Marcus Ericsson emerged victorious at the debut of the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy event in Markham. Securing his fifth IndyCar career win, Ericsson overtook Romain Grosjean with just four laps remaining. Grosjean claimed second place, while Will Power finished third and current season leader Alex Palou settled for fourth.
This year marked Markham, Ont., as the new host of the race, following its relocation from Toronto’s Exhibition Place, where it had been held since 1986. Palou, starting 12th on the grid, faced his first time outside the top 10 in qualifying in 30 races. Heading into the race day, Palou held a 110-point lead in the driver rankings over Kyle Kirkwood as he targets his fifth IndyCar title.
Kirkwood’s race took a turn in the 53rd lap when he made contact with the inside wall at Turn 3, leading to a collision with the outside wall, forcing an early exit. Louis Foster showcased impressive speed during practice and qualifying, securing his first pole position of the season.
Anticipating challenges, Foster had predicted pre-race that there would be “carnage” on the 3.52-kilometre road course around downtown Markham, encompassing 12 turns along Kennedy Road, Enterprise Boulevard, Unionville GO tracks, and Highway 407. Foster’s prediction proved accurate as he crashed in the 43rd lap after a contact with Ericsson, resulting in a collision with the outside wall at Turn 3.