Sunday, July 17, 2022

NTT IndyCar Streets of Toronto Race at the Honda Indy Toronto 2022


Update: Scott Dixon wins his 4th Honda IndyCar race in Toronto 
Colton Herta (2nd), Felix Rosengvist (3rd) and Scott Dixon (1st) do the champagne dance

IndyCar mascot Firehawk gives the thumbs up to the Honda Indy Toronto while in the pits at Exhibition Place (photo at top). Weather for today shows partly sunny and temps in the high 20s so fill up on the $14 beers or, if necessary, force yourself to drink water. Fan turnout over the weekend was impressive - Free Fan Friday had the NASCAR Pinty's Series Race the Honda Indy Toronto, Saturday was full of support series qualifications and races and Sunday had more support series races and the main billing from IndyCar over the weekend was the Streets of Toronto race. Grandstands were full and people were watching from the Truck Stop, the Beer Garden and elsewhere along the General Admission viewing areas.

Sunday is THE race day as IndyCar begins their on track time with a 30 minute warmup beginning at 10:55 am (pictured above in front of Princes' Gates) which will have to do as the IndyCar Streets of Toronto race pre-show starts at 2:40 pm. For race fans the support series racing will continue throughout the day so there is plenty of things happening at this year's race festival.

You can see IndyCar driver Simon Pagenaud unveil the 2022 winners trophies on my post here.

After yesterday's IndyCar Fast Five competition driver Colton Herta (#26 car) earned the P1 pole position while Scott Dixon (#9), Josef Newgarden  (#2), Alexander Rossi (#27) and David Malukas (#18) round out the top five. Alex Palou (#10) ended up in the 22nd position of a field 25 cars. Anyways  it seems like the pole position never wins despite their starting position on the grid and there are plenty of drivers more than capable of taking the checkered flag.

We have found out that they are going to close the vehicle access onto the track from the pits to allow more pit space for one of the teams - so there will be no winning car in Victory Circle this year!

Turn 11 Grandstand - it was reported that the grandstands were sold out


Watching from the Beer Garden

Sunday, July 17
GATE HOURS 8:45 AM - 5:00 PM
9:45 AM - 10:25 AM USF2000 Race 2
11:05 AM - 11:35 AM NTT INDYCAR SERIES Warm-Up
11:40 AM - 12:20 PM Indy Pro 2000 Race 2
12:35 PM - 1:15 PM Sports Car Championship Canada Race 2
1:30 PM - 2:15 PM Porsche Carrera Cup Race 2
2:40 PM NTT INDYCAR SERIES Driver Introductions
3:30 PM NTT INDYCAR SERIES Honda Indy Toronto





The ladies from Seaway Pools and Hot Tubs were on site to take pictures with people that love hot tubs

Saturday, July 16, 2022

Saturday at Honda Indy Toronto 2022

Exhibition Place is going to be toasty today with sunny highs of 29 degrees Celsius; sounds like cars and brewskis are mandatory for day 2 of the Honda Indy Toronto 2022 Race Festival. Early morning is still work time in the IndyCar Paddock as crews work on the powerful machines for the second practice of the weekend which starts at 10:00 am. The 2:00 pm qualification will produce the Fast Five and the Pole Position winner. UPDATE: Colton Herta of the #26 car takes the pole, just ahead of Marcus Ericsson of the #8 car.

Media and crew surround the P1 Car
Firehawk and Colton after the P1 sticker was placed on his car's back fin


You can see Friday's action on my post here and the NTT IndyCar Streets of Toronto race on my post here.

In Friday's NTT IndyCar practice number 1 the top three drivers on the Streets of Toronto were Alexander Rossi (#27 car), Simon Pagenaud (#60 car) and Graham Rahal (#15 car). Alex Palou (car 10) came in 10th, I think he might have been a little distracted.

Conor Daly rides through the paddock
Josef Newgarden

In the meantime cars will be on the track from 8:00 AM (USF2000 Q2) until 6:30 PM (event car rides) on Saturday, July 16. Races scheduled for today are the USF2000 Race #1 (12 noon start), Indy Pro 2000 Race #1 (1:00 pm start), PCCNA Series Race #1 (3:30 pm start) and to finish the race the SCCC Race #1 (4:30 pm start).



