Castroneves leads barnburner Indy

Helio Castroneves, three-time Indianapolis 500 winner and Dancing With The Stars celebrity, was leading the Honda Indy Toronto at the CNE grounds at the halfway mark this afternoon.

Ryan Hunter-Reay was running second while Canadian Alex Tagliani was third.

Scarborough's Paul Tracy was running in fifth place.

It was a barnburner of a race right from the start and one of the most competitive Indy car races on a street course seen in years.

Sixteen cars of the 23 that started were on the lead lap at the end of Lap 43 of the 85-lap race. Three cars had dropped out.

For eight laps prior to the halfway point, fans were delighted that the race leader and the second-place runner were Canadians Tagliani and Tracy.

Tagliani inherited the lead when Dario Franchitti went to the pits for tires and fuel. Tracy barged his way all the way up to second from his 15th-place starting position and he did it in typical Tracy style.

He passed Mike Conway at Corner 3 on one lap and the next lap he passed Scott Dixon at the very same place. Both times he was on the inside and the pass was made with the back-end of the car wiggling and the brakes locked up tight.

Both Tagliani and Tracy dropped back when they made regular pit stops.

Pole-sitter Franchitti had led a field of 23-thundering Indy cars into Corner 1 shortly after 1:15 p.m.

A car driven by Will Power, who won the last Indy car race in Toronto in 2007, was unable to make the turn and he had to limp around to the pits with a flat right-rear tire.

Graham Rahal also had to take his car to the pits as a result of colliding with another racer during a hectic first lap of the narrow street course.

The first yellow flag of the afternoon took place on Lap 9 when Dan Wheldon, driving a car sponsored by the U.S. National Guard, was bumped by another car and spun into a tire wall at Corner 3 at the end of Lake Shore Blvd. W.

Wheldon was able to continue, as was Power.

A second yellow flew shortly after on Lap 13 when Ed Carpenter lost control and spun. He was straightened out by safety workers and his car was restarted.

The start of the race came after dramatic opening ceremonies that culminated with a flyover by three Canadian Forces CF-18 fighter jets and a fireworks display.

Franchitti, who missed the drivers' parade, was accompanied to his car by his wife, actress Ashley Judd.

There were several support races held this morning. Alain Lauziere won the Touring Class race of the Canadian Touring Car championship while Greg Pootmans finished first in Super Touring class. John Farano won the Vintage GT race.