Newgarden snags another Honda Indy title

TORONTO Josef Newgarden captured his second Honda Indy Toronto title Sunday while Canadian James Hinchcliffe once again reached the podium at his hometown race.

It’s the fifth career win for Newgarden, who also claimed the 85-lap course on the streets surrounding Exhibition Place in 2015.

The Team Penske driver captured his second victory of the season after finishing first in the Grand Prix of Alabama in April.

Alexander Rossi finished second, ahead of Hinchcliffe.

The driver from Oakville, Ont., was also third in last year’s event. That marked his first podium finish in Toronto.

Marco Andretti, whose father Michael won seven times on this track, was fourth while pole sitter Simon Pagenaud was fifth after battling with Ryan Hunter-Reay.

Newgarden came out in front on Lap 25 after a crash by Tony Kanaan caused a caution. Kanaan had his brakes lock up while leaving the pits and connected with the protective tires in Turn 1.

The ensuing caution caused the top-three cars of Helio Castroneves, Pagenaud and Graham Rahal to fall back. Newgarden maintained an advantage of more than two seconds for the majority of the race. Hinchcliffe made his way into third on Lap 38.

A caution came out on the first lap when defending champion Will Power was hit on the right side of his car in Turn 3 by overall leader Scott Dixon. The steering on Power’s car was broken, and he had to be pushed into the pit lane. He didn’t finish the race.

Dixon was assessed a drivethrough penalty for entering a closed pit lane. He was able to get back into the race on Lap 60, moving into the fourth spot.

Rookie Esteban Gutierrez, who crashed late in qualifying Saturday, was cleared to race after experiencing concussion-like symptoms.