Front-Row Start for Dixon, Honda at Toronto
• Scott Dixon qualifies second for Sunday’s Honda Indy Toronto
• Alexander Rossi, Ryan Hunter-Reay also advance to final qualifying round
• Sporadic rain, changing track conditions challenge teams and drivers

TORONTO, Ont., Canada (July 14, 2018) – Sporadic light rain showers and the resulting ever-changing track conditions threw constant challenges at Verizon IndyCar Series teams and drivers today in qualifying for Sunday’s Honda Indy Toronto. At the end of three rounds of frantic knockout qualifying, Scott Dixon qualified second fastest to lead the Honda field, and will start on the outside of the front row.

Light rain fell on the 1.786-mile Toronto street circuit shortly before the first round of knockout qualifying, then stopped midway through the session. Just as quickly as it had started, the rain stopped midway through the first qualifying group, with Graham Rahal unable to advance despite being among the fastest in practice.

First Round, Group Two competitors found an almost dry track; and the circuit was completely dry for the second qualifying round, which saw the fastest qualifying times of the day. Dixon, Alexander Rossi and Ryan Hunter-Reay all advanced to “Fast Six” final qualifying, with the rain returning for the first few minutes of the brief, 10-minute session.

With the track drying and getting quicker in the final minutes, the top six grid positions were determined by everyone’s final lap, with Josef Newgarden edging Dixon for the pole by 19-hundredths of a second. Rossi will start fifth for Honda, with his Andretti Autosport teammate Hunter-Reay starting sixth.

Sunday’s 85-lap race, the 12th round of the 2018 season, begin at 3 p.m. EDT Sunday, with live television coverage on the NBC Sports Network.

Scott Dixon (Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) Second fastest in qualifying, will start on the outside of the front row: “I’m a bit disappointed with myself for not putting the PNC Bank car on pole. I feel bad for my team as well, as they gave me a car capable of doing it. I made a mistake in Turn 5 and that cost me a few tenths. All in all, it’s not terrible starting on the front row, but when you know you had one and then let it get a way, it hurts a little bit.”

Alexander Rossi (Andretti Autosport Honda) Fifth fastest in qualifying: “We were really strong in the first run when it was wet. I was feeling really good going into the Firestone Fast Six [final qualifying round]. With it being damp, but kind of dry, we just didn’t have the pace for pole. I think the Honda contingent has been pretty strong all weekend, and our ability to drive has been pretty good as well, so that will help over the race distance.”