Today’s schedule: Eastern time

IndyCar Practice 1 – 3 pm FS2

From what I am hearing, this schedule may be changing. The track walk was postponed from yesterday to 8 am this morning because the track was not finished. Overnight work took place to get the track ready, and it appears the track walk has begun. First year circuits usually have issues at the start of a race weekend, so I am not surprised.

It took several years for St. Pete to figure out how to quickly build and tear down the track. Now they need less than half the time it used to take. Markham will be the home of IndyCar in Canada for five years. This problem should not happen again.

The Markham race replaces the Toronto event at Exhibition Place, a tight circuit which had undergone many changes as more buildings rose on the grounds. IndyCar would have probably had to find a new home eventually. A conflict with the World Cup did not allow the race to take place this year, and Markham, about 30 minutes away, became the new home of IndyCar for the next five years.

Newer and casual fans may be surprised that there is a race this weekend, as this event has been overshadowed promo wise by next week’s race in Washington, D. C. The quest for ratings for that race has buried promotion for this weekend’s race.

While it is a new circuit for everyone, Alex Palou and Kyle Kirkwood enter as the two favorites. They dominated t6he inaugural race at Arlington in March, and there is no reason to believe the top two drivers in the standings won’t do the same here.

The circuit looks interesting with a long backstretch and some elevation change. Turn 6 looks like a good passing zone.

Like Detroit, Markham features a split pit lane. The concept works better than I expected it to as drivers have behaved and stayed on their side of the pits on exit.

With five races left in the season, a seventh victory for Palou would pretty much wrap up his fifth championship and fourth in a row. The only real question is can Kirkwood retain second place rather than switching spots with David Malukas every weekend.

My pick for Sunday is Kyle Kirkwood. I am surprised that he hasn’t won a race since March, and street circuits are his expertise. He still won’t gain much ground on Palou, who will likely be on the podium, but Kirkwood will solidify his hold on second place.

I am anxious to see what the track looks like this afternoon and how the cars w3ill =race on it. I’ll be back this evening with a practice wrap up.