Palou vs McLaughlin in IndyCar 2024 Toronto GP Odds

The final street race of the season could be close fight between multiple drivers

July 19, 2024 215 4 minutes readIndyCar News

Palou vs McLaughlin in IndyCar 2024 Toronto GP Odds — Photo taken from: autoaction.com.au

Favorites
Sleepers
Predictions

The IndyCar Series’ first doubleheader of the season in Iowa produced two different winners: Scott McLaughlin in Race 1 and Will Power in Race 2.

Championship leader Álex Palou had his worst result of the season in Race 1 and significantly reduced his championship lead. The IndyCar Series heads to Toronto for the final street course race of the season this weekend, and the 2024 Toronto GP Odds point to a close fight at the front.

Discover the latest updates and insights on the Toronto GP at Point Spreads. Visit our website now!

2024 Toronto GP Odds: Favorites

Álex Palou (+300)

Late contact knocked Palou out of the first Iowa race and he finished classified 23rd. That’s his worst finish since June 2022, when he finished 27th in Road America.

A bounce-back to second with the most laps led in Race 2 kept him at the top of the IndyCar standings this week.

Palou’s street course results are mixed this season. Fourth in St. Petersburg, third in Long Beach, and 16th in Detroit. But his track record in Toronto is solid: second from 15th on the grid in 2023 and sixth from 22nd in 2022.

His results haven’t been there on street circuits this season but he’s still been the best driver on average in 2024.

Scott McLaughlin (+400)

McLaughlin put on a show in Iowa with a commanding win in Race 1. He took the lead during pit stops and led the final 164 laps of the race for his second win of the season. In Race 2, he started from pole position and held on for third by the checkered flag.

Like Palou, McLaughlin has struggled on street courses in 2024. He was disqualified from third in St. Petersburg but finished 26th in Long Beach and 20th in Detroit.

That’s far from his typical results on road courses and ovals this season. He’s the form driver at the moment with three consecutive podiums but his IndyCar results this season aren’t promising on street courses.

Pato O’Ward (+600)

O’Ward came home second to McLaughlin in Race 1 in Iowa before finishing sixth on Sunday in Race 2. He’s moved down to third in the championship standings behind Power, but only by 17 points.

O’Ward technically earned a win in St. Petersburg but he was second on the road. In Long Beach he finished 16th and in Detroit he finished seventh. Not bad but not great form compared to his results on ovals or road courses.

He’s on a run of seven top-10 finishes, which is the best in the IndyCar field. That alone should put him near the front.

Josef Newgarden (+600)

The Indy 500 champion couldn’t find that oval magic he had for so much of last season into May again last weekend in Iowa. Instead, he finished third and seventh but managed to clock the fastest lap in both IndyCar races.

Newgarden has two wins in Toronto on his track record: 2015 and 2017. Since that most recent win, he’s finished four consecutive Indycar races in the top 10 but never higher than fourth.

It’d be a slight surprise to see him get career win No. 3 here given his form this season but he should be at least in the top 10.

Scott Dixon (+800)

Dixon rebounded from a season-worst finish in Mid-Ohio (27th) to take fourth in both Iowa races. That points haul from Iowa has him right behind O’Ward in the championship standings in fourth.

Dixon has more wins in Toronto (four) than any active driver in the IndyCar Series. His most recent win came in 2022, and he’s a picture of consistency here.

He hasn’t finished outside of the top 10 at this race since 2012. He’s never qualified outside of the top 10, either. His outstanding track record makes him a strong contender this weekend.

Sleepers

Colton Herta (+1000)

Herta lost the lead to McLaughlin during the pit stops in Race 1 and ended up 11th by the checkered flag. In Race 2, he finished fifth, one of his better results on the IndyCar schedule 2024.

He’s now notched six top-five results this season, nearly his combined total from 2022 and 2023 (eight).

He’s been strong on road courses this season with fourth on the road in St. Petersburg and second in Long Beach. He took pole position and fastest lap in Detroit before ultimately finishing 19th. That kind of track record makes him a good choice this weekend.

Christian Lundgaard (+1000)

Lundgaard had a rough weekend in Iowa after a strong finish in Mid-Ohio. Twenty-second in Race 1 and 17th in Race 2 have him 13th in the championship standings.

But he did win this race from pole position last season after a relatively ho-hum season leading up to that. He could surprise again this weekend.

Kyle Kirkwood (+1200)

Kirkwood’s streak of top-10 finishes came to an end on Sunday in Iowa with 16th in Race 2. Still, he’s been a consistent driver this season with top-10 finishes in nine of 11 championship races.

He’s historically raced best on street circuits with his two career wins in Long Beach and Nashville last season. This year, he’s made the top 10 in St. Petersburg (10th), Long Beach (seventh), and Detroit (fourth). It would not be a surprise to see him on the podium, at the very least.

Marcus Ericsson (+2500)

Ericsson also had a mixed bag in Iowa with ninth in Race 1 and 23rd in Race 2. It’s the latest in an inconsistent season for the Swede.

But like Kirkwood, Ericsson is strong in street courses. Last year, he won St. Petersburg and finished third in Long Beach. This year, he finished fifth in Long Beach and second in Detroit.

He finished 11th here last year but fifth the year before. That track record’s worth consideration with this kind of payout.

2024 Toronto GP Odds: Predictions

With Nashville temporarily moved to the oval, this weekend marks the final street race of the IndyCar season. It should be a close race after a chaotic weekend in Iowa.

Of the favorites, we like Dixon (+800). It’s hard to argue against that track record and his results in 2024 on street courses. Of the sleepers, go with Herta (+1000) or Ericsson (+2500) if you’d prefer the better payout.

For Indycar betting news, Indycar odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.