Wednesday, May 30, 2012

#HondaIndyTO track construction begins

Hot on the wheels of Dario Franchitti's recent third win of the Indy 500 race the Honda Indy #Toronto has begun construction of the street course at Exhibition Place. I really love it when the grandstands also start to go up and the race track start/finish line gets a fresh coat of paint. Dario is seen holding the William Ashley Waterford Crystal trophy as winner of the 2011 Honda Indy Toronto in the photo above.
The confetti cannon greets Dario as he climbs out of his car at the Winners Circle
Leaving pit row

Honda Indy Director of Operations Jim Tario once again leads the construction of the 2.84km, 11-turn race track. With over 20 years experience setting up the course his expertise is invaluable in directing the placement of the 2000 steel reinforced barriers, fencing and tonnes of other equipment in the almost 40 days it takes to setup the course.

See the press release after the jump.
The continued contribution of Tario’s expertise has resulted in a race track that yields value in many areas. Not only does the track produce an exciting and challenging race for its professional drivers each year, it also holds merit in its safety and design. “There is a definitely a delicate balance in the work involved with constructing a race track that’s fast, exciting, challenging and, first and foremost, safe,” said Tario. “While the track remains largely unchanged in its 26-year history, we continue to invest in the race track infrastructure to ensure it exceeds all international standards and maintains our status as one of the premier street race circuits in the world.”

“The Honda Indy Toronto has one of the most challenging and exciting layouts among the street courses in North America,” said Roger Peart, president of FIA Circuits Commission and ASN Canada FIA. “The build is a complex process and it’s amazing what Tario and the team are able to construct over such a short period of time. Organizers of the event in recent years have invested in new track infrastructure, making the racing experience at Toronto not only thrilling, but safe for everyone involved.” Peart is responsible for overseeing all internationally licensed racing circuits around the world and, like Tario, has been inspecting the Honda Indy Toronto race track since its inception.

The Honda Indy Toronto race track is built by approximately 200 construction workers, takes 39 days to build, and 21 days to tear down and remove all traces of the race. It is comprised of over 2,000 steel-reinforced concrete barriers each measuring 12 feet long and three feet high. The total length of the blocks span over 12,000 feet and are each made using approximately 8,650 pounds of concrete. More than 1,200 sheets of fencing surround the track with each fence standing at eight feet high and 12 feet long. The track also features over 1,600 feet of tire wall, each one standing at five tires high and four race car paddocks.

About Honda Indy Toronto

The Honda Indy Toronto takes place July 6-8, 2012 on the streets surrounding Exhibition Place near Lake Ontario and downtown Toronto. With 26 years of IndyCar racing history in Toronto, the Honda Indy Toronto is among the most respected motorsports events in North America and includes the fastest racing series on the planet, celebrity athletes, and a festival of live entertainment and interactive activities.

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