Honda Racing–Pagenaud, Honda Lead Toronto Practice

• Honda drivers top the time charts in both practice sessions
• Newgarden leads the field in the morning, Pagenaud in the afternoon
• Doubleheader weekend features races both Saturday and Sunday
As in both previous doubleheader race weekends this season – Detroit and Houston – Honda-powered Simon Pagenaud led the field in Verizon IndyCar Series practice Friday for the Honda Indy Toronto. Pagenaud headed the second, and quicker, of the day’s two practice sessions after fellow Honda driver Josef Newgarden paced the morning session.

Other Honda drivers near the front of the 23-car field included hometown favorite James Hinchcliffe, fifth overall; last weekend’s Iowa Speedway winner and Indianapolis 500 champion Ryan Hunter-Reay, eighth, and rookie points leader Carlos Munoz, 10th.

Activities continue Saturday in Toronto with qualifying and the first of this weekend’s two 85-lap races. The 13th and 14th rounds of the 18-race 2014 season start at 3 p.m. EDT Saturday and Sunday, respectively, with live television coverage of both races on the NBC Sports Network.

Simon Pagenaud(#77 Schmidt Peterson Hamilton Motorsports Honda) quickest in Friday practice: “It’s always a challenge in Toronto because of the pavement changes from asphalt to concrete. Practice went well for us. Our sponsor, Oculus, is a Canadian company so it’s great to shine here. The car is beautiful, similar to Houston, so I feel confident.”