For the USF2000 Cooper Tires Grand Prix of Toronto Championship Race number 1 driver Jace Denmark of the 23 car has the pole with a qualifying time of 01:13.0629.

Saturday, July 16
GATE HOURS 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
8:00 AM - 8:20 AM USF2000 Qualifying 2
8:35 AM - 8:55 AM Indy Pro 2000 Qualifying 2
9:10 AM - 9:40 AM Porsche Carrera Cup Qualifying 1
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice 2
11:15 AM - 11:45 AM Sports Car Championship Canada Qualifying
12:00 PM - 12:45 PM USF2000 Race 1
1:00 PM - 1:45 PM Indy Pro 2000 Race 1
2:00 PM - 3:15 PM NTT INDYCAR SERIES Qualifying
3:30 PM - 4:15 PM Porsche Carrera Cup Race 1
4:30 PM - 5:10 PM Sports Car Championship Canada Race 1

Takuma Sato's ride seemed to get a little punished during practice and is towed back to the paddock 

It's been announced that legendary IndyCar driver Al Unser Jr will wave the green flag for the Sports Car Championship Canada Race.
Dalton Kellett
Fans trying to keep cool in the grandstands


Sunday's IndyCar race will have the Juno Award winning bank Arkells as Grand Marshals. They will tell the drivers to start their engines. Race preliminaries including driver introductions to start at 2:38 pm Sunday, July 17. Drivers will head to their cars at 3:14 pm.

See more race photos after the jump.

Friday, July 15, 2022

Fan Friday at Honda Indy Toronto 2022

The race teams were setting up in their respective paddocks in Exhibition Place on Thursday in preparation for the first day of Honda Indy Toronto 2022 - Free Fan Friday and the 34th edition of the Streets of Toronto race. Honda has been the title sponsor since 2009. Toronto is the fourth oldest race on the IndyCar schedule and it was originally promoted by Molson Breweries in 1986 so we are a big part of IndyCar history.

Fueling up the cars

Your admission is free today with a voluntary donation to Make-A-Wish Canada. The support of this charity over 11 years has raised over $800,000 and brought a lot of curious visitors to the event and is sponsored by the Ontario Honda Dealers Association. Don't forget to bring some ear protection because it is loud up close to these special motorcars. Jeff Atkinson, President of Honda Indy Toronto says that the General Admission viewing has been expanded and improved to provide a better experience for those not buying grandstand tickets. You can sit in the stands for free on Fan Friday! Check out the Truck Stop on the inside of the track at Turn 10. Other GA viewing is along the north side of Princes' Blvd and the north side of Lake Shore Blvd West. Kim Green and Kevin Savoree of Green Savoree Racing Promotions own this and three other IndyCar race festivals and they know how to put on a good show.

It's all a grind as NASCAR crews get the stock cars ready in the outdoor support series paddock

There is a lot of action happening on day 1 of race weekend as they have moved up the schedule of the big stock cars; practice and qualifying is scheduled for 10:15 to 11:35 am, then the green flag drops for the NASCAR Pinty's Series Grand Prix of Toronto race at 4:00 pm. That is a full day for those drivers! Driver LP Dumoulin of the #47 car is the reigning Series Champion (2014, 2018 and 2021) told us that he wants to win the Toronto race as he has yet to take the checkered flag at this event. However, there are a lot of experienced drivers and past winners that can crush his dreams! 2019 NASCAR winner was Akex Tagliani, a former IndyCar driver, who also won in 2016. And Andrew Ranger has captured the pole position! Boys you don't want to give this guy the starting advantage!
The pre-start race lineup. I think they were going to fast and were pulled over by the police
Andrew sprays champagne at Kevin on the podium while a lady tries to get out of the way

Update: The 35-lap, 25 car NASCAR race was a hard fought battle with Kevin Lacroix (#74 car with a total time of 59:16.055) taking the checkered flag, followed by Andrew Ranger (#27 car) and LP Dumoulin (#47 car) finishing only fraction of seconds apart.

