1986 Detroit Grand Prix

Previous race

At Montreal, Mansell won from pole, with Prost second and Piquet third. Prost took the lead of the Drivers’ Championship by two points from Mansell.

Championship standings

Prost leads the championship by two points going into Detroit.

Entrants

Patrick Tambay has not recovered from the foot injuries he sustained in the Canadian GP warm-up. Haas Lola team owner Carl Haas attempted to bring in Mario Andretti as a replacement, but — apparently caught in the ongoing FISA-CART feud — Andretti’s application for an FIA Superlicence was denied. When Michael Andretti was also unable to obtain a licence, Haas turned to Eddie Cheever, who is racing in the World Sportscar Championship for TWR Jaguar this year and already holds the required licence. Cheever’s only F1 race of the season, he partners Alan Jones.

Practice

In Friday’s sessions the temporary street circuit was still laying down rubber, making grip difficult. Mansell was the only driver under 1:40, putting in two outstanding laps on race tyres. On Saturday, Senna and Mansell waited until halfway through the session before heading out. Senna found a clear lap and clocked a course-record 1:38.301. Prost crashed in the chicane while Mansell was on his run on the fragile qualifying tyres, blocking his attempt; Senna took pole by more than half a second.

Weather

Sunday is hot and humid with a chance of rain.