Drivers Having Different Struggles in Toronto

By Christopher DeHarde, IndyCar & Road to Indy Writer

Will Power was one of the two fastest drivers in Friday’s Verizon IndyCar Series practice for the Honda Indy Toronto, but Power was among several drivers that faced challenges with the circuit.

For the driver of the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet, the bumps heading into Turn 1 were where he had the most trouble.

“You have to avoid the bumps at times. Today you’ve got a tower wind, so you don’t bottom as hard,” Power said.

“I’m not sure anyone else picked that up in the paddock, but I noticed that if you’ve got a headwind you’ve got to bottom harder. Tailwind, not as much. I’m always looking, always looking.

“If they resurfaced the front stretch, it would be such a nice track, you know,” Power added.

Power will have to get the first part of the course right to add to his two pole and three wins at Exhibition Place.

Tony Kanaan echoed Power’s thoughts on the first turn.

“The track is just a completely different animal this year. It’s going to be a lot harder to pass in Turn 1 with how much bumpier it is, but with the repave in Turn 8, a new passing zone opened up to make up for the loss of passing in that first turn,” Kanaan said.

As for the fastest driver in Friday practice, Simon Pagenaud had difficulties in Turn 8.

“I’m struggling more with Turn 8 actually, those little patches. They’ve redone the complete braking zone, and all of a sudden you turn in and there’s a little patch here that’s right in the wrong spot. But that’s part of it. That’s what makes it fun, too,” Pagenaud said.

Track action begins Saturday for the Verizon IndyCar Series with a 45 minute morning practice session followed by qualifying in the afternoon.