Otherwise today is time for practice to learn the track as it is the first time on the Streets of Toronto for many of the drivers, along with some early Series qualification runs. IndyCar's first practice happens today at 2:30 pm and the field includes 25 cars which will provide plenty of on track excitement.


Free Fan Friday, July 15 Schedule

GATE HOURS 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM (tbd)
8:00 AM - 8:30 AM USF2000 Practice 1
8:45 AM - 9:10 AM Indy Pro 2000 Practice 1
9:25 AM - 10:00 AM Porsche Carrera Cup Practice 1
10:15 AM - 11:35 AM NASCAR Pinty's Series Practice 1 & Qualifying
11:50 AM - 12:20 PM Sports Car Championship Canada Practice 1
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM NTT INDYCAR SERIES Autograph Session
12:35 PM - 12:55 PM USF2000 Qualifying 1
1:10 PM - 1:40 PM Porsche Carrera Cup Practice 2
1:55 PM - 2:15 PM Indy Pro 2000 Qualifying 1
2:30 PM - 3:45 PM NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice 1
4:00 PM - 5:20 PM NASCAR Pinty's Series Race (GRAND PRIX OF TORONTO)


Jeff Atkinson also talked about the impact of Covid-19 precautions on the 2020 and 2021 races which were canceled. Luckily most restrictions were dropped in time for the 2022 race. Due to the unpredictability of the pandemic and the associated lockdowns, early into 2021 it looked like they were going to be able to put on the race, unfortunately it was ultimately canceled. Now he is thrilled to welcome Toronto back to the annual Race Festival with six race series participating, there is a brand for almost every type of race fan, from open wheel racing to sports cars and to the heavier stock cars.

For IndyCar the major changes to the powerful vehicles since they last raced in Canada is the addition of the aeroscreen which increases the protection afforded to the driver. All the practices and qualifying ends on Sunday with Sunday's 85-lap, 244.31 km headline race, the only international race on the 2022 IndyCar schedule. On Sunday the IndyCar driver introductions start at 2:45 pm, drivers go to their cars at 3:14 pm and the green flag drops at 3:23 pm

This is your chance to visit the Indy and see the 11 turn, 2.784 km temporary street circuit taking place in Exhibition Place and out onto Lake Shore Blvd. The six series are the NTT IndyCar Series, the NASCAR Pinty's Series, the Porsche Carrera Cup North America, the Indy Pro 2000 Championship presented by Cooper Tires, the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship and the Sports Car Championship Canada presented by Michelin.

For those looking to meet drivers there is an IndyCar autograph session today from 12:30 to 1:30 pm at Heritage Court. Simon Pagenaud, Team Penske was the winner of the last Toronto race held in 2019 where he also set a record for the fastest race at just over 1.5 hours. Will Power, another Toronto winner (with 3 wins), has the record for fastest race lap at 107.673 mph.

We will also look for more development of the contrary information regarding IndyCar driver Alex Palou, currently ranked 4th, who is either staying with Chip Ganassi Racing in 2023, or moving to F1 with McLaren Racing, or maybe both at the same time!

Indy Pro waiting for their turn on the track 
IndyCar pits are setup and ready to go
Looking at the truck stop area towards Turn 11
Mas costumes  promoting the Toronto Caribbean Carnival 

See more of Fan Friday after the jump.

Thursday, July 14, 2022

Honda Indy Toronto 2022 winner trophies

William Ashley has for 11 years provided the trophies for the winners of the Honda Indy Toronto and this year they were joined by driver Simon Pagenaud - winner of the last race in 2019.

Simon is currently ranked 9th in the IndyCar Series and drives the #60 Auto Nation / SiriusXM car.

Simon, Claudia and Jeff check out the dazzling crystal trophies 

The unveiling happened on July 14th at the William Ashley flagship store on Bloor Street where Jeff Atkinson, President of the Honda Indy Toronto, Claudia from William Ashley and Simon lifted the coverings to show the three, beautiful custom-made trophies.

Each Trophy is created by Waterford craftsmen in Ireland and are mouth-blown, hand-cut and hand-engraved. Inspired by the wheel of a race car the trophies also show two race cars on the front and the Toronto skyline on the back.

