Colton Herta dominates in Toronto for first IndyCar victory in more than 2 years

TORONTO (AP) — Colton Herta won the chaotic Honda Indy Toronto on Sunday for his first victory in more than two years, starting from the pole and maintaining control throughout at Exhibition Place.

The 24-year-old American completed the first weekend sweep in IndyCar history, posting the fastest times in both practices, qualifying and the warmup Sunday before winning the race for his eighth career victory.

“It’s awesome. It’s amazing,” Herta said. “For whatever reason it just hasn’t gone our way. We’ve had speed, we’ve had plenty of podiums, we’ve had a lot of poles, a lot of top fives, but no wins. And so it feels great to finally get one back.”

The race was the first street event for the hybrid powertrains introduced two weeks ago on the road course at Mid-Ohio, with Herta putting a lot of extra stress to the engine by spinning around his car in triumphant doughnuts.

“I love doing doughnuts,” Herta said. “And this engine’s getting ripped out after this race so I can destroy it as much I want. … I hate when I don’t get to do doughnuts and this was the perfect race to win.”

Andretti Global teammate Kyle Kirkwood was second, 0.3469 seconds back on the street course, followed by four-time Toronto champion Scott Dixon of Chip Ganassi Racing.

“Super happy with second, especially when a teammate wins,” Kirkwood said. “That was the goal today. We started 1-2 and we wanted to finish 1-2. Of course I would have (preferred to) have won, but I also wasn’t going to push the envelope whatsoever.”

Series leader Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing was fourth after starting 18th following a penalty for interference in qualifying. He increased his lead to 49 points over Will Power, the Team Penske driver who ended up 12th after a late penalty.

The race featured six restarts, with a multi-car crash forcing a red flag on the 73rd lap after Pato O’Ward spun out into a wall, leaving the nose of his car jutting out onto the track.

Marcus Ericsson locked up into the wall behind O’Ward, then three more racers — Pietro Fittipaldi, Santino Ferrucci and Nolan Siegel — clipped O’Ward’s nose. Ferrucci’s car went airborne and landed upside down, but the American immediately signaled to his team that he was OK and emerged from his vehicle.

Frenchman Theo Pourchaire was 14th for Arrow McLaren, subbing for the injured Alexander Rossi. Rossi broke his right thumb in practice Friday when his car hit a tire barrier and then skidded into a concrete wall.

AP IndyCar: https://apnews.com/hub/indycar

Colton Herta, of the United States, drives during an IndyCar auto race in Toronto, Sunday, July 21, 2024. (Arlyn McAdorey/The Canadian Press via AP)

Winner Colton Herta, center, of the United States, second-place Kyle Kirkwood, left, also of the United States, and third-place Scott Dixon, right, of New Zealand, celebrate on the podium after an IndyCar auto race in Toronto, Sunday, July 21, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Colton Herta (26), of the United States, crosses the finish line to win an IndyCar auto race in Toronto, Sunday, July 21, 2024. (Arlyn McAdorey/The Canadian Press via AP)

Colton Herta (26), of the United States, leads the field into the first turn of an IndyCar auto race in Toronto, Sunday, July 21, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Colton Herta (26) of United States drives during qualifying for the IndyCar auto race, Saturday July 20, 2024, in Toronto. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)

Colton Herta (26), of the United States, leads the field into the first turn of an IndyCar auto race in Toronto, Sunday, July 21, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Colton Herta, left, of the United States, celebrates with his team after winning an IndyCar auto race in Toronto, Sunday, July 21, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Colton Herta, of the United States, drives during an IndyCar auto race in Toronto, Sunday, July 21, 2024. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)

Winner Colton Herta, center, of the United States, second-place Kyle Kirkwood, left, also of the United States, and third-place Scott Dixon, right, of New Zealand, celebrate on the podium after an IndyCar auto race in Toronto, Sunday, July 21, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Colton Herta, of the United States, celebrates with his team after winning an IndyCar auto race in Toronto, Sunday, July 21, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Linebacker Haason Reddick won't play in the New York Jets' season-opening game Monday night at San Francisco while he remains in a contract dispute with the team.

Coach Robert Saleh acknowledged Saturday “that would be fair” to rule out Reddick, who has not been at the team's facility since the Jets' trade for him from Philadelphia became official on April 1.

The two-time Pro Bowl edge rusher, seeking a contract extension, has requested a trade from New York — something general manager Joe Douglas has said the team won't honor.

Saleh earlier in the week wouldn't rule out Reddick for the game, saying he's a veteran who knows how to prepare for the season. But the chances of that dwindled with each day of practice and Reddick remaining a holdout.

“Everyone goes through their own process,” Saleh said. "I'll stand firm that when he gets here, we're going to welcome him with open arms and we're going to love him up and he's going to be a part of this football team. And he's going to help us win a lot of football games.

“He's got to sort through the financial stuff, which is none of my business. I said it when I first got hired that our job is to help these guys make money. So, I always stay clear of it. Our job is to coach him when he gets here and love him up when he gets here.”

Reddick, who has four straight seasons of double-digit sacks, requested a trade from Philadelphia in the offseason when it became clear the Eagles wouldn’t give him a contract extension. The Jets had conversations with Reddick's representatives and felt comfortable enough to make the deal to acquire him.

Reddick, who turns 30 later this month, remains on the reserve/did not report list, where he was placed by the Jets on July 25, the second day of training camp practice.

Saleh insisted he's not frustrated by the situation with Reddick.

“Like I said, he's going through his process,” the coach said. “And when he gets here, we're going to do everything we can to help him get what he wants.”

Reddick's total fines for his holdout have surpassed $5 million, including over $2 million for missing all of training camp. He'll now forfeit almost $800,000 in game checks for each regular-season game he misses.

Backup offensive lineman Wes Schweitzer is out for the game with a hand injury that Saleh said will land him on injured reserve, meaning he'll be sidelined for at least the first four games. Schweitzer, entering his second season with the Jets, is a primary backup at guard.

Second-year linebacker Zaire Barnes, a special teams standout, will miss the game with an ankle injury.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

FILE - Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Haason Reddick (7) in action against New York Jets tight end Tyler Conklin (83) and offensive tackle Max Mitchell (61) during an NFL football game, Oct. 15, 2023, in East Rutherford NJ. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz, File)