Toronto, Ontario – Michael Andretti’s raised right arm said it all following the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto at Exhibition Place, and the team owner could have raised two.

 

One for Colton Herta, another for Kyle Kirkwood.

 

The two drivers gave Andretti Global a win for the first time since last year’s rebranding and its first 1-2 finish in a race since Kirkwood and Romain Grosjean delivered in 2023 at Long Beach.

 

Herta ended a 40-race winless drought by scoring his first NTT INDYCAR SERIES race in 799 days, and an Andretti car won this event for the ninth time. Andretti won seven times as a driver, Ryan Hunter-Reay went to victory lane for Andretti’s team in 2012.

 

“We needed this so bad,” Andretti said after the race. “We’ve been competitive all year but we just haven’t been able to get the final result.

 

“It was a big day.”

 

Herta effectively led from start to finish, relinquishing the lead only twice to pit. Officially, he paced 81 of the 85 laps, with Kirkwood following him throughout, including on the stops.

 

For the weekend, Herta had the fastest lap in all three practices, won the NTT P1 Award and then he won the race, a feat that is mind-boggling if not unprecedented. It’s believed no driver in the sport’s history has so dominated an event weekend. Herta now has eight career wins.

 

“We’ve been knocking on the door to win for so long,” Herta said. “Forty-one starts without a win is a long time, and it’s been disappointing for us. I think we’re a team – Michael is the owner -- that demands perfection … (I’m) so happy. The Gainbridge Honda was so fast.”

 

The separation between Herta and Kirkwood at the finish line was .3469 of a second, but the driver of the No. 27 AutoNation Honda said he was less concerned with passing Herta than keeping third-place Scott Dixon at bay.

 

“Putting us at risk was just not the move today,” Kirkwood said of the team’s approach. “I played a little bit more defense as you probably noticed over the (late) restarts. Super happy with second place. (Finishing 1-2) was the goal today.”

 

Kirkwood said Herta earning the pole on Saturday made him “deserving” of the race win.

 

Dixon finished third to tie Mario Andretti for the most top-three finishes in series history. Each has 141.

 

Behind those three was something of a mess, including stoppage for a multi-car accident in Turn 1 on Lap 73.

 

Pato O’Ward was running sixth when he spun his No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet halfway around. At that point, there wasn’t much damage to his car, but there soon was. Worse, he was facing traffic and could see oncoming traffic at speed.

 

Marcus Ericsson veered his No. 27 Delaware Life Honda into O’Ward’s car on the left side of the track, but that wasn’t the end of it. Pietro Fittipaldi was the fifth car in line after Ericsson’s contact, and he struck O’Ward’s car with enough force to lift his off the ground. Santino Ferrucci was trailing Fittipaldi, and his No. 14 AJ FOYT RACING/SEXTON PROPERTIES Chevrolet launched, hitting the fence with the bottom of the car before landing on the track upside down.

 

Rookie Nolan Siegel and his No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet followed Ferrucci into the crash site, and his car struck O’Ward’s as well. Rookie Toby Sowery then hit Siegel with his No. 51 Global Kartin League/Vuzix Honda of Dale Coyne Racing. Fortunately, no one was injured.

 

Just prior to the accident, rookie Kyffin Simpson hit the Turn 8 wall with his No. 4 Journie Rewards Chip Ganassi Racing Honda as Alexander Rossi did in Friday’s practice. Whereas Rossi broke his right thumb, Simpson was not injured.

 

Minutes before that, Felix Rosenqvist overshot Turn 3 in the No. 60 AutoNation/SiriusXM Honda of Meyer Shank Racing and drove into the escape area. Ericsson similarly had to take evasive action.

 

Rookie Theo Pourchaire, who was standing in for Rossi in the No. 7 Ryde Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, had contact with fellow rookie Linus Lundqvist (No. 8 The American Legion Chip Ganassi Racing Honda).

 

If that wasn’t enough, Team Penske had a disastrous lap with nine laps remaining. Will Power (No. 12 Verizon Business Team Penske Chevrolet) bumped Scott McLaughlin (No. 3 Gallagher Team Penske Chevrolet) into the Turn 5 wall, leading to a penalty and sarcastic applause from McLaughlin as he waited for his teammate to come back around. They were racing for fourth place.

