Motorsport: Dixon holds lead despite incident

Scott Dixon during the Verizon IndyCar Series Practice in Toronto. Photo / Getty Images

Scott Dixon has held his lead in the Indycars Championship despite a first lap incident between the Kiwi and Will Power on the streets of Toronto.

Dixon and Power came together in the early exchanges - it forced Power out of the race and Dixon limped back to the pits with a puncture. He dropped almost a lap down and spent the race trying to make up the gap.

The four-time series champ ended the race in 10th place.

Penske driver Josef Newgarden took the chequered flag in front of Alexander Rossi while James Hinchcliffe completed the podium.

Congrats to @Team_Penske and @josefnewgarden for winning the @hondaindy #INDYCAR #IndyTO pic.twitter.com/THKoYtMLKl

— NTT INDYCAR SERIES (@IndyCar) July 16, 2017

Helio Castroneves - Dixon's nearest title rival - led for a period before he fell back to finish eighth.

Dixon maintains a three-point championship lead from Castroneves but the chasing pack have made up some points with defending champ Simon Pagenaud now 19 points behind Dixon and Newgarden moving up to fourth and just 23 points off the New Zealander.

There are five races left in the championship.