Staff report
Toronto, Canada – July 16, 2023
Christian Lundgaard emerged triumphant in a thrilling race at the Honda Indy Toronto on Sunday, securing his first-ever victory in the event.
Lundgaard, driving the No. 45 car, started his campaign on a strong note, leading for an 54 laps out of the 85-lap race. He had a total time of 01:41:55.8001 on the track.
The Danish driver’s performance earned him the top spot on the podium and 54 points in the drivers’ championship. Lundgaard’s average speed was 89.361 miles per.
Alex Palou, in the No. 10 car, put up a fight throughout the race, finishing just 11.7893 seconds behind Lundgaard. Despite not leading any laps, Palou’s driving earned him second place. The Spaniard secured 40 points in the championship standings, further solidifying his position among the top contenders.
“It was a tough day at the office but I’m really glad that we made it to P2. I didn’t know if we were going to make it with the front wing damage. Super happy that we got the No. 10 Journie Rewards Honda on the podium. P2 was like a win today so we’ll take it,” said Palou after the race.
Colton Herta, driving the No. 26 car, completed the podium, crossing the finish line a mere 3.2600 seconds behind Lundgaard. With 35 points added to his tally, Herta showcased his speed and consistency on the Toronto street circuit.
Scott Dixon, in the No. 9 car, fought his way to a fourth-place finish. The seven-time champion, who led for two laps, demonstrated his resilience and determination despite the challenging conditions. Dixon’s impressive performance earned him 33 points, ensuring his presence near the top of the drivers’ championship.
Josef Newgarden, driving the No. 2 car, rounded out the top five finishers. Although not leading any laps, Newgarden’s pace secured him 30 valuable points in the championship standings.
The race saw its fair share of intense battles and thrilling moments as drivers jostled for position on the demanding street circuit. Scott McLaughlin in the No. 3 car, led for 28 laps and finished in sixth place. Marcus Ericsson, in the No. 8 car and secured 20 points in the championship standings with an eleventh-place finish.
“It was a tough race with tires and this track. We struggled a bit on the first stint. Then in the second half of the race I felt pretty strong, the car was feeling really good. We were running in the top group but had an issue in the end there and we had to pit. We lost top position there and it’s just a shame about the ending. Otherwise, it was a strong day for us,” said Ericsson.
Several drivers faced unfortunate incidents during the race, including Helio Castroneves, Romain Grosjean, and Devlin DeFrancesco, who all retired due to contact with other cars.