 

If that wasn’t bad enough for Team Penske, Josef Newgarden (No. 2 Hitachi Team Penske Chevrolet) suffered a cut tire in the sequence and was forced to pit. Whereas the team had three cars in the top seven at the time, they finished 11th, 12th and 16th as Newgarden later overshot Turn 3.

 

All three Penske drivers, plus O’Ward, have had designs on overtaking Palou for the series championship, but those hopes too a big hit as Palou drove from the 18th starting position to finish fourth. Palou extended his series lead over Power to 49 points. Dixon is third, 53 points out. Herta moved to fourth, 57 points behind Palou (No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda).

 

The series will take three weekends off as the Paris Olympics are held. The 13th race of the 17-race season will be the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway on Aug. 17.

 

Toronto, Ontario – Five Honda-powered drivers topped the overall time sheet in Friday’s first practice for the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto at Exhibition Place, although it likely doesn’t reflect the competitiveness of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES field at the final street race of the season.

 

The final minutes of Friday’s practice saw two drivers – Alexander Rossi and rookie Linus Lundqvist – hit tire barriers on the 11-turn, 1.786-mile temporary street circuit, reducing the amount of time left for half of the field to complete a final timed lap.

 

Rossi was seen and released from INDYCAR Medical Unit, but the incident resulted in a broken right thumb, knocking the 2016 Indianapolis 500 winner out of the weekend’s race.

 

Andretti Global w/Curb-Agajanian driver Colton Herta finished with the day’s fastest lap at 1 minute, 1.0399 seconds, but he knows others will be coming for the top spot the rest of the weekend.

 

“Overall, the car was really nice,” said Herta, who has a pair of top-three finishes on street circuits this season and won the pole for last month’s Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear. “(It) feels like the same car that we brought last two years, which we've had podium results. And so hopefully that bodes well for us.”

 

Herta finished third in last year’s race and was second in 2022.

 

Meyer Shank Racing’s Felix Rosenqvist (No. 60 AutoNation/SiriusXM Honda) had Friday’s second-quickest time at 1:01.3323 and Chip Ganassi Racing’s Marcus Armstrong (No. 11 Ridgeline Lubricants Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) was third at 1:01.7791.

 

Rounding out the top five was Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon (No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) at 1:01.8717 and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Graham Rahal (No. 15 United Rentals Honda) at 1:02.0162.

 

AJ Foyt Racing’s Santino Ferrucci (No. 14 AJ FOYT RACING/SEXTON PROPERTIES Chevrolet) had the day’s fastest lap by a Chevrolet driver at 1:02.0519.

 

Qualifying for the NTT P1 Award is Saturday at 2:45 p.m. ET, and recent history suggests it will be important for drivers to perform well in the session. The past four Toronto race winners have started on the front row -- two from the pole, two from the No. 2 starting position. This race is the last of four on street circuits this season. Dixon has won the past two.

 

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Christian Lundgaard (No. 45 Hy-Vee Honda) won last year’s Toronto race from the pole, and he led 54 of the 85 laps. While his margin at the finish line was 11.7893 seconds – the third-largest of the season – Alex Palou and Herta drove from the 15th and 14th starting positions to finish on the podium. Lundgaard’s best lap Friday ranked 12th on the speed chart.

 

Three-time Toronto race winner Will Power had the first incident of Friday’s practice. He spun his No. 12 Verizon Business Team Penske Chevrolet without contact in Turn 9, then was able to use the series’ new hybrid until to restart the car and continue without requiring a caution flag. Agustin Canapino spun his No. 77 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet harmlessly minutes later in Turn 8, and he kept the car running.

 

Later, Rossi and Lundqvist hit the tire barrier in nearly the same fashion.

 

Series points leader Palou (No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda), who was seventh Friday, has a 35-point lead over Power in the standings as both drivers try to score their third series championship. Sunday’s race is one of six remaining events on the calendar. Pato O’Ward (No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet) has climbed from sixth in points to third in recent weeks. He is 52 points behind Palou as he chases his first series title. O’Ward’s best lap Friday was good for 16th place.

