Colton Herta dominates in Toronto for first IndyCar win of the season

TORONTO — Colton Herta won Indy Toronto on Sunday, earning his first victory of the year. He started from pole position and maintained control during the chaotic race at Exhibition Place.

The 24-year-old American raced to his eighth career victory and first in more than two years, completing the first weekend sweep in IndyCar history, with the fastest times in both practice, qualifying and Sunday’s warm-up before winning the race.

Andretti Global teammate Kyle Kirkwood was second on the street course, followed by four-time Toronto champion Scott Dixon of hip Ganassi Racing. The race was the first street event for the hybrid powertrains that were introduced two weeks ago at the Mid-Ohio street course.

Series leader Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing finished fourth after starting 18th following a qualifying interference penalty, extending his lead to 49 points over Team Penske driver Will Power, who finished 12th following a late penalty.

The race was restarted six times, but a multi-car crash brought out a red flag on lap 73 after Pato O’Ward spun into a wall, leaving the nose of his car on the track.

Marcus Ericsson locked into the wall behind O’Ward, and three other drivers — Pietro Fittipaldi, Santino Ferrucci and Nolan Siegel — hit O’Ward’s nose. Ferrucci’s car shot through the air and landed upside down, but the American immediately signaled to his team that he was OK and got out of his vehicle.

Frenchman Theo Pourchaire was 14th for Arrow McLaren, replacing the injured Alexander Rossi. Rossi broke his right thumb during practice on Friday when his car hit a tyre barrier and then slid into a concrete wall.

AP IndyCar: https://apnews.com/hub/indycar