Jun 14, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; IndyCar Series driver Will Power (1) during warm up prior to the Honda Indy Toronto at Exhibition Place. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

NASCAR Misses Out In More Ways Than One On ESPY Day

NASCAR Misses Out In More Ways Than One On ESPY Day by Christopher Olmstead

The 2016 Honda Indy Toronto takes place Sunday. Here are the statistics you need to know about the Verizon IndyCar Series‘ trip north of the border.

IndyCar returns to Canada this weekend, with the 2016 Honda Indy Toronto being the eleventh race of the 2016 season.

Team Penske’s Simon Pagenaud remains the championship leader heading into Sunday while Ed Carpenter Racing’s Josef Newgarden is the defending race winner. That’s particularly dangerous, as Newgarden’s win last weekend at Road America has also made him the current championship runner-up.

Here are some more facts to keep in mind for the Honda Indy Toronto:

Pagenaud’s teammate Will Power – who is third in line when it comes to the championship standings – was last year’s pole winner with a top qualifying speed of 106.314 MPH.

Power has won the Honda Indy Toronto twice previously, as have defending IndyCar champion Scott Dixon and KVSH Racing’s Sebastien Bourdais. Bourdais might be better remembered for how he dropped the first-place trophy after winning in 2013:

All joking aside, Bourdais is actually quite at home in Toronto. The Frenchman has finished within the Top 10 in all but one of his dozen Honda Indy Toronto starts. The only exception? The 2012 Honda Indy Toronto, where he came in 14th while still driving for Dragon Racing.

The Honda Indy Toronto has also proven itself to be a good barometer for determining the Verizon IndyCar Series champion. In four of the last seven seasons the driver who wins the Honda Indy Toronto has gone on to also capture the league title. Dixon, Ryan Hunter-Reay and current Chip Ganassi Racing driver coach Dario Franchitti all won at Toronto in their title years.

Will this year’s Honda Indy Toronto prove to be a similar tease about the winner of the Astor Cup? Or will someone like Newgarden break through to the next level for the second straight year?

Fans will have to watch this weekend and find out. The 2016 Honda Indy Toronto takes place this Sunday, July 17 at 2:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. PT from Exhibition Place – note that it’s airing on CNBC because NBCSN is broadcasting the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series on Sunday.