NTT INDYCAR SERIES Race Report - Toronto

July 20, 2025

INDY Toronto
Toronto, ON - July 20, 2025

JOSEF NEWGARDEN No. 2 PPG CHEVROLET

START: 18TH  
FINISH: 24TH  
POINTS: 16TH (-323)
 

RACE RUNDOWN: Josef Newgarden and the No. 2 PPG Chevrolet team finished 24th in Sunday's INDY Toronto after becoming collateral damage in an incident that collected the two-time Indianapolis 500 winner on Lap 37. Following two strong practice sessions, Newgarden was not able to transfer out of the first round of qualifying as the No. 2 machine was not able to find the necessary pace on the Firestone softer tires. To put themselves on a different strategy, the PPG crew elected to start on the Firestone primary tires as most of the lead lap cars started on the softer compound. As those drivers came to pit lane early to change to the preferred, harder compound, Newgarden was able to drive solidly inside the top 10. He made his first pit stop on under a Lap 32 caution, restarting the race from the 14th position on Lap 37. On the first lap back under the green flag, Newgarden came up on a slowed No. 51 machine with no way to avoid the incident. His front wing lifted up the rear of the No. 51 car, which came to rest on top of the PPG Chevy, ending his day.

NEWGARDEN'S THOUGHTS: "Wrong place, wrong time.  Just want to thank PPG, Chevy and all our supporters at home.  We see you guys. So, thanks so much."

SCOTT MCLAUGHLIN No. 3 GALLAGHER CHEVROLET

START: 15TH  
FINISH: 26TH 
POINTS: 13TH (-297)
 

RACE RUNDOWN: Scott McLaughlin and the No. 3 Gallagher Chevrolet team finished in the 26th position in Sunday's INDY Toronto after losing a left-rear tire just after making his first pit stop of the day. McLaughlin started from the 15th position after barely missing out on the second round of qualifying by .5 seconds. Electing to start the race on the Firestone softer compound tire, McLaughlin put the required two laps on the tire before pitting on the third lap of the race for the preferred, harder compound. After making it through the first few corners after returning to the track, the left-rear wheel nut fell off the No. 3 machine, resulting in McLaughlin making contact with the outside wall on the backstretch. It was quickly determined that the damage was too severe to continue.

MCLAUGHLIN'S THOUGHTS: "Two races in a row out pretty early for the Gallagher Chevy,  so sorry to them. But, I felt like something sort of broke or something on the left rear. We had just done a pit stop. I love my guys, so I'm not going to drop them in the… yes, my (wheel) nut came off. But, anyway.  Just frustrating.  We are in this together. It's hard. It's hard right now."

WILL POWER No. 12 VERIZON CHEVROLET

START: 4TH 
FINISH: 11TH 
POINTS: 9TH (-273)
 

RACE RUNDOWN: Will Power and the No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet team led Team Penske with an 11th-place finish in Sunday's NTT INDYCAR SERIES event on the streets of Toronto. A solid qualifying effort on Saturday afternoon saw Power roll off from the fourth position for the 90-lap event. Starting on the Firestone soft compound tire, Power dropped two positions over the opening laps before pitting on the fourth lap to switch to the hard compound tire, which was preferred over the rough Toronto surface. On Lap 15, Power made contact with the No. 20 Chevrolet that resulted in a cut tire, forcing the two-time series champion to pit under the subsequent yellow flag for four fresh tires. Power restarted from the 21st position and promptly drove his way into the sixth position while on the same strategy as the eventual race winner. Unfortunately, on Lap 44 Power was forced into the outside wall on the Lakeshore Drive backstretch and while able to continue without a trip to pit lane, he lost considerable track position. Utilizing a fast Verizon Chevy once again, Power was able to nearly race his way back inside the top 10 before crossing the finish line. 
 

POWER'S THOUGHTS: "Yeah, we were in a good position there with our strategy, running with the guys that finished on the podium. To be in that position after how our race started and having to come in for a tire going down was pretty remarkable. It was a rough race, for sure, and the contact I had on the backstretch was unnecessary, I thought. What a year. It will turn around. This Verizon Chevy team is still working very hard."

The NTT INDYCAR SERIES will complete their July stretch that saw the teams compete in five races over four weekends when they visit the legendary WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on Sunday, July 27. The race can be seen on FOX at 3:00 pm ET. The series will then take a weekend off before heading back to the west coast and Portland International Raceway on Sunday, August 10.