NASCAR at Honda Indy Toronto 2010

Saturday, July 13, 2019

NASCAR at Honda Indy Toronto 2010

Day 2 of #indyto and it's a special day for NASCAR Pinty's Series with their Grand Prix of Toronto race at 5:15pm on Saturday, July 13, 2019. Also on the schedule is IndyCar's qualifications and Firestone Fast 6 awards. See more of my coverage of the 2019 race on my post here.

Update: at 5:45pm the trucks have been pulled and the Porsche sportscars have just gone onto the track (5:50-6:35pm). Racing for NASCAR Pinty's will be from 6:55-8:10pm.

Update: at 5:06pm they said another lightning strike in the area has set back the restart by another half hour. Update: at 4:36pm they said a lightning strike will delay the action at least another 30 minutes. Update: at 4:30pm the Honda Indy says they will let the Stadium Super Trucks finish their race, then keep all scheduled events, just rain delayed. Update: at 4:15pm announcements say that another round of severe weather is on it's way, time to head back inside.

Kids play in the puddle near the Enercare Centre

SST jumping before the rain

A small video clip of the trucks jumping during Race 1

Update: at 3:30pm everyone was told to go inside due to severe weather. The Stadium Super Trucks were halted and people made their way into the closest shelters. By 4:05pm the rain has stopped and people are returning to their vantage points, although the warning still remains and trackside action has not resumed. It looks like more rain is coming from the northwest.

Back to the HIT 2019 Saturday action.

IndyCar final practice - cars are on the track

Drivers are on the track starting at 8:05am with the USF2000 second round of qualifications, then Indy Lights, Indy Pro 2000 and the IndyCar final practice and that's just in the morning. Nine Stadium Super Trucks will also be here both Saturday and Sunday with two races so be prepared to be amazed.

The hot tub ladies are back

Yesterday was Fan Friday and a lot of people took advantage of free admission to experience Honda Indy Toronto. Weather on Friday was perfect so hopefully it will remain beautiful for the weekend. On Sunday, July 14 the headline race for the NTT IndyCar Series will take place with cars to the grid at 2:50pm

Toronto's bumpy track caused some issues yesterday, throw in changes of surface from asphalt to slippery concrete and the rest of race weekend will be full of chills and spills.

Alex Tagliani in Victory Circle

As a result of NASCAR Pinty's Series qualifying round Alex Tagliani #18 car takes the pole position for today's race but don't rule out one of the his top challenger driver Andrew Ranger in the #27 car who won 2018's race. You can watch the race on TSN. After a rain soaked and lightning delayed schedule the NASCAR Pinty's Series Grand Prix of Toronto started around 7pm and continued until just after 8pm with Alex Tagliani scoring the victory, followed by Andrew Ranger and L.P. Dumoulin in the #47 car.

Simon wins P1 and clenches his fist in ~~rage~~ celebration

Leading into IndyCar qualifying sees Simon Pagenaud as the fastest racer after 2 practice sessions. This race is definitely open to multiple drivers more than capable of taking home the trophy. Hopefully Canadian driver James Hinchcliffe in the #5 car will get his chance to take the checkered flag on Sunday. The Firestone Fast Six qualifiers were settled and a happy Simon Pagenaud takes the P1 pole position.

Andrew Ranger in turn 1

The 2019 Pinty's Grand Prix of Toronto had 19 cars on the grid and they finished 37 laps of the Exhibition Place/ Lake Shore Boulevard West street course. Alex only had a 0.189 of a second margin of victory over Andrew Ranger. Rounding out the top five finishers were Kevin Lacroix #74 and J.F. Dumoulin of the #04 car. The average race speed was 63.421 mph and the best lap was run by Marc-Antoine Camirand of the #22 car.

IndyCar is fielding 22 cars which makes for tight spacing in the 11- turn street course. Tomorrow's Indy race will be 85 laps and will be shown on Sportsnet ONE.

See more NASCAR after the jump.