TORONTO, Ont — On Friday afternoon, Alex Tagliani scored the pole for the Pinty’s Grand Prix of Toronto. Qualifying took place on the temporary Exhibition Place street circuit on Toronto’s lakeshore.
Tagliani’s No.18 Rona/EpiPen Chevrolet set a fast time of 1 minute 16.893 seconds (82.166 mph), to take his first pole of the season and at the 1.755 mile street course. His time was not quick enough to beat the track record (1.16.260) set in 2011 by Jason Bowles.
The 44-year-old driver from Lachenaie, Quebec won the 2016 Pinty’s Grand Prix of Toronto and looks to become the first driver since Andrew Ranger to score a second win on the street course.
Marc-Antoine Camirand finished second with a time of 1:17.025 (82.025), while Andrew Ranger set a time of 1:17.251 (81.984) to start third in tomorrow’s race.
The session was marred by numerous incidents, one involving fourth-place qualifier Kevin Lacroix. Lacroix suffered a hard crash coming out of turn seven and will go to a backup for Saturday’s race.
Anthony Simone rounded out the top five but will also have go to the rear of the field following a crash in Turn 3.
Gary Klutt and points leader LP Dumoulin finished sixth and seventh respectively. JF Dumoulin will start eighth, despite heavy contact with James Vance during the warm up lap in group two.
Kerry Micks and Peter Klutt will round out the top ten. Pete Shepherd III did not qualify due to damage suffered in a practice wreck.
The green flag for the Pinty’s Grand Prix of Toronto is scheduled to wave at 3:25 p.m. on Saturday.
QUALIFYING RESULTS
Rank Driver Nbr Car Time Speed
1 Alex Tagliani 18 Chevrolet 1:16.893 82.166
2 Marc-Antoine Camirand 22 Chevrolet 1:17.025 82.025
3 Andrew Ranger 27 Dodge 1:17.064 81.984
4 Kevin Lacroix 74 Dodge 1:17.112 81.933
5 Anthony Simone 95 Dodge 1:17.410 81.617
6 Gary Klutt 59 Dodge 1:17.472 81.552
7 L.P. Dumoulin 47 Dodge 1:17.929 81.074
8 J.F. Dumoulin 04 Dodge 1:17.938 81.064
9 Kerry Micks 02 Ford 1:18.072 80.925
10 Peter Klutt 42 Chevrolet 1:18.237 80.755
11 D.J. Kennington 17 Dodge 1:18.361 80.627
12 Cole Powell 3 Chevrolet 1:19.339 79.633
13 Brett Taylor 46 Dodge 1:19.496 79.476
14 Donald Theetge 24 Chevrolet 1:19.625 79.347
15 Larry Jackson 25 Dodge 1:20.438 78.545
16 Adam Martin 19 Ford 1:20.576 78.410
17 Jason White 28 Dodge 1:21.111 77.893
18 James Vance 1 Dodge
19 Peter Shepherd III 79 Ford
Failed to qualify, withdrew, or driver changes: David Thorndyke (#67-WD)
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