 

This field includes Hunter McElrea, who finished second last season in the INDY NXT by Firestone standings. Driving the No. 18 Courtesy Corporation Honda, the 24-year-old New Zealander became the 44th driver to make their series debut with Dale Coyne Racing, including four this season. That group includes Toby Sowery, who is making his second series start this weekend in the team’s No. 51 Global Karting League/Vuzix Honda. They finished 18th and 25th, respectively, in Friday’s practice.

 

Saturday’s action begins with the weekend’s second practice at 10:30 a.m. ET. The final practice is Sunday at 10 a.m. ET. All sessions will air live on Peacock and the INDYCAR Radio Network.

 

Getting into the motorsports world is difficult for talented young Canadian drivers, but there is an organization looking to help change that.

 

The Journie Driving Academy was created in partnership with Journie Rewards, their parent company Parkland, and Chip Ganassi Racing, with the goal of making motorsports more accessible and affordable for racers in the country.

 

Drivers will receive support that will be beneficial to them both on and off the track.

 

They’ll receive a helmet and fire suit, as well as financial support from Journie and Parkland to aid them throughout their karting career.

 

 On top of that, they will have access to mentorship opportunities from the Chip Ganassi Racing’s NTT INDYCAR SERIES team, including young star driver Kyffin Simpson.

 

“I think it's a little bit weird to be calling me a mentor at 19 years-old to be fair,” he said when speaking with RaceCanada on the matter. “But I think Chip Ganassi Racing has done a great job of supporting me and helping me become the driver I am today, and now being able to pass that on is an honor.”

 

The first entrants to the driving academy are three fast Canadians that are trying to make waves in the karting scene.

 

Sloan Sterling of Ontario Pro Racing is entering year two as a Briggs Jr. driver. She has displayed incredible commitment and enthusiasm, and her strides in development have been nothing short of remarkable.

 

A third-place finish in the Jr. Briggs Championship at MIKA has given her more momentum to build off of, and when asked about dreams and goals for her career, she said she didn’t have “a specific place” and was just looking for more speed and to be the fastest.

 

Marley Chaudhary of Kevin Glover Racing is in his third season of karting. He’s quick with tons of natural ability, and a level of hard work and dedication not seen from most in his age group.

 

The awarding of a spot in the Driver Academy is big for him and his family, as it allows him the tools and resources for him to pursue his dream and goal of getting to Formula 1.

 

Nigel Longley of Prime Powerteam has one year of experience behind him and has secured multiple podiums in the Briggs Jr. category. His mother and grandfather work as his mechanics and are big supporters of his dreams to race in IMSA.

 

The financial support from the Journie Driving Academy removes that burden from them, allowing for the focus to go back to what really matters.

 

These three are just the start of the impact that Journie Rewards and their driver academy hope to have on the Canadian motorsports landscape.

 

Toronto, Ontario - The Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto is excited to announce that members of the legendary Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip will serve as honorary grand marshals for Sunday’s NTT INDYCAR SERIES race at Exhibition Place. Paul Langlois, Rob Baker, Gord Sinclair and Johnny Fay will be on the starting grid as part of pre-race festivities and offer the command for drivers to start their engines.

 

The Tragically Hip are a critically acclaimed rock band that has been a fixture in Canadian music for over 30 years and are beloved by fans across the country and the world. They’ve won 17 Juno awards and sold more than 15 million albums worldwide. 

 

“It’s such a thrill to be a part of this awesome tradition in Toronto,” said The Hip. “We’re grateful for the experience and we can’t wait to give the command and hear the engines roar!” 

 

On Sunday (July 21) at 1:23 p.m. ET, Langlois, Baker, Sinclair and Fay will announce the most famous words in motorsports, "Drivers, start your engines!" for the 85-lap race on the 11-turn, 2.874 kilometre (1.786-mile) temporary street circuit constructed at Exhibition Place. In addition to their on site presence, a special livery on the No. 66 SiriusXM Honda driven by David Malukas will display SiriusXM’s The Tragically Hip Radio channel.

