Click for more.
IndyCar racing* moved from its traditional street course around Exposition Center in Center in Toronto that saw 40 races a bit Northwest ~19 miles to Markum streets for the Inaugural Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham. The 12-turn, 2.19-mile (3.52 km) 90 lap-race was the second new venue in 2026 following Phoenix and wedged between the upcoming Freedom 250 Grand Prix in Washington DC next weekend. As with all new venues, driver and team prospects were unknown, made complicated here because the promoter was not able to complete the track build on time.**
This changed the pulse and pace of what are incredible fast IndyCar race weekends. What didn’t change was the ensuing fast, tough and aggressive driving along with severe crashes. The ensuing chaos ultimately put a premium on a driver’s ability to run cleanly while meticulously adhering to changing team strategies. There were 258 on-track passes, 242 of those for position – many of them high-risk overtakes. [Click for >Race Results]
Click for more.
When the checkered flag dropped Andretti Global’s Marcus Ericsson scored his fifth career NTT IndyCar Series victory blocking Dale Coyne Racing’s Romain Grosjean from posting his first. Grosjean missed the win, but was still on the podium a sixth time. Honda drivers swept the podium. Presumptive 2026 IndyCar champion Alex Palou now has a 133-point advantage with four races left in the season. Moreover, at 1225 points Honda leads series engine rival Chevrolet at 1056 in the manufacturers’ title fight.
“We were the fastest car all day, I thought,” Ericsson said post-race. “Obviously, there were a lot of (cautions), so we had to stay out longer on the final sequence. I wanted to show the pace and open a gap, so we gambled on staying out. I had the pace and we were lapping so quick [After pitting on lap 68 of 90 and coming out in 6th place on the scoring – AutoCrat]. “It was a lot of work to get through the leaders,” said Ericsson.
Romain Grosjean (#18 Dale Coyne Racing Honda) finished second. “It’s amazing to be back on the podium. We had a really good qualifying going yesterday and then we got a bit unlucky with the red flag, but we knew we were going into the race with a good car. We went with a very brave strategy, but Honda gave us the exact fuel numbers that we needed to hit and it worked really well. The whole weekend we’ve been working very well with the DCR team and Honda on the new track. I’m very happy with the outcome. Of course, I thought I was going to win today, but we have another street course next week so we can try again,” said Grosjean.
Will Power (#26 Andretti Global Honda) finished third. “I used all my Honda power today! We chose a strategy where I could just be full burn on fuel because the engine is so efficient, so that was really cool. This is my fourth podium now with Honda and Andretti this year and things are really starting to come our way and go well. The track was also awesome; I really loved it. It was so crazy and high commitment and it made for really good racing,” said Power.
** “New events can always pose logistical challenges and we join in the frustration of our loyal fans and apologize,” said IndyCar President J. Douglas Boles. “Once we hit the track, we believe the circuit will be spectacular. We would like to thank the city of Markham for the major support it has made to provide IndyCar a layout, which is fast, technical and will put on a terrific show on Sunday.” This changed qualifying to traditional “road course” knockout qualifying for the NTT P1 award. [Well yes but the sharp, straight protruding edges of the barriers destroyed cars on contact. Thank goodness no driver was seriously hurt. It was Disaster Day for first-year series drivers though. AJ Foyt Racing’s Caio Collet had contact with Felix Rosenqvist of Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian on Lap 1, and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Mick Schumacher drew the race’s first caution on Lap 15 when he pounded the Turn 4 wall. – AutoCrat.]
*AutoInformed on
**Qualifying or Pole Position Notes
This morning IndyCar Officiating announced six-position starting grid penalties for the entries of No. 5 Arrow McLaren and Nos. 26 and 27 Andretti Global for unapproved engine changes following yesterdays’ qualifying on the Streets of Markham. Rule 16.1.2.3.2. A fifth (5th) Engine is eligible to earn Engine Manufacturer points and will be considered an Approved Engine Change-Out if a Full Season Entrant has completed the Full Season Entrant Engine Mileage with its first four (4) Engines. Otherwise, a fifth (5th) or more Engine does not earn Engine Manufacturer points and will be considered an Unapproved Engine Change-Out. According to Rule 16.1.6.1.2., the penalty is a six-position starting grid penalty on road and street course events and nine positions at oval events and will be served at the series’ next event, which is the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham, today, on the Streets of Markham.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
IndyCar 2026 – Markum Street Race Ups and Downs
Click for more.
