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Exciting New Markham Race Fuels Canadian INDYCAR Speed Legacy
Highlights
- NTT INDYCAR Series debuts Ontario Honda Dealers Indy in Markham
- New 12-turn, 2.19-mile street circuit designed by Tony Cotman
- Race weekend runs three days with practice, qualifying, and main event
- Sunday’s main race is 90 laps, starting at noon ET
- Alex Palou leads championship, holding 110-point advantage after 13 races
- Next race is Freedom 250 Grand Prix in Washington, D.C. one week later
The NTT INDYCAR Series debuts the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham this weekend, shifting its Canadian stop from Toronto to a fresh 12-turn, 2.19-mile street layout.
Green Savoree Racing Promotions oversees a three-day program. Practice opens Friday at 3 p.m. ET, with a second session at 10 a.m. Saturday.
Qualifying for the NTT P1 Award starts Saturday at 2:25 p.m. ET. The 90-lap race begins Sunday at noon, with coverage on FOX, FOX One, and INDYCAR Radio.
Sunday’s main race is 90 laps, scheduled to start at noon ET.
Markham sits northeast of Toronto, anchors part of the Greater Toronto Area, and counts roughly 350,000 residents. Its city-center location aids accessibility and commercial impact for teams and sponsors.
The circuit mirrors recent street-course thinking. A double-sided pit lane, as seen in Detroit in 2023, should sharpen strategy variance and complicate undercut attempts.
A tight Turn 5 hairpin and the long run to Turn 6 create heavy-braking passing zones. The Turn 3 grandstand overlooks a 90-degree left, placing fans directly over prime action.
The Markham street course features 12 turns across 2.19 miles and is designed by Tony Cotman.
Brake stability, traction off slow corners, and rapid tire warm-up will define competitive order. Teams strong on dampers and ride control should benefit as the surface evolves through the weekend.
Ontario race history matters. Scott Dixon leads with four wins in Toronto, while Will Power and Josef Newgarden have two each. Single victories include Christian Lundgaard and Arrow McLaren driver Pato O’Ward.
Form points to reigning champion Alex Palou. He owns six wins in 2026, including three of four street events. Kyle Kirkwood remains a threat after winning the Arlington opener and delivering consistent front-running pace.
Alex Palou leads the championship by 110 points after 13 races.
The 25-car field tightens margins on a first-time layout. Track evolution will be steep from Friday to Sunday, putting a premium on qualifying execution and race-day adaptability.
After Markham, the series heads to a new venue again for the Freedom 250 Grand Prix in Washington, D.C., one week later, continuing its push into major urban centers.
Next up: the Freedom 250 Grand Prix in Washington, D.C., just one week after Markham.
That growing footprint complements the championship’s rising profile, underscored by INDYCAR’s White House visit, while Markham aims to establish a durable Canadian legacy.
Visual Summary
🏁
🏙️ New Street Race: Markham, Ontario
12 Turns
2.19-mile street
2.19-mile street
90 Laps
Main Race
Main Race
Double-Sided Pit 🛠️
Fri 3pm – Practice 1
Sat 10am
– Practice 2
– Practice 2
Sat 2:25pm
– Qualifying
– Qualifying
Sun 12pm
– Race Start
– Race Start
Live on FOX, FOX One & INDYCAR Radio
➤
First-ever INDYCAR race in Markham!
Alex Palou leads the pack with 6 wins in 2026
and a +110 pts championship lead.
25 cars on a brand new urban sprint.
Overtakes, history, and Toronto-area fans all await!
and a +110 pts championship lead.
25 cars on a brand new urban sprint.
Overtakes, history, and Toronto-area fans all await!
💥
New legacy begins here
💥
New legacy begins here
💥
Brian Thompson focuses on IndyCar Series news, from qualifying speeds at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to street-course race strategy. He delivers concise feature stories and technical breakdowns on chassis setups, tire choices, and championship standings for open-wheel enthusiasts.
