After crashing out of High 12 qualifying on Saturday, Kirkwood was rear-ended at Flip 3 by Juncos Hollinger Racing’s Callum Ilott on the opening lap of the race across the new 1.7-mile downtown Detroit avenue course.
The impression smashed his rear wing, requiring his workforce to suit a brand new one beneath warning. They managed to exchange it with out dropping a lap, however it meant the Lengthy Seaside Grand Prix winner restarted the race useless final.
“I acquired hit from behind and cycled again to 27th, which was super-unfortunate however it’s a part of IndyCar typically, and it’s out of your management – and I’ve had loads of these this yr sadly,” Kirkwood instructed NBC.
“However we caught with our intestine, we caught with the identical technique we’d deliberate on doing as a result of we knew we had a very quick racecar all weekend, so we used that to our benefit among the many shut racing.
“Our technique cycled us in entrance of loads of vehicles and we have been capable of go loads of vehicles due to our tempo, and we had nice pitstops, so every little thing performed in our favor there. Biking again to P6, I believed that was phenomenal and I used to be prepared to complete proper there!”
Kirkwood stated he kept away from making an attempt to achieve any extra spots within the caution-packed closing phases as soon as he’d climbed into the highest six positions.
He stated: “We had these couple of yellows on the finish and everybody was simply throwing haymakers – I used to be simply making an attempt to remain out of it and maintain my nostril clear. I almost acquired P3 on certainly one of them, however we ended up sixth and I used to be simply joyful to complete inside the highest 10.
“I’ll take sixth from being 27th, my second-best IndyCar end.”
Ilott shouldered the blame for the crash, which wasn’t helped by Kirkwood hanging broad and slowing his automotive greater than these round him earlier than delivering.
“I didn’t actually have anyplace to go however it was my dangerous,” stated the Briton. “I used to be gaining time on them they usually simply checked up greater than I anticipated within the final bit, and I wasn’t coming with that rather more velocity however I simply couldn’t sluggish it down on the final half, so sorry to the workforce and sorry to Kyle, as a result of that didn’t assist him both.”