A massive Toronto flood isn't stopping the 36th annual
Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto race weekend, although it did hinder the
progress of track building for a few days. The compressed building schedule they were working to meant they were able to make up the lost time with plenty of hard work and extra crews.
Thursday is the last day to get things ready before race weekend gets down to where the rubber hits the sometimes bumpy road made of asphalt, concrete and sometimes both. This is also the first year of the new title sponsor Ontario Honda Dealers, taking over from Honda Canada who lasted from 2009 till 2023.
The Radicals morning practice session
Free Fan Friday is back once again, having already raised over $1 million dollars for Make-A-Wish Canada over the years and looking to raise lots more, so you don't need a ticket to gain entry to the event on July 19th, just make a voluntary donation to the charity and take your pick of General Admission or grandstand viewing - first come, first pick. And if you have a Presto card you can validate it at the NTT IndyCar Paddock in the Enercare Centre for free entrance to the paddock during Fan Friday. Honda Indy President, Jeff Atkinson, explained that fans have been asking for more attractions and events off the track and they have added a number of things to that end. By moving the IndyCar paddock east, they were able to add some new public areas outside the paddock, including the Ontario Honda Dealers Pit Stop and the adjacent Fuel Stop where you can get some grub.
USF2000 cars in practice
You can enter a contest at the Pit Stop and pick up some free swag, including ear plugs.
The crowds are growing as the morning progresses and for those looking - the hot tub ladies aren't here (they were always on the outside of the pedestrian bridge).
As a temporary race track, winding through Exhibition Place and onto Lake Shore Boulevard West, the city of Toronto is one of the few street courses, and the last of 2024, in this year's IndyCar schedule. Its mixed surface can be tough to navigate, especially if it rains when the concrete becomes very slippery, and changes from one year to another means you can't turn down any chance to get some practice on the course. The drivers noted that the track on Friday is different than the conditions you get on Sunday.
IndyCars go through technical inspection then are gassed up
IndyCar's Friday schedule has an autograph session starting at 12:30am in the Heritage Court, a new location, which would be in the hall beyond the paddock area near the Coca-Cola Coliseum. It used to be held in the long hall at the front of Enercare Centre and is free to attend.
2024 Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto map showing the 2.874-kilometre (1.786-mile), 11-turn temporary circuit on the streets of Toronto
Enercare Centre floorplan showing Heritage Court in Orange
NTT IndyCar will take to the track Friday from 3:00pm to 4:15pm for their first practice session of the weekend. The second IndyCar practice and qualifying follows on Saturday, with the headline race taking place Sunday, July 21.
The top five IndyCar drivers based on their first practice run are 1: Colton Herta, 2: Felix Rosenqvist, 3: Marcus Armstrong, 4: Scott Dixon and 5: Graham Rahall. Top speed was 105.334 mph. Driver Alexander Rossi of the number 7 car crashed into Turn 8 and broke his thumb and will have to be replaced.
A marshal's flag hole ready for racing
For IndyCar the drivers are running after series leader Alex Palou and only six races, including Toronto, remain to be completed. Alex finished second in Toronto last year so he certainly has the skills to win 2024's race. Previous winner Scott Dixon is also in the running to win in Toronto, he has been dubbed the “Street Circuit King” in 2024.
Toronto police and fire have a presence in Thunder Alley. Here's Blinky the police car, a little less advanced than Kit
Of course IndyCar isn't the only race series in Toronto, although many of the drivers are hoping to make it to North America's premier open-wheel race series. Also racing during the weekend are the USF Pro 2000 and the USF2000 Championship, both presented by Continental Tire, along with the Sports Car Championship and the Emzone Radical Cup Canada, presented by Michelin, and finally Radical Cup North America. In fact the first race will be on Friday with the Radicals race #1 from 5:10pm to 5:44pm. Finally the Charity Event Rev & Run will finish the track events from 6:25pm to 7:55pm.
Radical Cup Canada Race #1 winners in the 22 lap competition were Kenny Reidman 1st, Travis Hill 2nd and Owen Clarke 3rd.
Bring sunscreen, empty water bottles (fill on site at a free water station) and earplugs to protect your hearing and have some full throttle fun. Gates on Friday open at 8:30am.
Check out the full 2024 race weekend coverage at the following links.
See more of Fan Friday after the jump.