 

“Thank you to SiriusXM Canada and Meyer Shank Racing for collaborating with the Ontario Honda Dealers and the Toronto Indy to make this special appearance by these remarkable artists from The Tragically Hip possible,” said Jeff Atkinson, president of the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto. “It’s an honour to have them join us for this great Toronto event. This is another memorable moment for our fans to witness Paul (Langlois), Rob (Baker), Gord (Sinclair) and Johnny (Fay) shout the command before the field of world-class IndyCar drivers roll off the grid to take the green flag.”

 

The Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto is Round 12 of 17 in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES season championship battle. Drivers expected on the starting grid include multi-time Toronto winners Scott Dixon, Will Power and Josef Newgarden, the back-to-back Indianapolis 500 champion, plus last year’s race winner Christian Lundgaard. The weekend schedule will also feature exciting sports car action from Sports Car Championship Canada and Radicals Cup, plus additional open-wheel competition from USF Pro 2000 Presented by Continental Tire and USF2000 Presented by Continental Tire.

 

All attendees are encouraged to use Toronto’s GO Lakeshore West Train to Exhibition Station for the easiest commute without the worry of traffic or parking at the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto. For $85, GO Transit is offering a combo ticket which includes 2-Day General Admission and two daily round trip fares for convenient transportation to and from the event. Single-day combo options are also available at hondaindy.com/GO. Children 12 and under ride free on Go Transit. 

 

For ticket pricing, hospitality options, schedule and additional festival information, visit hondaindy.com.

 

Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto is a world-class motorsports festival which takes place annually on a 2.874-kilometre (1.786-mile), 11-turn temporary circuit using the streets surrounding Exhibition Place near Lake Ontario in downtown Toronto. The event features many attractions, food trucks, interactive displays and activities, and supports local charities. Your Ontario Honda Dealers Present Free Fan Friday offers general admission courtesy of the Ontario Honda Dealers Association through a voluntary donation. To date, over $1 million has been raised for Make-A-Wish® Canada. As one of Ontario's largest annual sporting events, the first race held in 1986 was known as the Molson Indy, later became the Honda Indy Toronto and is now titled Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto. 

 

It has become a prestigious meeting place for some of the world’s fastest race car drivers including past NTT INDYCAR SERIES champions like Scott Dixon, Josef Newgarden, Alex Palou and Will Power as well as Canadian racing greats Scott Goodyear, James Hinchcliffe, Greg Moore, Alex Tagliani, Paul Tracy, Jacques Villeneuve, Robert Wickens and more. Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto is owned and operated by Green Savoree Toronto, ULC, whose affiliates also promote three additional INDYCAR SERIES races: Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding (March 8-10, 2024), The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Presented by the 2025 Civic Hybrid (July 5-7, 2024) and BITNILE.COM Grand Prix of Portland (Aug. 23-25, 2024). 

 

For more information, visit hondaindy.com, ‘like’ its Facebook page @IndyToronto or follow the event on X (formerly Twitter) @HondaIndy and Instagram @HondaIndy using #indyTO.

 

Sirius XM Canada Inc., operating as SiriusXM Canada, is the country’s leading audio entertainment company. SiriusXM creates and offers ad-free music; premier sports talk and live events; comedy; news; podcasts; and exclusive talk and entertainment. SiriusXM is available in vehicles from every major car company, as well as on smartphones and all connected devices on the SiriusXM app. For more information, visit siriusxm.ca.

 

Join SiriusXM Canada on Facebook, on X (formerly Twitter), on Instagram and on YouTube.

 

SiriusXM radios and accessories are available from retailers nationwide and online at SiriusXM. In addition, SiriusXM Music for Business provides ad-free music to a variety of businesses. SiriusXM is also a leading provider of connected vehicles services, giving customers access to a suite of safety, security, and convenience services including automatic crash notification, stolen vehicle recovery assistance, enhanced roadside assistance and turn-by-turn navigation.

 

SiriusXM Canada has been designated one of Canada's Best Managed Companies 15 years in a row and is currently a Platinum Club Member.