Sawt Falasteen - Herta edges Kirkwood to win IndyCar Toronto street race

It had been a 41-race drought since Herta had last won an IndyCar crown, in May of 2022 at the Indianapolis road course race.

"We've been knocking on the door to win for so long -- 41 starts without a win is a long time and it has been disappointing for us," Herta said. "So happy."

Herta won by 0.3469 of a second over fellow American Kyle Kirkwood, an Andretti Global teammate, after 85 laps over an 11-turn, 1.786-mile temporary street circuit at Exhibition Place.

"We needed this so bad," car owner Michael Andretti said after his team's 1-2 finish. "We've been competitive all year but we just haven't been able to get the final result. It was a big day."

New Zealand's Scott Dixon, a four-time Toronto winner, was third with Spain's Alex Palou in fourth.

Herta led 81 of 85 laps, surrendering the top spot only on refueling stops, with Kirkwood just behind him the entire way, reluctant to risk passing his teammate.

"Putting us at risk was just not the move today," Kirkwood said. "I played a little bit more defense. Super happy with second place."

After 12 of 17 season races, Palou is in the lead for his third points crown in four campaigns with 411 points to 362 for Australian Will Power, 358 for Dixon, a six-time season champion who turns 44 on Monday, and 354 for Herta.

The season's next race is August 17 at Madison, Illinois.

W.AbuLaban--SF-PST