For the 31st time in Verizon IndyCar Series history, the series will take to the streets of the Exhibition Place in Toronto, Ontario. Known as the iconic spot for hosting the Canadian National Exhibition, the center of attention transfers into a challenging 11-turn, 1.755-mile temporary street course. After a pair of exciting races last year, the series will hope to top the shows this year with even bigger success.
Scott Dixon enters this weekend with momentum on his side following a victory in the Firestone 600 at Texas Motor Speedway last weekend. He also has been very successful in Toronto, scoring a pair of victories, five top-fives and six top-10s in eight starts. Notably, both wins by the New Zealand native came during the 2013 double-header weekend.
“Toronto is a fun place,” he commented. “You’re right down almost by city center and you’re right there on the water. The track is fantastic and it’s got great flow. The circuit is great for racing. It has passing opportunities, a big, long straight, and I think it’s probably one of the most exciting races that we’ve ever had in the series. It’s really got it all – with the hairpin and late restarts.”
Sebastien Bourdais hopes to repeat the success that he has last year, as he scored the victory in the first of the two races during the double-header weekend of action. He also boosts the strongest average finish of active drivers on the streets of Toronto with a 5.8. Bourdais has shown strength already this year, scoring a victory on the streets of Detroit a couple weeks ago. In the four street courses thus far this year, he has only finished outside of the top-six in one of the races.
“Obviously the Toronto street circuit is one I enjoy racing on,” he said. “We have had some good results there including the win last year, which was special because it was my first since coming back to INDYCAR. It is also a very important race for the KVSH Racing team because our sponsor, Hydroxycut, has its headquarters nearby in Oakville, so it is like a home race for us and we are expecting a lot of support at the track. Toronto is always a great event. The city really supports the race, the track is challenging and the fans are knowledgeable. The Hydroxycut-KVSH Racing Chevrolet car has been fast on the street circuits this year and hopefully we can have a good result for the sponsors, their employees and guests and make up some ground in the championship standings.”
In eight starts on the streets of Toronto, Marco Andretti has finished in the top-10 on six different occasions, scoring a pair of top-five finishes for an average finish of 9.1. He also enters this weekend with momentum, following a top-five finish at Texas Motor Speedway.
“Toronto is definitely on my top three list of places where a win would mean the most – along with Indy and Long Beach,” he stated. “The Canadian fans are so passionate about racing and it’s always a great weekend. We really need to keep a streak of top-five or (top)-six finishes going, but I really want to win.”
Juan Pablo Montoya is hoping Toronto treats him better than last season, as he failed to post a top-10 finish in either of the races. He has been strong on the street courses this year, though, scoring a victory in the season opener on the streets of St. Petersburg. He also enters this weekend as the series points leader, 35 points ahead of Will Power.
“I can’t wait to bring back the PPG Automotive Refinish colors to the No. 2 Chevrolet this weekend. They have been very good to me in the past, including my first win with Team Penske last year at Pocono,” Montoya shared. “While I know the car will look fantastic, we need it to be fast as well. Toronto is a very tough circuit. It requires patience because the corners do not have a lot of room, but you have to make passes when you have the opportunity. I’ve been known as an aggressive driver and I’m fine with that. You have to be aggressive in the Verizon IndyCar Series because the cars are so close together. But you have to know when to be aggressive and I have learned that over the years. Toronto is known to have a lot of contact, but I hope we can keep the No. 2 PPG Chevy clean and in the mix for the win.”
Tony Kanaan knows what it takes to put himself in position to win, finishing on the podium in both races last year on the streets of Toronto. He also enters this weekend with momentum after finishing second at Texas Motor Speedway.
“The whole team is coming off of a great weekend in Texas with some solid momentum leading into Toronto,” Kanaan said. “I’ve had some decent results there over the years, especially last year with a third and a second during the doubleheader, but I wasn’t able to quite make it to the top of the podium. With the way the team has been performing and the way the car has felt, I feel really good heading into this weekend. I love the city of Toronto and I’m just excited to get out there this weekend.”
Ryan Hunter-Reay hasn’t had the season that he has wanted, only posting one top-five thus far this season in the first nine races of the schedule. He is hoping to change that this weekend on a track that has treated him well in the past, as he scored the victory in 2012.
Charlie Kimball caught some people off-guard last year when he finished fourth in the second event of the weekend. He also caught some people off-guard earlier this year with his strong run in the Indianapolis 500. This could be the weekend that he snatches the surprise victory as he has a good team underneath him, driving for Chip Ganassi Racing.
“Every season I look forward to going back to Toronto for the Honda Indy Toronto,” he said. “It’s a tough, tight course, but one that tends to suit my driving style. The Canadian fans always come out and really make it a great event, too. The Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing team has had some good results on the streets of Toronto in the past, including a podium, so I think with the right strategy and a stronger qualifying session we’ll have more success this weekend. After a really competitive race in Texas, we’ll be looking to build on that momentum and get the No. 83 Levemir FlexTouch car running up front again.”
With a full field of drivers that know how to win in Toronto, including defending series champion Will Power, it goes without saying that this weekend’s 85 lap event is going to full of top-notch competition from start to finish.
