Louis Foster seized pole for the first‑ever Ontario Honda Dealers Indy by clocking a 1:13.2383 lap, edging Christian Lundgaard by 0.3969 seconds at Markham’s 2.19‑mile street track.
Fastest Run Sets the Tone
Foster, driving the No. 45 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda, recorded the session’s quickest 12‑turn lap. The 23‑year‑old Briton’s time was 0.3969 seconds quicker than the next best, establishing his second career pole and first on a street circuit.
“It’s our second time on pole on old alts beating new alts, so I’m happy,” Foster said. “The tires feel great. The car was awesome. We had a messy session before, but we pieced it together.”
Fast Six Shuffle
The Fast Six spread out after three minutes left: Dennis Hauger opened with 1:14.861, followed by Marcus Ericsson’s 1:14.151. Foster dropped the fastest lap of the weekend (1:13.373) shortly after, then topped it again with 1:13.238. Lundgaard matched a 1:13.920 while McLaughlin’s best was 1:13.920 as well.
Ericsson’s 1:13.838 trailed, and Hauger’s final run of 1:13.940 rounded out the group. Rinus VeeKay finished 1:14.060, just missing the 1:14 line.
Squares and Surprises Before the Pole Round
In the seated groups, Chip Ganassi’s Alex Palou posted a 1:13.8 lap, but a wall hit cost him two fastest runs and dropped him 12th, giving VeeKay a 1:14.2024 lap a chance to advance. Team Penske’s David Malukas fell a short 0.0770, leaving Alexander Rossi eighth.
Palou’s collision also delayed the session, with a red flag after his spin, but the session resumed and Ericson finished 1:14.019, 0.1702 behind McLaughlin’s 1:14.189.
Group Dynamics and Red Flags
Group 1 began with Palou overriding with 1:14.099, though a red flag after Caio Collet’s late‑session slide gave teams a brief stop. McLaughlin followed in 1:14.159, and Hauger slipped to third.
Group 2 had Will Power spun and a late red flag; Malcolm’s 1:13.475 remained top. Newgarden’s front‑end damage ended his run. Pato O’Ward earned a transfer spot but received a penalty for impeding Romain Grosjean.
Final Standings and Forward Outlook
Beyond the poles, Andretti Global’s Marcus Ericsson ended sixth, while Dale Coyne rookie Dennis Hauger took fifth. Fast Six’s VeeKay and Hauger delivered solid times, but no one threatened Foster’s lead.
With the street circuit’s unique set‑up, the qualifying session displayed quick adaptation from drivers and teams alike—setting the stage for a competitive race ahead.
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