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Dual in Detroit: 3 takeaways from IndyCar at Detroit

By Brittany Frederick

DETROIT, MI - JUNE 01: Ryan Briscoe of Australia, drives the
DETROIT, MI - JUNE 01: Ryan Briscoe of Australia, drives the /
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IndyCar experienced its first ever Detroit sweep this weekend, so what can we take away from it? Here’s what we learned from the 2017 Dual in Detroit.

IndyCar fans got to see history in the making this weekend as Graham Rahal swept both races of the Dual in Detroit doubleheader. Not only was that the first time any driver had accomplished the feat, but we also have a new championship leader and stories beyond compare.

Detroit is always a tough weekend for the Verizon IndyCar Series because of the two back to back races, and the fact that it takes place less than a week after the season’s biggest battle in the Indy 500. But this year’s Dual was more incredible than most as the level of competition went up to a whole other level.

Here’s what we took away from the Dual in Detroit:

1. Graham Rahal is a boss

Can we take a moment to applaud Graham Rahal? It’s hard enough to win one race in IndyCar, but to win two back-to-back is another thing entirely. And Rahal didn’t just win both parts of the Dual in Detroit; he dominated both, leading more than 90 of the 140 combined laps. The performance that he put on was nothing short of amazing, and the cap on the better part of two years’ worth of work.

Rahal has spent the last two years reshaping himself and his team. Remember that he’s been a championship contender for the last two seasons, in addition to racking up five wins over the last two-plus campaigns after previously not having won since 2008. He’s the epitome of what’s great about IndyCar; he’s buckled down and worked and scrapped to become the best possible driver, and it doesn’t matter what his last name is or that he’s driving for a small team. He’s found a way to win.

Not only that but we should take a moment to recognize how well he represents IndyCar off the track. Rahal has always put in strong effort toward helping IndyCar grow, and isn’t afraid to be outspoken about what the league needs or what it can do. He proved that again this weekend when he responded to Lewis Hamilton’s criticism. Graham Rahal deserves props for standing up for his league and his fellow drivers, in addition to the fact that he blew away the competition this weekend. And we’re headed to Texas, where he won last year …

2. Scott Dixon is secretly Superman

It’s now official: Scott Dixon is a superhero. Less than a week after being involved in a crash that he was lucky to walk away from, Dixon climbed back into his Chip Ganassi Racing entry for not one but two races in Detroit. And even with an injured ankle, he qualified well in both races before he finished second on Saturday and sixth on Sunday. Scott Dixon had such a great weekend that he is now the Verizon IndyCar Series championship leader.

Any driver would have been lucky to have the success that Dixon had at Detroit, but for him to do it while injured — and just days after suffering said injury — is remarkable. It helps you understand why he’s a four-time IndyCar champion, Indy 500 winner and two-time Rolex 24 at Daytona winner. Oh, and as you’re reading this, Dixon is on his way to France to prepare for this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans. This man is not human, and we mean that in the best possible way.

3. The manufacturer battle is a battle again

After years of domination by Chevrolet it’s been a breath of fresh air this year to see Honda get back into the game. Honda swept both races in the Dual in Detroit, including a clean sweep of the podium on Saturday. That’s more remarkable because the Dual is a home race for Chevy; you can see GM headquarters from The Raceway at Belle Isle.

Having said that, Honda is not without its own issues, namely engine failures (ask Ryan Hunter-Reay and James Hinchcliffe). But the renewed manufacturer parity is a welcome sight for IndyCar. And in the big picture, could Honda’s improved prospects help the league with its ongoing goal of landing a third manufacturer? After all, if it’s a two-company race again, why not three?

Next: Verizon IndyCar Series standings after Detroit

Next up for the Verizon IndyCar Series is the Rainguard Water Sealers 600 at Texas Motor Speedway on Saturday, June 10. For the latest news throughout IndyCar, make sure that you’re following the Motor Sports category at FanSided here.