Today’ schedule All times eastern

3 pm-4:15 pm Indycar practice

Indycar takes to the streets of Exhibition Place in Toronoto this weekend, startingmwith a 75 minute practice this afternoon. There are some unusual aspects toi the weekend, one of which is the entire weekend, including the race, is exclusively on Peacock.

The 1.7 ile track has had to adjust to a growing area. The pits have shifted to a new spot after a hotel supplanted their original location. The paddock is inside the convention center.

Sunday’s race will be the 37th running of the event at Exhibition Place. Other events have run for more years, but the Canadian race is fast approaching the 40 race mark, which Mid Ohio just achieved and Long Beach has moved past eight years ago.

The Palou Express

Alex Palou has won three straight races. Is the weekend he is finally stopped? Plaou has not finished outside the top five since the opener at St. Pete, and has qualified in the top for everywhere since Long Beach.

Palou has won the last two street races, and the championship is his to lose. I don’t see a dropoff in hismperformance this weekend, but I don’t think he will be on the top of the podium.

He will still have a strong finish, and at least one of his two closest rivals, Scott Dixon or Josef Newgarden, will fall further behind in points.

RLL Momentum

Can Rahal letterman Lanigan Racing continuie its momentum from Mid Ohio? All three drivers,-Graham Rahal, Christiian Lundgaard, and Jack Harvey qualified well, with Rahal on the front row. Lundgaard finished fourth, while Rahal finsihed seventh after some issues in the pits.

I hope Mid Ohio was the springboard for a good second half of the season for this team.

Blomqvist Debut

Tom Blomqvist makes his Indycar debut, replacing Simon Pagenaud, who has not been cleared by Indycar to drive after his incident at Mid Ohio. Blomqvist drives full time for MSR in IMSA. Runor has it that he will replace Helio Castronveve full time i 2024, and Castroneves will move intom his seat in sportscars.

I’m not sure either current MSR driver will be back next season. This team has to get younger quickly. The year has not gone well for them.

Putting It All Together

Like Charlie Brown trying to kick the football, Colton Herta and Pato O’Ward are still looking for their first complete race weekend of 2023. Herta has won two consecutive poles, but hasn’t been able to win. O’Ward has qualified well occasionally, and has had difficult races.

I give Herta the edge this weekedn. Andretti asutopsort has benn verty strong on street courses this year with two poles and a victory.

I’ll b back late this aftyernoon with a practice wrap up story.