Warmup Results
Markham Starting Tire Selections and Warm Up Results
More Grid Penalties
From IndyCar Officiating:
| INDYCAR Officiating Announces Streets of Markham Grid Penalties |
| INDIANAPOLIS (Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026) – INDYCAR Officiating has announced six-position starting grid penalties for the entries of No. 5 Arrow McLaren and Nos. 26 and 27 Andretti Global for unapproved engine changes following yesterday’s qualifying on the Streets of Markham. The entries were in violation of: Rule 16.1.2.3.2. A fifth (5th) Engine is eligible to earn Engine Manufacturer points and will be considered an Approved Engine Change-Out if a Full Season Entrant has completed the Full Season Entrant Engine Mileage with its first four (4) Engines. Otherwise, a fifth (5th) or more Engine does not earn Engine Manufacturer points and will be considered an Unapproved Engine Change-Out. According to Rule 16.1.6.1.2., the penalty is a six-position starting grid penalty on road and street course events and nine positions at oval events and will be served at the series’ next event, which is the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham, today, on the Streets of Markham. |
Foster Wins Markham Pole in Wild Qualifying Session
Photo from Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
Some quick thoughts on today’s qualifying:
Louis Foster was quick all day, yet few thought he had a shot at the pole. He had the most mature drive I have seen from in his short career. Foster seemed to really enjoy the track. He dominated the Fast Six like we haven’t seen in a while. Once mhe got to first place, no one could catch him.
Foster’s pole was the first of 2026 for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.
I never thought that when I saw the drivers in a Fast Six round that I would say, “Wow, Rinus VeeKay is the only one who usually makes it to this round.”
Can some big team please put him in a car?
It has been 700 days, since the Nashville finale, that Alex Palou has started a race outside the Top 10. I sure didn’t think today was going to be the day.
Markham made up for yesterday’s issues with a great day of on track action.
While Marcus Ericsson will start second, teammate Will Power had a horrible day. He crashed in practice, then crashed during qualifying. His second incident cost Kyle Kirkwood a shot at reaching the second round.
Like Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, turn 10 at Markham could be IndyCar’s Wall of Champions. Not only did Power crash there, but Josef Newgarden also clipped the tires.
Because of the altered format IndyCar returned to its normal Fast Six shootout instead if the single car format they used at other street courses this season. I like the shootout with all cars on track better. I hope they scrap the single car runs. Now that I have seen both, I find the six cars on track plan much more exciting and dramatic.
Tomorrow’s race should be a fun one with what seems like an inverted starting lineup.
Thanks for following along today.
Results
Markham Practice 2 Results; Qualifying Groups
Louis Foster had the fastest lap of the day to lead Pr5actice 2. The session was interrupted by a hard crash in turn 10 by Will Power. who ran into the tire barrier and damaged the right front corner of the car. Crew members from all three Andretti entries pitched to prepare the car for qualifying.
Qualifying will be joined in progress on FS2 at 7 pm Eastern. Those who have Fox One app can watch the beginning of the session at 6:30.
Results
Qualifying Groups
Markham Practice 1- New Track, Same Old Story
Alex Palou turned the fastest lap in opening practice for the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at the new Markham track. The next practice is at 2:30 pm Eastern.
I think the track is very cool. I love that turn 5 hairpin. What chaos awaits there.
Kyffin Simpson had a hard wall contact and sustained left rear suspension damage and may have a gearbox to repair as well.
Television update- FOX has deterthat the first 30 minutes is not important enough for over the air Television and will be exclusively on the FIX ONE app.FS2 will show qualifyingbeginninh at7 pm Eastern.
Results
Practice Groups – Markham
Let’s Try Again
Breaking: According to Bob Pockrass and other sources, the Markham track has received the FIA approval and is cleared for track activity.
Yesterday’s PR disaster should hopefully turn into an action packed day.
The revised television schedule… maybe:
This schedule does not have the first half hour of qualifying on FOX ONE only. I will update this information as the day goes along on X.
One man’s opinion:
A racing series needs to oversee race preparation at all the venues where they race, and I think attention to Markham lessened when the DC race was announced. If you have noticed over the past few weeks, there have been lots of promos for the DC race, and very little about Markham. I almost forgot that this race was still on the schedule.
The series and their television partner are so focused on the race after Markham that this weekend’s event has been shoved to the side. As a result, IndyCar and Green Savoree ended up in an embarrassing situation.
I hope IndyCar’s relationship with the promoter isn’t damaged by this snafu. Greem Savoree promotes nearly one fourth of the IndyCar schedule. The series needs them. They aren’t going to magically find four new races.
Maybe IndyCar has learned a lesson here, but past open wheel history would suggest otherwise.
I have some other thoughts, which I will save until after next weekend’s race.
So there will be cars on track all day, and that will serve as some balm to yesterday’s sting.
Qualifying will revert to the standard format of a Fast Six rather than the single car street course final round.
Watch for updates on X @tutorindie and The Pit Window on Faqcebook.
I wil have session summaries on this site as the day goes on, but I did have some other plans as well.
Markham Postponed; Revised Saturday Schedule
After working all day to prepare the track, IndyCar scratched the entire schedule and has isued a new schedule for SWaturday.
Television timesd:
Fans at home will miss the first 30 minutes of qualifying unless they have the FOX One app. I find this inexcusable. For an entity with partial ownership in the series to not find a way tom put all of qualifying over the air is ridiculous.
I really feel for the fans who came to the track today. Even though today was free, they still needed to make arrangements to come, maybe even take a day off of work to get to the track. IndyCar could have announced the postponement earlier.
I understand first year races have issues, but this race was announced more than a year ago. This is a horrible look for IndyCar and an awful start to a five year deal.
Three Grid Penalties for Markham
From IndyCar Officiating:
The Pit Window by Mike Silver 