Toronto: Wilson paces field in record breaking fashion

No stranger to success on the mean streets of Toronto, Justin Wilson put on a "this is how it's done" clinic this afternoon during qualifying for the Honda Indy Toronto. With 5 races under his belt on this circuit, which include a pole and his first win in Champ Car, Justin earns his first IZOD IndyCar series pole, and the second career pole for Dreyer and Rienbold.

Here is how the afternoon played out

Round 1 - Group 1 (bold advanced)

Advanced:
#12 Will Power
#10 Dario Franchitti
#22 Justin Wilson
#3 Helio Castroneves
#7 Danica Patrick
#11 Tony Kanaan


Did not make the cut:
#14 Vitor Meira
#78 Simona de Silvestro
#36 Bertrand Baguette
#7 Danica Patrick
#77 Alex Tagliani
#11 Tony Kanaan

As the season progresses, and the parity amongst the drivers and teams continues to increase, the challenge to progress to the next round, and eventually the shoot out, becomes harder and harder. Former Toronto race winners Will Power, Dario Franchitti and Justin Wilson proved that they havn't lost their touch on the bumpy, challenging street course, easily putting themselves through to the next round. Helio Castroneves challenged for the top spots throughout, while the last 2 place changed hands several times, with Andretti Autosport teammates Tony Kanaan and Danica Patrick taking them as the clock ran out.

Biggest surprise this round: Kanaan, who was struggling for the whole session making it through, while Viso, who was 2nd fast in the last practice, seemed to lose speed.

Round 1 - Group 2 (bold advanced)

Advanced:
#9 Scott Dixon
#37 Ryan Hunter-Reay
#6 Ryan Briscoe
#26 Marco Andretti
#77 Alex Tagliani
#2 Raphael Matos

Did not make the cut:
#5 Takuma Sato
#02 Graham Rahal
#06 Hideki Mutoh
#14 Vitor Meira
#15 Paul Tracy
#32 Mario Moraes

This second group was again stacked with talent and potential, and would be a challenge to be one of the eventual top six. Again, anyone who follows the series could have easily predicted at least 3 of the 6 advancing drivers. Dixon and Briscoe were easily locked in. Ryan Hunter-Reay, who has been showing increasing speed and confidence, battled for the top spot throughout. Takuma Sato, again no stranger to road courses, took to the challenging course like a fish to water, but an unfortunate lock up of his gears would see him towed back to pitlane, his 2 fastest laps lost. At virtually the same time, Vitor Meira found the wall in turn 5, stuffing his car into the tire barrier, while Tracy spun and sat in turn 11. They two would both lose their fast laps, pretty much guaranteeing they would go no further than round one. The battle was on for the final two spots, which would eventually go to Tagliani and Matos, leaving Moraes stuck in round one with his 3 teammates.


Round 2 (bold advanced)

Advanced:
#22 Justin Wilson
#3 Helio Castroneves
#10 Dario Franchitti
#12 Will Power
#9 Scott Dixon
#37 Ryan Hunter-Reay

#11 Tony Kanaan
#7 Danica Patrick
#77 Alex Tagliani
#2 Raphael Matos
#6 Ryan Briscoe
#26 Marco Andretti


As usual, this round was the most challenging, and a flurry of fast lap after fast lap, with everyone laying it all out, and everyone not named Castroneves, Briscoe and Power hoping to break the Penske strangle hold on pole positions this season (they have secured the last 8 consecutively)
By the wave of the checkered flag, one Penske was unseated, leaving two spots open for someone other than a top two team driver. Those spots were filled by Justin Wilson and Ryan Hunter Reay.
Biggest surprise this round: Wilson was able to lay down a blistering fast lap, then sit for the majority of the session unchallenged, while yet to have used a set of alternate tires.

Firestone Fast Six(bold Pole Winner!)

#22 Justin Wilson
#12 Will Power
#3 Helio Castroneves
#37 Ryan Hunter-Reay
#10 Dario Franchitti
#9 Scott Dixon

Determined to maintain the top spot, D&R decided to put Wilson out on a sticker set of Reds this session. While it took a couple of laps to get to the optimum speed, Wilson was again able to jump to the top spot and remain until the end of the session

As the laps and time wound down, Power was the only one who was able to attempt to challenge Wilson for the top spot, but it was too little too late, and the Penske pole streak ran out with the clock.

Tomorrow's race day schedule is as follows:

Sun, July 17th
8:00am - 8:20am ET - Firestone Indy Lights Warm Up
8:35am - 9:05am ET- IZOD IndyCar Warm Up
10:10pm - 11:25pm ET - Firestone Indy Lights race
12:30pm ET - Honda Indy Toronto- Live on ABC

Quotes and photos to follow