Sunday, June 14, 2015

Race day at @hondaindy Toronto 2015

Update: IndyCar driver Josef Newgarden of the #67 Hartman Oil CFH Racing wins the 2015 Honda Indy Toronto. He gets out of his car in Victory Circle amid a cloud of confetti in the photo at top. Josef finished the race after three pits stops with an average speed of 90.410 mph and an elapsed time of 1:38:59.9460 for the 85 laps. Luca was only 1.4485 seconds and Helio 3.9027 seconds out from first place. Ryan Hunter-Reay, Charlie Kimball, James Jakes, Carlos Munoz and Stefano Coletti did not complete the race. Both Will Power and Josef Newgarden led for 30 laps each, with Helio leading for 15 laps and Rodolfo Gonzalez, Tony Kanaan and Luca Filippi rounding out the race leaders.
2nd Place Luca Filippi, 1st Josef Newgarden and 3rd Helios Castroneves on the podium. Helios has been on the Toronto podium three times now. This is Josef's second win of the season, his first was in April at Barber Motorsports Park. Josef said "I'm so happy we were able to get a win, but a 1-2 is just amazing because Luca (Filippi) is such a star. I'm super happy for the whole group. Just an amazing team effort - I can't believe we had a 1-2. It got a little close there with Luca, but we were really just trying to keep up after we got into the final stint." and "I's definitely excited because this is Toronto and this is an IndyCar town."
Update: Due to the inclement weather the race schedule has been revised. IndyCar pre-race now begins at 2:33pm, Green flag at 3:08pm. Other changes to the schedule have the Stadium Super Trucks Race #2 starting at 1:55pm. If you have rain gear come on down; it's a good day to crash some motorcars. New update: Indy Lights Race now reduced to 30 laps.
Verizon IndyCar Series Race on the streets of Toronto has the green flag at 3:37pm today following James Hincliffe order to the drivers to start their cars. Pre-race activities starting at 2:45pm include driver introductions and a tour around the track in a truck to wave to fans, cars to the grid and the singing of the national anthems by The Trews. Introductions were also made for the promoters; Kim Green, Owner, Chairman and CEO, Green Savoree Racing Promotions, Kevin Savoree, Owner, President and COO, Green Savoree Racing Promotions, Charlie Johnstone, President, Honda Indy Toronto and Grand Marshall James Hinchcliffe.
Muzik Grid Girls
Pole Sitter Will Power
Introductions and the finish podium events will be staged in Victory Circle. The winning car and driver will be brought in the circle along with the second and third place drivers. The winning driver gets out of his car under a barrage from confetti cannons, does some interviews, poses for photos and then all three winners take to the podium to receive there William Ashley crystal trophies. At the podium they do what is called a hat dance, changing hats to identify various sponsors and partners, while raising and lowering the trophies above their heads until their arms must be ready to fall off.
Strangely, the sun has popped out of the clouds even though the weather forecasts are calling for rain all day. Organizers are working with the broadcasters to see if they can move up the race to avoid possible thunder showers at 4:00pm. The race is 85 laps, or two hours, if the lap count gets a little wonky. At 3:01pm James Hinchcliffe gives the command "Drivers, start your engines" and the cars roll out on the gride for a single-file start under wet conditions (all entrants must start on rain tires). By the eighth lap cars start coming into the pits to change to dry tires.
Will Power of the #1 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet car has the pole position, with a field of 23 cars. Warm up is posted for 11:00 till 11:30am. The cars ride on Firestone tires, sport a fourth-generation Verizon IndyCar Series chassis designated the Dallara IR12, and a mix of Chevrolet and Honda engines with the top 3 winning positions having the Chevy brand. All the drivers could set up their own mini UN with only 6 from the United States with other racers from Australia, Columbia, Monaco, Japan and many other countries. The racing teams with the most cars are Chip Ganassi Racing Teams with 4, followed by Team Penske and Andretti Autosport with 3 each.
Note: check out the revisdd schedule at bottom. On track action starts early in the day with the USF2000 Race #2 at 9:00am followed by the Pro Mazda Race #2 at 10:00am, the Indy Lights Race #2 at 11:45am the GT3 Race #2 at 1:10pm and the Stadium Super Trucks RACE #2 at 2:10pm. Yesterday's SST winners were 1-Scotty Steele, 2-Sheldon Creed and 3-Robby Gordon. The fast moving, high jumping trucks had a rollover along pit lane after a driver had a bad takeoff and landing go bad, otherwise this series is a blast to watch.
Firehawk shoots off some free t-shirts into the stands

If you don't have grandstand tickets the best place to view the race would be near the start/finish line by the Direct Energy Centre, beside the Honda World setup on the inside of turn 10 or the grass slope along Lake Shore's Thunder Alley by the Coors Light Beer Garden, at least you can sit and still enjoy the racing at the final location. IndyCar are loud so bring ear plugs to save your hearing.

SUNDAY JUNE 14 new schedule TIME and ACTIVITY

8:00am Gates Open
9:00am USF 2000 RACE # 2
10:00am Pro Mazda Championship RACE # 2
11:00am Verizon IndyCar Series WARM UP (30 min)
11:45am Indy Lights RACE # 2 (65 min)
1:05pm Porsche GT3 CUP RACE # 2 (35 min)
1:55pm Stadium Super Trucks RACE # 2 (25 min)
2:33pm Verizon IndyCar Series Pre-Race Ceremonies Begin
3:01pm Drivers' Start Your Engines- James Hinchcliffe, Grand Marshall
3:08pm Green Flag - Verizon IndyCar Series Race 85 LAPS
Gates Close


See more racing after the jump.

Verizon IndyCar Series point standings at this point have Juan Pablo Montoya in first place with 374 points, Will Power second at 349 points and Scott Dixon rounding out the leaders with 329 points.









Colourful rain ponchos come in handy for part of Sunday's races










Check out my other posts for the 2015 Honda Indy Toronto:

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