Defending champion Dario Franchitti has best practice lap at Honda Indy Toronto

TORONTO – Dario Franchitti didn’t waste much time asserting his dominance at the Honda Indy Toronto.

The defending champion posted the best practice lap Friday of one minute 0.2786 seconds to set the pace as he tries to captures his fourth victory at Exhibition Place.

Franchitti downplayed any early assumptions he had another victory in the bag ahead of Sunday’s race. Instead the Scottish driver, who is second in career wins in Toronto behind Michael Andretti’s seven titles, said he was just happy to return to a track where he feels comfortable.

“It’s always good to come back to a place you’ve enjoyed success, but whether you’ve enjoyed success or you’ve had a bad history you’ve still got to treat it the same and try and win there,” said Franchitti.

“There’s tracks five years ago I never thought I would have won at that I have, so you just got to have an open mind. But I do, I love coming back to Toronto, for the track and also the town as well. It’s one of my favourite stops on the circuit.”

Franchitti was followed by Simon Pagenaud, who had the second best lap at 1:00.3904, while Scott Dixon followed in third at 1:00.5423, giving them good starts going into Saturday’s qualifying session at the 11-turn, 2.824-kilometre street course.

The practice had a scary start after Justin Wilson’s car crashed into Sebastien Bourdais’ pit, injuring four crew members. Chuck Homan and Raffi Aroyan were taken to a hospital after Wilson’s car failed to stop, pinning Homan’s leg between two cars and injuring Aroyan’s ankle.

Two other crew members, Dragon Racing’s Daniel Martin and Michael Cole, a member of Wilson’s Dale Coyne Racing team, were treated at the track, while Homan and Aroyan went to hospital but were later released.

Wilson, who finished fourth in practice, blamed a faulty transmission for the accident, and said in a statement posted on his website that he was stuck in first gear and couldn’t change to neutral. He added cold brakes also contributed to the accident.

“At the last second I tried to dive into the wall to take the speed off, but those guys were there and had no idea I was coming,” Wilson said. “I really hope they are OK.”

It was also a tough day for the Canadian drivers.

Alex Tagliani of Lachenaie, Que., had the 11th best time of 1:00.9297, but was handed a 10-grid spot penalty for changing his engine that will keep him back in the pack to start Sunday’s race.

Meanwhile, James Hinchcliffe of Oakville, Ont., who was hampered by mechanical issues that kept him from completing a lap, was also handed a 10-grid spot penalty.

It was a steamy day at the track, with temperatures reaching 35 C that kept the bleachers bare despite attendance being free. Franchitti, who spoke with sweat running down his face, said the heat wasn’t a factor on the drivers nor did it have any effect on the practice times.

“I don’t think it’s that much warmer than what the people in the stands are experiencing. You know it’s pretty warm in those metal bleachers,” he said. “But I think to do it for two hours on Sunday would be pretty intense.”