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IndyCar completely screws points leader with controversial Toronto call

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IndyCar completely screws points leader with controversial Toronto call

As a dedicated fan of INDYCAR racing, I was elated when race control made the bold decision to not wait for convenient yellow flags during qualifying at the Toronto street circuit. But my excitement was short-lived when I witnessed yet another inconsistent application of rules by race control in this weekend’s qualifying session.

As a fan, I’m thrilled that race control acted swiftly in not delaying the yellow flag at recent races. But now, on the bustling streets of Toronto, it seems they’ve reverted back to a selective approach – choosing when and where to deploy the caution flags based on their own discretion.

Except this time, they did so in a much different way.

At the 11-turn, 1.786-mile Exhibition Place street track, Alex Palou from Chip Ganassi Racing progressed to the next stage of qualifying for the upcoming 85-lap Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto race on Sunday.

In the first round of qualifying, his top two lap speeds were unexpectedly taken away from him, resulting in a ninth place ranking on the speed chart.

Six drivers move forward in the lineup, resulting in the No. 10 Honda driver beginning the race on Sunday in a less favorable position, potentially outside of the top 12 spots, or even among the top contenders, within the top six.

Alex Palou penalized in Toronto

In simpler terms, Palou found himself stuck in traffic with several cars in front of him, making it challenging for him to pass, and as a result, hindered Pato O’Ward’s progress from Arrow McLaren.

During the session, O’Ward failed to record his quickest lap and ended up in eighth position. However, due to a penalty imposed on Palou, he managed to climb up one spot to seventh. Regrettably, this improvement did not propel him into a higher starting position for the race as he will still be starting from 14th place.

A full starting lineup can be found here.

The influence of the No. 10 Honda on the No. 5 Chevrolet was noticeable, but it’s worth noting that just Palou was penalized by race control, illustrating once more the inconsistencies in their decisions.

If I were a fan analyzing that race, I would say that even without the No. 10 car on the track, O’Ward’s lap time would have been impacted by the other traffic. That traffic was more in Palou’s way than it was for O’Ward.

Following his first failure to finish a race in over two years and a second place result in the recent doubleheader at Iowa Speedway, Palou currently holds a 35-point advantage in the championship rankings against Team Penske’s Will Power.

A 27-year-old Spanish driver aspires to be the first back-to-back champion in the series since Dario Franchitti claimed three consecutive titles from 2009 to 2011, driving the No. 10 Honda for Chip Ganassi Racing.

Last year, Palou ended up in second position at the Toronto race, starting from 15th on the grid. This result marked the conclusion of his three consecutive victories leading up to his second title in three years.

On Sundays, the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto race in Toronto can only be streamed live on Peacock. Fans must have a subscription to either Peacock Premium or Peacock Premium Plus for access. The race will start live at 1:00 p.m. ET.

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2024-07-20 23:32

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