By Andrew Cutler
July 12 2009

It was another interesting qualifying session as the IndyCar Series drivers prepare for the Honda Indy Toronto, to be held Sunday at 1pm ET/6pm GMT. For the second weekend in a row, many of the drivers form the supposed powerhouse teams didn't live up to expectations.

Ganassi's Scott Dixon, currently the championship points leader, failed to make it into the 3rd & final round of the "knockout" qualifying, as well as Team Penske's two full time wheel jockeys, Helio Castroneves and Ryan Briscoe. But an even worse fate befell the 3rd top-tier squad as all four of the Andretti-Green Racing drivers, Andretti, Kanaan, Mutoh and Patrick, failed to make it past the first round!

Ganassi's other man, Dario Franchitti, did make it into the "fast six" shoot-out, and held off Will Power, who is running a limited schedule for Penske throughout the balance of '09, to claim the pole. N/H/L's Graham Rahal and Dale Coyne Racing's Justin Wilson - last weekend's winner at Watkins Glen, will sart in Row Two.

Here is the complete starting grid for the race, which can be viewed via in-car video streaming at www.indycar.com/:

http://www.indycar.com/news/2009/toronto/2009_Honda_Indy_Toronto_Starting_Lineup.pdf

 

Earlier in the day, soon after heavy rains had moved through the area, the Firestone Indy Lights Series held a 50 lap event on the 1.75 mile street circut. The AFS-AGR duo of Sebastian Saavedra and J.R. Hildebrand notched a one-two finish, with Toronto native James Hinchcliffe in third.