Vettel: Singapore GP pole "unbelievable" - MotorSportsTalk

Sebastian Vettel called his first pole position for Ferrari “unbelievable” after ending Mercedes’ 23-race streak in qualifying for the Singapore Grand Prix on Saturday night.

After dominating proceedings in the final practice session earlier in the day, Vettel continued his good form through all three stages of qualifying en route to his first pole since the 2013 Brazilian Grand Prix when he was racing for Red Bull.

Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg struggled to work with their tires throughout the session on Saturday, leaving them fifth and sixth on the grid and ending the team’s pole position streak one short of Williams’ record.

Speaking after the session, Vettel made no secret of his elation as he ended Ferrari’s three-year pole position drought.

“Unbelievable. I know it’s only Saturday and the main job is coming tomorrow, but I had to enjoy the moment when I heard that we made it,” Vettel said.

“It was looking pretty good from the outset of qualy, and actually from this morning to be fair. The car was fantastic to drive. It just got better through qualifying. I think we did get the maximum today and surprised by the margin but I think it just came together.

“I really had a near-perfect lap at the end, so I was very very happy with the laps I had today, and especially the last one. Around here it’s such a long, tricky lap and so easy to go in just a little bit too deep or a little bit too far, push it a little bit too much. It just seemed to come in the end.”

In spite of his success, Vettel refused to get ahead of himself, and believes that he will face a stiff challenge from Red Bull and Mercedes in the race on Sunday.

“Very happy, puts us in a great place for tomorrow, but as I said it’s only Saturday,” Vettel said. “The main job is coming tomorrow.

“I’m sure the Mercedes will be quick tomorrow, and the Red Bulls of course. Tough job tomorrow to do.”

The Singapore Grand Prix is live on NBCSN and Live Extra from 7:30am ET on Sunday.

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The NTT IndyCar Series will return to the Motor City for the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix but with start times in a new location for 2023.

After a 30-year run on Belle Isle, the Detroit GP has moved a few miles south to the streets of downtown on a new nine-turn, 1.645-mile circuit that runs along the Detroit River.

It’s the first time single-seater open-cockpit cars have raced on the streets of Detroit since a CART event on a 2.5-mile downtown layout from 1989-91. Formula One also raced in Detroit from 1982-88.

The reimagined Detroit Grand Prix also will play host to nightly concerts and bring in venders from across the region. Roger Penske predicts the new downtown locale will be bigger for Detroit than when the city played host to the 2006 Super Bowl.

Here are the details and IndyCar start times for the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach race weekend (all times are ET):

CHEVROLET DETROIT GRAND PRIX INDYCAR START TIMES

TV: Sunday, 3 p.m. ET on NBC and streaming on Peacock, the NBC Sports App and NBCSports.com. Leigh Diffey is the announcer with analysts Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe. Dave Burns, Marty Snider and Kevin Lee are the pit reporters. Click here for the full NBC Sports schedule for IndyCar in 2023.

Peacock also will be the streaming broadcast for both practices and qualifying.

POSTRACE SHOW ON PEACOCK: After the race’s conclusion, an exclusive postrace show will air on Peacock with driver interviews, postrace analysis and the podium presentation. To watch the extended postrace show, click over to the special stream on Peacock after Sunday’s race ends.

COMMAND TO START ENGINES: 3:23 p.m. ET

GREEN FLAG: 3:30 p.m. ET

PRACTICE: Friday, 3 p.m. (Peacock Premium); Saturday, 9:05 a.m. (Peacock Premium); Sunday, 10 a.m. (Peacock Premium)

PRACTICE RESULTS: Session I l Session II l Combined

QUALIFYING: Saturday, 1:20 p.m. (Peacock Premium)

STARTING LINEUP: Alex Palou captured the first street course pole of his IndyCar career; click here for where everyone will begin Sunday’s race

RACE DISTANCE: The race is 100 laps (170 miles) on a nine-turn, 1.645-mile temporary street course in downtown Detroit.

TIRE ALLOTMENT: Seven sets primary, four sets alternate. Rookie drivers are allowed one extra primary set for the first practice.

PUSH TO PASS: 150 seconds of total time with a maximum time of 15 seconds per activation (Indy NXT: 150 seconds total, 15 seconds per). The push-to-pass is not available on the initial start or any restart unless it occurs in the final two laps or three minutes of a timed race. The feature increases the power of the engine by approximately 60 horsepower.

FORECAST: According to Wunderground.com, it’s expected to be 80 degrees with a 0% chance of rain.

ENTRY LIST: Click here to view the 27 drivers racing Sunday at Detroit

INDY NXT RACES: Saturday, 12:05 p.m. 45 laps/55 minutes (Peacock Premium); Sunday, 12:50 p.m. 45 laps/55 minutes (Peacock Premium)

INDY NXT ENTRY LIST: Click here to view the 19 drivers racing at Detroit