The trophies will be on display at the Honda Indy Toronto, located at William Ashley's exhibit near the big red Honda Bridge until Sunday when they will be awarded to the 2022 race winners. You can also see the race car supported by only four Wedgewood bone china teacups at the exhibit.
Simon's spot in the IndyCar paddock in the Enercare Centre

Wednesday, July 13, 2022

IndyCar driver Christian Lundgaard unveils car at Honda Indy Toronto 2022

HUB International Ltd. has become the primary sponsor for the number 30 Rahal Letterman Lanigan (RLL) Racing car driven by Christian Lundgaard and they unveiled the new livery today at the Honda Indy Toronto. Larry Lineker, HUB Executive Vice President began the presentation in the Enercare Centre on July 13th and introduced Christian who will run the full 2022 IndyCar Season. The insurance brokerage and financial services company also insures half the IndyCar roster and has sponsored the number 15 RLL car for several years.
Lifting the car cover to show the new livery
Larry (left) and Christian
"The orchestrated intensity of how a pit-stop comes together is the perfect metaphor for how HUB supports its customers throughout North America, and in Canada where we are the largest brokerage in the country. Much like our insurance and risk advisors, the drivers are essential – however, there are dozens of people behind the scenes acting as unsung heroes working together to make the driver's results and our customers outcomes a success," said Larry Lineker, HUB Executive Vice President and a member of HUB's Executive Management Team. "HUB has a strong affinity for RLL and their 'team-first' mantra, as well as the unwavering commitment to success that Bobby Rahal and his drivers exemplify. We are thrilled to be involved with RLL and Christian, a driver full of potential who we are all excited to work with and continue watching as his career takes off."

"I never would have guessed there would be so many parallels between an insurance brokerage and racing," said Lundgaard. "After getting to know the HUB team and learning more about their values and how they operate their business through teamwork and educated risk taking (with protection as the priority), it's not too far off from how I prepare and work with my team each time I get behind the wheel. I feel very proud to drive the No. 30 HUB car in Toronto in such a monumental race."

Honda Indy Toronto runs from July 15 to 17, 2022 with IndyCar practices beginning Friday, qualifications on Saturday and the IndyCar race is on Sunday at 3:30 pm. Christian Lundgaard is an IndyCar rookie - first driving in the 2021 Indy 500 where he qualified fourth and finished 12th in the race. This was my first chance to see the new cars as IndyCar has adopted the aeroscreen for additional driver protection.

See more of the car after the jump.

Monday, July 11, 2022

2022 Honda Indy Toronto burns rubber this weekend

Racing through the streets of Toronto begins Friday, July 15 and continues through the weekend as the headlining NTT IndyCar Series gets the green flag on Sunday, July 17. In between, the Honda Indy Toronto race festival is filled with practice, qualifying and a full schedule of ten races over the weekend. Updated with photos from July 13th and 17th, 2022.

Princes' Gates and Turn 1
Painting the Start/Finish Line
Turn 11 and Pit Lane

The NTT IndyCar race on Sunday is an 85 lap, 244 kilometre which will be broadcast from 3-6pm on Sportsnet's World, Now Standard and 360 in Canada. Taking place on the 11 turn street course winding through Exhibition Place and onto Lake Shore Boulevard West. Action happens fast with speeds of around 370km/h and primo passing spots being the start/finish stretch leading into Turn 1 and along Lake Shore Boulevard. 

This year's participating race series includes two open-wheel development ladder series from the Road to Indy presented by Cooper Tires, NASCAR Pinty's Series stock cars, Porsche Carrera Cup North America and Sports Car Championship Canada. The Indy Lights series did not make an appearance in Toronto for 2022 but they will join back with IndyCar in Iowa next week.

IndyCar driver Christian Lundgaard of the No. 30 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda shows the car's new livery for the Honda Indy Toronto 2022 race. Hub International is now the primary sponsor of the #30 car. July 13, 2022

The setup in Exhibition Place is very similar to the 2019 race with IndyCar and the Road to Indy Paddock in the Enercare Centre. NASCAR Pinty's Series garage remained outdoors to the east of Thunder Alley. Some changes included the Team Hospitality Centre moved to the north edge of Thunder Alley and the Honda World area reduced to allow for the Truck Stop food and beverage area as well as improved and expanded General Admission viewing spots. The Pinty's outdoor Pub & Grill beside the Princes' Gates was not there for 2022.

