Newgarden wins Honda Indy Toronto, Hinchcliffe third
James Hinchcliffe is the face of the Honda Indy Toronto, so beating the hometown favourite at his race is that much sweeter for Josef Newgarden.
Newgarden captured his second title on the streets surrounding Exhibition Place on Sunday, finishing ahead of Hinchcliffe, who came third for a second straight year.
“I love beating Hinch in Canada,” Newgarden joked. “I love Hinch, he’s a great representative, but this is so good.”
Newgarden, who also won here in 2015, 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.
Newgarden says that he’ll always take a bit of good fortune.
“We were up there but I’ll always take a bit of luck, I think we all would,” he said. “The days that it goes your way and you end up lucky, you just take ‘em.
“I’ll take a lucky yellow any day of the week.”
It’s the fifth career win for Newgarden and his second victory this season after finishing first in the Grand Prix of Alabama in April.
Alexander Rossi finished second, ahead of Hinchcliffe. The driver from Oakville, Ont., earned his first podium finish in Toronto last year.
“We’ve had lots of luck when we’ve come here before, it’s always just been bad luck,” Hinchcliffe said. “I was almost hoping that the race was 10 laps longer, it might have made things a bit more interesting there at the end.”
Thundershowers were a threat throughout the race but held off. The day started out sunny and humid but clouded over during the event and it rained lightly at a few different times during the race.
Fans still packed the grandstands regardless of the potential inclement weather and stood along the fence to catch a glimpse as the cars whizzed by.
Newgarden says that the weather threat and possibility of having to switch to a different set of tires was an added stress.