Team Chevy Aims to Continue Perfect Run at INDYCAR Street Events
Chevrolet-powered IndyCars go for fourth street win of season in Toronto return
DETROIT (June 13, 2022) – For the first time in three years, Chevrolet and the rest of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES head north of the border as the series returns to Exhibition Place for the Honda Indy Toronto street race.
The 1.786-mile, 11-turn circuit hasn’t played host to INDYCAR since the 2019 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Chevy power from its 2.2-liter, twin-turbo V6 won that race – one of seven for Chevrolet in Toronto – and the goal is to return the Bowtie to victory circle again on its Canadian return.
“We’re all excited to return to Toronto,” said Rob Buckner, Chevrolet Program Manager for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. “Racing in front of the Canadian fans is a great experience. They’re incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about the sport, which makes it even more special to go back. We’ve had a strong history at Toronto with a number of wins, poles and fast race laps. That and our level of success on street circuits this year bodes well for the chances of our Chevrolet teams to add to the tally this weekend.
“As at any street race, execution and strategy are key. Qualifying and track position will play huge roles in the outcome of the race. We’re ready to go all-out and help our teams start up front and stay there come Sunday.”
Chevrolet is a perfect three-for-three in street events this season with Toronto and Nashville still to go. It started with Team Penske’s Scott McLaughlin winning his first INDYCAR race at St. Petersburg to open the season. Penske teammate Josef Newgarden followed at Long Beach a few weeks later, and Will Power scored another victory for Chevrolet and Team Penske at Belle Isle in early June.
Seven wins in 10 Toronto races since 2012 gives Team Chevy great vibes for its Canadian return. Newgarden, this year driving the No. 2 PPG Chevrolet for Team Penske and second in points, is a two-time winner with victories in 2015 for CFH Racing and in 2017 for Penske. He also was the fastest qualifier in 2018.
Teammate Will Power, driver of the No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet and second in points, won in 2016 at Toronto under the Penske banner and sat on pole position in 2015 – one of seven for Team Chevy at Toronto. That year saw a remarkable performance from Chevrolet, which claimed the top eight positions at the end of the race.
Team Chevy also swept the podium in a Toronto doubleheader in 2014.
Chevrolet and the NTT INDYCAR Series resume the 2022 season with the Honda Indy Toronto at the Exhibition Place street circuit. The race starts at 3:15 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 17 and will stream live on Peacock at 3 p.m. ET. IndyCar Radio coverage on SiriusXM IndyCar Nation (Channel 160) also begins at 3 p.m. ET. Live timing and scoring will be available at racecontrol.indycar.com.
TEAM CHEVY QUOTES
DALTON KELLETT, NO. 4 K-LINE CHEVROLET, AJ FOYT RACING: “I’m most looking forward to the opportunity to race IndyCar in front of the hometown crowd. The Toronto Indy is one of the best street circuits we race on and I can’t wait to experience it in this car. I think the fans and the city are very excited to have us back, it should be a great turn out. It’s a very bumpy track with lots of pavement transitions, so you have to tune the suspension and dampers to handle those well. You don’t want to bottom out excessively, but also can’t sacrifice too much ride height. A big part of the challenge is knowing how much bumpiness and movement from the car that you’ll just have to accept as a characteristic of the track versus what needs to be tuned out to get the mechanical grip you need.”
PATO O’WARD, NO. 5 ARROW McLAREN CHEVROLET, ARROW McLAREN SP: “I haven’t been to Toronto in a couple years so I am excited to go back. I love the atmosphere, the fans are always great and the city is fantastic. It’s a perfect time to have an INDYCAR race, as it starts an important section of the championship. I’m looking forward to working with the No. 5 Arrow McLaren SP team and having a good race.”
FELIX ROSEQVIST, NO. 7 VUSE CHEVROLET, ARROW McLAREN SP: “I am really excited to be back in Toronto. I think it’s one of those great cities in the world that we all enjoy coming to. Personally, it’s always been a good track for me. I’ve had some really good memories in Toronto in junior categories and also in INDYCAR where I drove here last in 2019. It doesn’t mean we can arrive relaxed. We’re obviously working really hard to get an edge on the other teams, especially after not being there in two years, so rolling out strong is going to be key. I think the prep work is going to be the important thing, then execute and try to have a good race after a difficult one last round in Mid-Ohio.”
