Louis Foster secured a pole position for the first Ontario Honda Dealers Indy in Markham, recording a 1:13.2383 flying lap around the newly laid 12‑turn, 2.19‑mile temporary street circuit.
After a Misstep, Foster Seizes Momentum
A costly error in the Fast 12 session left Foster outside the top 10, but he used the frustration to sharpen focus for the Fast Six shoot‑out. The 23‑year‑old British driver described the lane as “a bee’s tail” but translated the irritation into performance, citing the reduction of grip from heat soak once the heavy brake‑pull was eased.
Foster said the tires “felt good”, free from drama, and every corner was “damn perfect.” After the hard start he identified the rhythm, noting that the car’s handling had grown steadier over the five‑minute gap before the final lap, keeping competitors on edge.
Dominating Shoot‑Outed the Grid
His 1:13.2383 lap beat Arrow McLaren’s Christian Lundgaard by 0.3969 seconds, the largest single‑lap difference to bring the #45 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda to the front of the field. The performance also marked Foster’s second IndyCar pole, with his previous result coming from Road America last season.
RLL teammates Graham Rahal and Mick Schumacher qualified 10th and 11th respectively, illustrating the team’s positioning advantage. Foster stated the team had started the weekend with a car setup that ripened for the car, allowing him to maintain a lead in car behaviour and across the track.
Future Strategy and Incentive for Victory
Foster believes that “we haven’t run in race trim” yet, so the upcoming warm‑up session will shape the final strategy. He noted a tire participation advantage over Lundgaard, saying the teammate had one less set of new reds, which could influence strategy and pit‑stop timing.
Looking ahead to race day, Foster is determined to leverage “optimised everything we’ve got”, asserting confidence that flawless pit stops, balanced setup and optimal speed will let his team compete for the win. With the tyre advantage and pole position under his belt, he is poised to flex the crew’s strategic edge as they race through Markham’s demanding street course.
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