2016 Honda Indy Toronto Preview: Redemption Day?

The 2016 Honda Indy Toronto could be an opportunity for two Verizon IndyCar Series drivers in need of a big finish – or will Penske once again conquer?

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All it takes is one good race to change a season, and for Scott Dixon and Sebastien Bourdais, the 2016 Honda Indy Toronto could be that race.

Dixon starts Sunday on the pole at Exhibition Place, coming in with momentum from his third-place finish at last week’s Iowa Corn 300. The defending IndyCar champion is searching for his second race victory of 2016, and could use some valuable points as he’s slipped from No. 2 to No. 4 in the title fight.

Still if anyone can hang on it’s Dixon, who rightfully earned the nickname “The Iceman” for being cool and consistent under every circumstance.

Dixon has two wins at Toronto, one of three active drivers to have more than one, and in 2015 it was just before the Honda Indy Toronto – at Texas – that he captured his second victory. If he’s going make a move, this would seem to be the day.

Also expecting a big result in the Honda Indy Toronto will be Bourdais. The No. 11 KVSH Racing driver starts fifth on Sunday, and like Dixon has won twice in the Canadian round.

But Bourdais has proven himself to be a beast north of the border. In his career, he not only has two victories but earned four Verizon P1 Awards at Toronto, and only once in 12 events has he finished outside of the Top 10.

He’ll need to find that magic again this year. Bourdais has only seen one podium in 2016 – his win in Race 1 of the Dual in Detroit – and aside from that, has not finished within the Top 5 all year. He is currently 14th in league championship points.

Of course, one can’t talk about any race without discussing Team Penske. IndyCar’s top team was strong in Honda Indy Toronto qualifying. Helio Castroneves, Simon Pagenaud and Will Power are starting second, third and fourth today.

Any or all of them could give Dixon a run for the checkered flag. Castroneves was the only driver other than Dixon to turn a lap time under the one-minute mark in Saturday’s Firestone Fast Six.

Meanwhile Pagenaud remains the championship leader by more than 70 points and drove well in practice (see above), and Power comes into the Honda Indy Toronto looking for his third win in four races.

Yet they’re not out of the woods necessarily.

The major knock on Team Penske in 2015 was that having multiple drivers in contention for the championship ultimately cost them, as they had to spread out their efforts compared to Ganassi, where the whole team could support Dixon.

Flash forward a season and here we are again. Pagenaud is on top, while Power is third in title points, and Castroneves fifth. With three drivers in contention, will Penske once again be battling themselves – and leave room for someone like Dixon or Bourdais to sneak through?

There’s only one way to find out.

The 2016 Honda Indy Toronto takes place on the streets of Exhibition Place beginning at 3:37 p.m. ET/12:37 p.m. PT today. Race broadcast begins at 2:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. PT on CNBC.