Tagliani holds off Ranger to win Pinty’s Grand Prix of Toronto

Alex Tagliani of Canada rounds a turn. (Tom E. Puskar/AP)

TORONTO – Canadian Alex Tagliani held off Andrew Ranger in the closing laps to win the Pinty’s Grand Prix of Toronto on Saturday.

Tagliani, of Lachenaie, Que., edged Ranger by just .184 seconds to score the closest win in the history of the NASCAR Series race held at Honda Indy Toronto. It was the second win of the season for Tagliani and fourth overall in his career.

Kevin Lacroix followed in third. L.P. Dumoulin was fourth while Kerry Micks rounded out the top five.

Ranger started from the pole and led the field to green before Daniel Morad dove to the inside, pushing Ranger and Tagliani almost into the Turn 1 outside wall to take the lead.

Lacroix took advantage of the contact and quickly passed Morad in Turn 3 and remained out front for the first eight laps of the race until Ranger took the lead on Lap 9.

Morad, a last-minute replacement for Carlos de Quesada, who was unable to compete due to health reasons, qualified third and led five laps.

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