Favorites and Sleepers: Markham

Note: INDYCAR.com’s Eric Smith takes a fun look before each NTT INDYCAR SERIES race at drivers entering the weekend with an inside line to Victory Lane and others who could surprise with a strong result.

The Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham opens a two-week stretch of inaugural events on the NTT INDYCAR SERIES schedule. Next Sunday is the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C.

The series has competed in Toronto for 39 races over a 40-year span beginning in 1986, including doubleheaders in 2013 and 2014. The only interruptions came in 2008, when the sport reunified, and in 2020 and 2021 due to global pandemic precautions.

Now, the series moves just about 20 miles northeast of Exhibition Place for its first visit to the streets of Markham, a 2.19-mile, 12-turn temporary track.

As with most inaugural events, this week's favorites and sleepers are based largely on recent performance at similar street circuits.

Honda has won all four street races this season and 17 of the last 19 dating to Toronto in 2022. The only exceptions were Pato O'Ward victorious driving the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet in 2024 at St. Petersburg and 2025 in Toronto.

Honda also swept the podium in three consecutive street races this season at Arlington, Long Beach and Detroit. It swept last week’s podium at Portland, a permanent road course, too.

Who will reach Victory Lane in Sunday's 90-lap race (noon ET, FOX, FOX One, INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls)?

Favorites

Pato O'Ward (No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet)

O'Ward has finished fifth or better in all four street races this season, including a fourth-place result May 31 at Detroit. He also won last year's Toronto race and owns five top-seven finishes in his last six street-course starts. O'Ward has scored the third most street-course points this season.

Alex Palou (No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda)

Palou won at St. Petersburg, Long Beach and Detroit and finished second at Arlington. He has five street-course victories since 2023 and leads all drivers with 199 points on street circuits this season, 41 more than second-best, Kyle Kirkwood. He’s seeking the hat trick with a third consecutive victory on the season and third straight street course victory on the year, too, following Long Beach and Detroit.

Will Power (No. 26 TWG AI Honda)

In his first season with Andretti Global, Power finished third at Arlington but endured difficult results elsewhere, placing 22nd at St. Petersburg, 19th at Long Beach and 22nd at Detroit. He started second in Motown before crashing with Scott McLaughlin while battling for third with 33 laps remaining. Power has four top eight finishes in the last five races, including a third-place run last weekend at Portland. He also is one temporary road course victory shy of tying Michael Andretti’s 18 for third most all time. Sebastien Bourdais’ 22 wins and Al Unser Jr.’s 20 are the only other drivers with more.

Kyle Kirkwood (No. 27 Sam's Club Honda)

Five of Kirkwood's six career victories have come on street circuits. This season, he finished fourth at St. Petersburg and Long Beach, won the inaugural Arlington race and was runner-up at Detroit. He also has six consecutive top-10 finishes this season.

Marcus Ericsson (No. 28 RVI Group Honda)

Three of Ericsson's four career INDYCAR SERIES victories have come on street circuits, at St. Petersburg, Nashville and Belle Isle. He won the inaugural downtown Nashville race in 2021 and earned his first NTT P1 Award at the inaugural Arlington event this season, where he finished fourth. He also placed sixth at St. Petersburg, eighth at Detroit and has the seventh most street-course points scored this season. Ericsson (photo, top and above) has four top eight finishes in the last six races this season, too.

Sleepers

Scott McLaughlin (No. 3 Gallagher Insurance Team Penske Chevrolet)

McLaughlin has posted two top-six finishes in four street races this season and ranks sixth in points earned on street circuits in 2026. He has four top seven finishes in the past five races this season.

Christian Lundgaard (No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet)

He recorded three top-seven street-course finishes in four starts this season and ranks fourth in street-course points accumulated. Lundgaard earned his first INDYCAR SERIES victory in 2023 in Toronto.

David Malukas (No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet)

Malukas has finished 13th, sixth, seventh and 18th on street circuits this season. He ranks eighth in street-course points.

Felix Rosenqvist (No. 60 SiriusXM Canada Honda)

Rosenqvist's street-course finishes this season are 12th, 20th, second and sixth, respectively. He has the fifth most points tabulated on street courses. He earned the pole and finished second last weekend at Portland in addition to an NTT P1 Award earlier this season on the streets of Long Beach.

Marcus Armstrong (No. 66 SiriusXM Canada Honda)

Armstrong has quietly produced consistent results on street circuits this season, finishing 11th at St. Petersburg, 10th at Arlington, 24th at Long Beach and 11th at Detroit.