Britain’s Mike Conway won his second race of the season and France’s Sebastien Bourdais captured his first title since 2007 on Sunday at IndyCar’s Toronto Indy double-header.
Rain forced postponement of Saturday’s scheduled race and set up the first twin bill in the series since 1981 at Atlanta over a 1.7-mile, 11-turn temporary road course on the Canadian streets.
While Bourdais won from the pole to snap a 52-race IndyCar win drought, the second race produced the most drama as three cars crashed when rain began on lap 13.
Most drivers went to slick tires until the showers passed and the course dried, sending most of the field back to the pits for dry-condition wheels.
Conway was quickest to make the choice to switch from wet condition tires to dry ones and as a result, put himself in second place.
Shortly after Conway made an inside passto overtake fellow Englishman Justin Wilson for the lead, a major third-turn tangle involving seven cars halted the race and set up a restart that saw Conway seize command to the checkered flag.
“I was able to control it, not push too hard and enjoy those last few laps,” said Conway, who won earlier this year at Long Beach.
“It feels so good,” Conway said of his fourth career victory.
“We were struggling out there. Once I saw a dry line I knew it was time to come in. It was a good call and we were able to hold on.”
Brazil’s Tony Kanaan was second with Australian Will Power third, although he lost ground on the day overall in his fight for the season points title with Brazilian teammate Helio Castroneves.
Three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Castroneves fell to 12th in the second race thanks to a broken rear wing but stretched his season points lead to 13 over Power after 14 of 18 races in the two events combined.
“You know it’s going to be a fight,” Power said. “I want it.”
Castroneves, whose margin is 69 points over third placed reigning Indy 500 champion Ryan Hunter-Reay, kept his eyes on his quest for a first-ever season crown.
“We came here ahead by nine and leave with four more,” Castroneves said. “That’s a good weekend.”
In the first race, pole-sitter Bourdais dominated. He won the inside front row spot Saturday in time trials before the rain struck.
Bourdais took his first victory since 2007 in Mexico City in the 65-lap feature.
“It’s damn sweet,” Bourdais said. “I’m a bit speechless. It went perfect from green to checkered flag.”
Castroneves was second with Kanaan third.
Bourdais won four IndyCar series titles from 2004-2007 in the ChampCar era before leaving two seasons in Formula One and returning to IndyCar in 2011.
The 35-year-old from Le Mans had led only two laps all season before this week, but led 58 laps Sunday in winning his 32nd career IndyCar race, moving into seventh on the all-time list.
“It was a pretty dominant performance from the machine,” Bourdais said. “It was back to the old days. I made it stick. I couldn’t be any happier.”