New Markham race continues tradition of Canadian speed for Indycar

Now, let me tell you about a wild shift on the calendar. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES has packed up from its long-running home at Exhibition Place in Toronto—where they have raced since 1986—and moved northeast to the suburb of Markham. This weekend brings us the inaugural Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham, staged on a brand-new 12-turn, 2.19-mile street circuit mapped out by Tony Cotman right in the eastern part of the city center.

This city of 350,000 people now plays host to a three-day extravaganza rolled out by Green Savoree Racing Promotions. The layout itself features a few stunning details, including a double-sided pit lane reminiscent of the one that debuted in Detroit in 2023, a Turn 5 hairpin, a long run to Turn 6, and a grandstand sitting right outside Turn 3 where spectators can watch these machines charge into a 90-degree left-hand turn.

Looking back at past Canadian rounds, names like Scott Dixon with four wins, Will Power with two, and Josef Newgarden with two have dominated, alongside single-race winners Christian Lundgaard and Pato O'Ward. But stepping onto an entirely unproven track means it is truly anyone's guess who will rise to the top of this 25-car field.

Series points leader Alex Palou arrives as an absolute force. Having already claimed the past three season championships, the Spaniard leads the series with six wins this season. This marks the fifth street race of the year, and Palou has already conquered three of the first four at St. Petersburg, Long Beach, and Detroit. The lone exception was the inaugural event in Arlington, Texas, where he finished second to Andretti Global driver Kyle Kirkwood, while Kirkwood himself secured fourth, fourth, and second across the other three street rounds.

Through 13 races, Palou and Kirkwood sit 1-2 in the point standings, with Palou holding a commanding 110-point advantage over the Floridian.

For anyone following the schedule, the action kicks off with the first practice at 3 p.m. ET Friday on FS2, followed by a second practice Saturday at 10 a.m. also on FS2. Qualifying for the NTT P1 Award takes place at 2:25 p.m. Saturday on FS1, with FOX One and INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls carrying the broadcasts alongside Sunday's 90-lap race set for noon on FOX, FOX One, and INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls. And if that isn't enough, this is only the first of two new circuits on the horizon for the series—which traces its roots back to 1909—as they prepare to tackle the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C. next week.