Colton Herta Grabs Pole at Indy Toronto as Rivals Brace for Battle
Hey everyone, let’s talk about what just went down at the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto—because the drama on the streets of Exhibition Place is already heating up before the green flag even waves.
Reigning champ Colton Herta has snagged the pole position once again in Toronto, proving he's still the man to beat on street courses. This isn't new territory for Herta; he’s now started from pole in three of the last four Indy Toronto events. But while he’s been fast, he’s only translated one of those into a victory—and that was last year in 2024. Still, it’s a massive statement from Andretti Global’s lead driver, who clocked the tricky 2.874-kilometre layout in a blistering 59.832 seconds. That’s not just fast, that’s surgical precision on a course that’s anything but smooth.
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Right next to him on the front row is none other than Alex Palou. Palou has been on a tear this season—seven wins, four poles, and 515 points, which puts him well ahead in the championship standings. Despite all that dominance, even he admits that starting second in Toronto is a challenge. The first corner is tight and unpredictable. If the third-place starter gets aggressive, they could easily out-brake you. But Palou’s game plan is clear: stay top-five by Lap 1 and make his move from there.
Behind them, Marcus Armstrong and Will Power will start third and fourth, while Scott Dixon, despite his legendary status in Toronto with four wins, has been hit with a six-spot grid penalty after an engine change.
But let’s not ignore the biggest wildcard: the track itself. Drivers were vocal about the massive bump on Lake Shore Boulevard heading into Turn 3. It was so jarring during Friday practice that some described it as physically painful to hit at full speed. Overnight repaving helped a bit—depending on who you ask. Herta was satisfied, calling it "much better," while Palou felt the patch job didn’t do much at all.
Add in the fact that there’s no Indy Lights support series this weekend—meaning less rubber laid down and way less grip—and you’ve got the perfect recipe for unpredictability. The bumpy sections and mixed surfaces will push tires and nerves to the limit.
Toronto’s own Devlin DeFrancesco, the only Canadian in the field, will be starting way back in 26th, and he’ll have to fight hard just to make his way into the mix. Meanwhile, fans are showing up in droves. Grandstands were packed even during Friday’s free admission day, and the autograph lines were reportedly massive. The vibe? Electric.
So, as we gear up for Sunday’s showdown, all eyes are on whether Herta can convert his pole into back-to-back wins in Toronto—or if Palou, Power, or Dixon can muscle their way to the front in what’s shaping up to be a gritty street fight. Fasten your seatbelts—this one’s going to be wild.
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