WILL POWER, NO. 12 VERIZON CHEVROLET, TEAM PENSKE: “The track is just difficult because there’s so many different levels of grip. Like, you never feel in the track, on top of the track, it’s sliding. The car never handles well. It’s kind of difficult to tell your engineer what to do because there’s so much compromise. Maybe it’s a track that it’s easy to make a mistake on. That’s why maybe veterans or people being around a bit longer don’t end up making mistakes. That might be the reason that you’ve seen champions win. Yeah, it’s a tough track. A lot of mayhem can happen there, a lot of mayhem.”
KYLE KIRKWOOD, NO. 14 ROKiT CHEVROLET, AJ FOYT RACING: “It’s great that we are able to get back on the streets of Toronto. Given this year’s trend, I am always looking forward to the street courses. Toronto is a track that I personally have a lot of experience at and can’t wait to see what it feels like in the Indy car. I believe we’ll have a shot of redeeming ourselves from Detroit where we should have finished easily in the top 10.”
CONOR DALY, NO. 20 BITNILE CHEVROLET, ED CARPENTER RACING: “It’s always wonderful going back to Toronto! It’s a great track and Canadian race fans are so passionate and really just incredible people. It’s been far too many years since INDYCAR has been there. I’ve not raced there for even longer, so I am very much looking forward to getting back on track and continuing our strong season. ECR has done well there in the past so I am very excited and hopefully we will leave with more trophies!”
RINUS VEEKAY, NO. 21 BITCOIN WITH BITNILE CHEVROLET, ED CARPENTER RACING: “I am very excited for my first Indy car race in Toronto! I had a few wins there in my Road to Indy career and I always loved the track. In the past, ECR has had quite a few good results at Toronto as well so I can’t wait to see how we do at that track! I think we will have a great car and I hope to go for a podium or a win!”
BY THE NUMBERS: Chevrolet in INDYCAR
· 1: Chevrolet’s position in the INDYCAR Engine Manufacturer standings after nine races
· 2: Consecutive front-row starts in the Indianapolis 500 for Rinus Veekay of Ed Carpenter Racing
· 2: Team Chevy drivers in this year’s race who have previously won at Toronto in INDYCAR: Will Power (2007, 2010, 2016) and Josef Newgarden (2015, 2017)
· 3: Consecutive street circuit wins by Team Chevy drivers so far in 2022 – Scott McLaughlin (St. Petersburg), Josef Newgarden (Long Beach) and Will Power (Belle Isle)
· 4: Consecutive victories by Chevrolet to open the 2022 NTT INDYCAR SERIES. Team Penske’s Scott McLaughlin won the pole and race at St. Petersburg. Penske teammate Josef Newgarden won at Texas and Long Beach, and Pato O’Ward was victorious at Barber Motorsport Park for Arrow McLaren SP
· 5: Wins by Team Penske at Toronto to rank second among INDYCAR entrants
· 6: Different Chevrolet drivers to win races dating back to the start of 2020. Scott McLaughlin was the most recent at St. Petersburg
· 6: Number of Manufacturer Championships in the NTT INDYCAR Series since 2012
· 6: Number of Team Chevy Driver/Entrant championships since 2012
· 7: Wins at Toronto for Chevrolet-powered teams since 2012
· 9: Wins from pole by Will Power with Chevrolet power since 2012, most by any driver
· 10: Pole positions by Team Penske at Toronto
· 14: Consecutive seasons with at least one win by Will Power, including past 11 with Chevrolet. He won at Belle Isle in 2022
· 15: Starts at Toronto by Team Penske’s Will Power
· 26: Wins by Will Power since 2012. All have come with Chevrolet, giving him the most of any driver with same manufacturer
· 39: Pole starts by Will Power since 2012 in a Chevrolet-powered car, most of any driver
· 102: Chevrolet victories in NTT INDYCAR SERIES since 2012
· 110: Earned poles by Chevrolet since 2012
· 174: NTT INDYCAR SERIES races as V6 engine supplier since 2012 return to INDYCAR
About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, available in nearly 80 countries with nearly 2.7 million cars and trucks sold in 2021. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.
