroit 2026: Mick Schumacher crashes in qualifying

The race start is on Sunday at 18:52.