Alex Palou’s reign of terror over the NTT INDYCAR SERIES has been slowed marginally after his worst qualifying result of the season at Honda Indy Toronto.

The Spaniard came into the weekend having qualified no worse than seventh all season, and fourth or better since the third race, the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach in April.

Early into Round 1 of qualifying for the first group at Toronto, rain began fall on the 11-turn, 1.786-mile temporary street course, leaving many drivers and teams guessing on staying out on their slick Firestone tires and push for a quick time or pitting for rain tires. In the case of Palou, he pressed through the conditions with Chip Ganassi Racing’s No. 10 Journie Rewards Honda and attempted to set a quick time, knowing the pace would slow. In the end, though, his best lap of 1 minute, 1.6340 seconds (104.319 mph) wasn’t enough to advance, leaving him 15th on the starting grid Sunday.

2021 NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion and current points leader Palou didn’t think the changing weather affected his final hot lap in qualifying.

“I wouldn't say much, honestly,” Palou said. “I just think we didn't really put together everything we had. We had a lot more pace than that, and we couldn't really improve on alternates (tires). Shame that we're going to have to start from the back. Anyway, we know we have a fast car, and we can make it from there.”

Although some rivals with title aspirations might look at Palou starting middle of the 27-car field as an opportunity, last year at Exhibition Place he drove from a 22nd starting position to finish sixth.

The streets of Toronto are regarded as one of the most challenging tracks on the schedule by many, yet Palou said the deep talent pool of North America’s premier open-wheel championship is an even bigger concern.

“As soon as you start further than 10th, it's going to be a pretty busy race,” he said. “So, yeah, we're going to have that tomorrow. It's the first one of the year (starting mid-pack). Hopefully, the last one. We will have to work for it, for sure.”

Rosenqvist ‘All In’

Felix Rosenqvist is entering the second half of the season ready to go for broke.

That mentality helped elevate his No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet to third in the opening practice Friday, but he also ended up crashing in Turn 5 in the second practice session Saturday morning. Still, the Swede rebounded with a relentless qualifying run that saw him end up fifth, .7856 of a second off the pole time of 1:04.1567 (100.217 mph) by Christian Lundgaard.

Although he has been one of the best qualifiers of 2023 thus far, with one pole and six top-eight starting spots (including Toronto), Rosenqvist has only one podium finish and one additional top five. Thirteenth in the championship standings, he isn’t thinking much of a title push, just strong results.

“Yeah, it's been some unfortunate races for us, especially the last two ones, just kind of ending up nowhere after basically -- not DNF (did not finish), but being at the back,” Rosenqvist said. “I don't know, I think you approach it a bit differently. Maybe you try to go for a big result. I think there's probably no chance for us to win the championship. I think I'm mentally more in a head space where I want to go for like – if I can go for a win, I'll try all in, and I think a lot of us are in the same position because Alex (Palou) is just taking off in the standings.

“Like I say, we've been super-fast on one lap, and I think actually the race pace has been mega, as well. Just haven't really strung a result together in the last three, four races. Looking forward to just having a solid week, and I feel like we started good here.”

Pole Streak Ends for Herta

Colton Herta came to Toronto as pole sitter in the previous two races this season, and he captured the NTT P1 Award last year on the streets of Toronto. But his hopes to continue both streaks came to an early end after he failed to advance from the second group of Round 1 in a wet and wild qualifying bout.

The driver of the No. 26 Gainbridge Honda for Andretti Autosport with Curb-Agajanian pushed through the elements to the point he was sideways as he crossed the timing line in the final seconds. Although originally tracking in to advance, his rivals made up enough time to prevent Herta from moving into the next round.

He will start 14th in tomorrow’s 85-lap race (1:30 p.m. ET, Peacock and INDYCAR Radio Network in the U.S., TSN in Canada).

“We definitely were a lot better in the dry than we were in the wet, unfortunately,” Herta said. “Seemed to just not have the rear end, struggled a bit with wheelspin. So, we'll see. If it's a rain race tomorrow, it's good to get this little bit of practice in so maybe we can make some adjustments. But yeah, I was just struggling. Couldn't get the lap time down to what other guys are doing.”

Odds & Ends

• Scott McLaughlin’s crew worked late Friday night, finishing repairs of a mechanical issue presumed to be a water leak on the No. 3 Gallagher Insurance Team Penske Chevrolet at roughly 10:30 p.m. ET. McLaughlin repaid their efforts by qualifying second on Saturday, .3223 of a second off the pole time set by Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Lundgaard.

• There was an overnight track change, with officials working on a small surface repair in the apex at Turn 9.

• Tom Blomqvist, who is substituting for Simon Pagenaud in Meyer Shank Racing’s No. 60 AutoNation/SiriusXM Honda, delivered a respectable run in a wet qualifying bout and will start 20th for his debut race in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.

• It was also a season-best qualifying run Meyer Shank Racing’s other driver, Helio Castroneves, who put his No. 06 AutoNation/SiriusXM Honda 13th in qualifying, bettering his previous mark of 15th (Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding).

• Romain Grosjean came to Toronto with a sterling record in qualifying on street circuits this season, starting in the top three at the other previous rounds on the track discipline, including the NTT P1 Award on the streets of St. Petersburg. However, the Swiss-born Frenchman saw hopes of keeping that record intact end as he was eliminated in Round 2 of qualifying after a best lap of 1:12.5611. He will start ninth in the No. 28 DHL Honda for Andretti Autosport.

• Will Power’s reputation as the best qualifier in NTT INDYCAR SERIES history, due to his record 68 poles, finally came through in one regard this season as his No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet advanced into the Firestone Fast Six for the first time in 2023. The two-time and reigning INDYCAR SERIES champion will start sixth Sunday.