Meyer Shank Racing driver Marcus Armstrong predicted a messy qualifying session for the NTT IndyCar Series’ Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham, and he was right. Qualifying on the 12-turn, 2.19-mile temporary street course was expected to be chaotic, with Armstrong saying, “I imagine it’s going to be a red-flag festival. Everyone is going to be pushing like crazy. It’s an easy place to make a mistake, especially now with no grip.”
Armstrong’s prediction came true, with several drivers, including Alex Palou, making costly mistakes during qualifying. Palou, the runaway leader, made a mistake in the braking zone approaching Turn 10, ricocheting his No. 10 Honda off the walls and ruining his chance to advance to the Firestone Fast Six.
The qualifying session was marked by several incidents, including a massive hit by Will Power‘s No. 26 TWG Honda into the Turn 10 wall. Power was unhurt, but his Andretti Global crew had to repair the car quickly. Despite the challenges, Louis Support of Rahal Letterman Lanigan managed to secure the pole position with a 1-minute, 13.2383-second lap in the No. 45 Honda. Support said, “I knew if we pieced it all together we’d be there [for the pole]. And when I was doing that lap I was like, ‘Please don’t wreck.’”
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Support’s pole position was his first on a street course and his second overall. He will start beside Christian Lundgaard of Arrow McLaren, who was 0.3969 of a second off Support’s pace. Support said, “This car feels great, so fast all day.”
Palou’s mistake has cracked open the door for one of his closest challengers in the standings to possibly muscle into the championship conversation.
The incident-filled qualifying session has set the stage for an exciting race on Sunday. With several top drivers starting from lower positions, the race is expected to be highly competitive.
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The Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham is set to be an exciting race, with several top drivers starting from lower positions. The 90-lap race will take place on Sunday.
As the drivers take to the track on Sunday, they will face a challenging 12-turn course and will need to use all their skills to come out on top. With its combination of high-speed straights and technical turns, the course is expected to pose a significant challenge to even the most experienced drivers. The race is sure to be an exciting spectacle, with plenty of twists and turns to keep fans on the edge of their seats.