Honda Indy Toronto 2022 on track schedule

Fan Friday: Free general admission with a voluntary donation to Make-A-Wish Canada (matched by the Honda Canada Foundation), sponsored by the Ontario Honda Dealers Association. There will be practices, qualifications and Friday's headline race by NASCAR Pinty's Series starting at 4pm. Off track you can find autograph sessions and other activities and entertainment.

Free Fan Friday, July 15
GATE HOURS 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
8:00 AM - 8:30 AM USF2000 Practice 1
8:45 AM - 9:10 AM Indy Pro 2000 Practice 1
9:25 AM - 10:00 AM Porsche Carrera Cup Practice 1
10:15 AM - 11:35 AM NASCAR Pinty's Series Practice 1 & Qualifying
11:50 AM - 12:20 PM Sports Car Championship Canada Practice 1
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM NTT INDYCAR SERIES Autograph Session
12:35 PM - 12:55 PM USF2000 Qualifying 1
1:10 PM - 1:40 PM Porsche Carrera Cup Practice 2
1:55 PM - 2:15 PM Indy Pro 2000 Qualifying 1
2:30 PM - 3:45 PM NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice 1
4:00 PM - 5:20 PM NASCAR Pinty's Series Race (GRAND PRIX OF TORONTO)

Saturday, July 16
GATE HOURS 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
8:00 AM - 8:20 AM USF2000 Qualifying 2
8:35 AM - 8:55 AM Indy Pro 2000 Qualifying 2
9:10 AM - 9:40 AM Porsche Carrera Cup Qualifying 1
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice 2
11:15 AM - 11:45 AM Sports Car Championship Canada Qualifying
12:00 PM - 12:45 PM USF2000 Race 1
1:00 PM - 1:45 PM Indy Pro 2000 Race 1
2:00 PM - 3:15 PM NTT INDYCAR SERIES Qualifying
3:30 PM - 4:15 PM Porsche Carrera Cup Race 1
4:30 PM - 5:10 PM Sports Car Championship Canada Race 1


2022 IndyCar Streets of Toronto race

Sunday, July 17
GATE HOURS 8:45 AM - 5:00 PM
9:45 AM - 10:25 AM USF2000 Race 2
11:05 AM - 11:35 AM NTT INDYCAR SERIES Warm-Up
11:40 AM - 12:20 PM Indy Pro 2000 Race 2
12:35 PM - 1:15 PM Sports Car Championship Canada Race 2
1:30 PM - 2:15 PM Porsche Carrera Cup Race 2
2:40 PM NTT INDYCAR SERIES Driver Introductions
3:30 PM NTT INDYCAR SERIES Honda Indy Toronto


As of now the top 3 NTT IndyCar drivers are Marcus Ericsson, Will Power and Josef Newgarden. Marcus is a former F1 driver and won the Indy 500 in 2022. Will has won three races in Toronto; 2007, 2010 and 2016. Josef has already won three of the nine 2022 races and has won in Toronto twice - once in 2015 and then in 2017. Will and Josef are my top picks for the 2022 Toronto race.

The Toronto race was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid-19 precautions. Since then the IndyCars have added the aeroscreen safety device otherwise they continue to use the 2.2 litre V6, twin-turbocharged Honda or Chevy engines (will change in 2024 to a 2.4 litre engine) along with the Dallara IR-12 chassis.

Canadian stock car racing by NASCAR Pinty's Series will take place on the Friday during the 2022 Grand Prix of Toronto. Current driver top 3 standings have Marc-Antoine Camirand, Kevin Lacroix and Gary Klutt in the lead. Kevin has won the Toronto race once in 2017. Top contenders for the 2022 race favour Andrew Ranger and Alex Tagliani. 

Doors Open

Scarborough Bluffs

Pride

Redball

Beaches

Graffiti

Lake Ontario

Nathan Phillips Square

Transportation