Officials scratch Toronto’s Honda Indy
Ontario’s call last week to cancel major events permits sealed its fate
Dalton Kellett was looking forward to this year’s Honda Indy.
The 26-year-old Toronto driver signed with Foyt Racing in February and was set to rip around the road course along the CNE grounds in his No. 14 car for the first time as an IndyCar driver.
But some things in life more important than racing. And he gets it.
“First, our concern is with everyone’s health and safety and IndyCar has done a great job focusing on that,” Kellett said in a telephone interview from his home in Indianapolis on Thursday after this year’s Honda Indy was cancelled.
IndyCar and local race officials scratched the July 10-12 event, the lone Canadian stop on the circuit, in the wake of the provincial government’s decision to cancel all permits for major events and festivals for July and August due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Race organizer Green Savoree announced last Friday the Honda Indy would not run on its scheduled dates. Less than a week later, the race was removed completely from the IndyCar schedule, as was the Indy Richmond 300.
“We are extremely disappointed, and will miss the incredible fans who have supported us,” Savoree said in a statement. “Safety, of our fans, participants, volunteers, staff, partners, and the media will always remain our top priority.” The Honda Indy took in more than 30,000 race fans in 2019, marking the race’s highest attendance in recent years.
The Road America race will now go as a doubleheader in the original July slot filled by the Honda Indy.
Kellett’s first race will be the GMR Grand Prix on July 4 and he is also slated to run in the rescheduled Indy 500 in August.
“It’s my rookie year in IndyCar, but I’ve raced in Toronto for the last five years in Indy Lights and other series, so I’ve been around the course,” said Kellett.
“As a local driver, growing up watching the Honda Indy, it’s disappointing that I won’t get the opportunity to race in front of the hometown fans. But safety is the main focus now and I’m happy I will get the chance to compete in (the remaining races on the adjusted IndyCar schedule).”
The Honda Indy, which has run every year since its debut in 1986, was last won by a Canadian when Paul Tracy took the checkered flag in 1993 and 2003.
The Honda Indy isn’t the only event postponed by the COVID-19 crisis. The Canadian Grand Prix F1 race will not run on its scheduled June dates in Montreal, nor will the Mobil 1 SportsCar Grand Prix at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in July.
IndyCar is set to open its season with Genesys 300 at the Texas Motor Speedway on June 6. The season will conclude Oct. 25 with the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg in Florida on Oct. 25.