IndyCar racing* moved from its traditional street course around Exposition Center in Center in Toronto that saw 40 races a bit Northwest ~19 miles to Markum streets for the Inaugural Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham. The 12-turn, 2.19-mile (3.52 km) 90 lap-race was the second new venue in 2026 following Phoenix and wedged between the upcoming Freedom 250 Grand Prix in Washington DC next weekend. As with all new venues, driver and team prospects were unknown, made complicated here because the promoter was not able to complete the track build on time.**
This changed the pulse and pace of what are incredible fast IndyCar race weekends. What didn’t change was the ensuing fast, tough and aggressive driving along with severe crashes. The ensuing chaos ultimately put a premium on a driver’s ability to run cleanly while meticulously adhering to changing team strategies. There were 258 on-track passes, 242 of those for position – many of them high-risk overtakes. [Click for >Race Results]
Click for more.
When the checkered flag dropped Andretti Global’s Marcus Ericsson scored his fifth career NTT IndyCar Series victory blocking Dale Coyne Racing’s Romain Grosjean from posting his first. Grosjean missed the win, but was still on the podium a sixth time. Honda drivers swept the podium. Presumptive 2026 IndyCar champion Alex Palou now has a 133-point advantage with four races left in the season. Moreover, at 1225 points Honda leads series engine rival Chevrolet at 1056 in the manufacturers’ title fight.
“We were the fastest car all day, I thought,” Ericsson said post-race. “Obviously, there were a lot of (cautions), so we had to stay out longer on the final sequence. I wanted to show the pace and open a gap, so we gambled on staying out. I had the pace and we were lapping so quick [After pitting on lap 68 of 90 and coming out in 6th place on the scoring – AutoCrat]. “It was a lot of work to get through the leaders,” said Ericsson.
Romain Grosjean (#18 Dale Coyne Racing Honda) finished second. “It’s amazing to be back on the podium. We had a really good qualifying going yesterday and then we got a bit unlucky with the red flag, but we knew we were going into the race with a good car. We went with a very brave strategy, but Honda gave us the exact fuel numbers that we needed to hit and it worked really well. The whole weekend we’ve been working very well with the DCR team and Honda on the new track. I’m very happy with the outcome. Of course, I thought I was going to win today, but we have another street course next week so we can try again,” said Grosjean.
Will Power (#26 Andretti Global Honda) finished third. “I used all my Honda power today! We chose a strategy where I could just be full burn on fuel because the engine is so efficient, so that was really cool. This is my fourth podium now with Honda and Andretti this year and things are really starting to come our way and go well. The track was also awesome; I really loved it. It was so crazy and high commitment and it made for really good racing,” said Power.
** “New events can always pose logistical challenges and we join in the frustration of our loyal fans and apologize,” said IndyCar President J. Douglas Boles. “Once we hit the track, we believe the circuit will be spectacular. We would like to thank the city of Markham for the major support it has made to provide IndyCar a layout, which is fast, technical and will put on a terrific show on Sunday.” This changed qualifying to traditional “road course” knockout qualifying for the NTT P1 award. [Well yes but the sharp, straight protruding edges of the barriers destroyed cars on contact. Thank goodness no driver was seriously hurt. It was Disaster Day for first-year series drivers though. AJ Foyt Racing’s Caio Collet had contact with Felix Rosenqvist of Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian on Lap 1, and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Mick Schumacher drew the race’s first caution on Lap 15 when he pounded the Turn 4 wall. – AutoCrat.]
*AutoInformed on
**Qualifying or Pole Position Notes
This morning IndyCar Officiating announced six-position starting grid penalties for the entries of No. 5 Arrow McLaren and Nos. 26 and 27 Andretti Global for unapproved engine changes following yesterdays’ qualifying on the Streets of Markham. Rule 16.1.2.3.2. A fifth (5th) Engine is eligible to earn Engine Manufacturer points and will be considered an Approved Engine Change-Out if a Full Season Entrant has completed the Full Season Entrant Engine Mileage with its first four (4) Engines. Otherwise, a fifth (5th) or more Engine does not earn Engine Manufacturer points and will be considered an Unapproved Engine Change-Out. According to Rule 16.1.6.1.2., the penalty is a six-position starting grid penalty on road and street course events and nine positions at oval events and will be served at the series’ next event, which is the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham, today, on the Streets of Markham.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.