National Post (National Edition)
CANADA’S INDY HOPES REST ON MAYOR OF HINCHTOWN
HINCHCLIFFE TRIES TO BECOME FIRST CANADIAN TO WIN AT HOME SINCE 2003
The Honda Indy Toronto is regarded by some downtowners as an annual three-day disruption of their coveted peace and quiet.
To that we say, if noise and commotion isn’t your thing, why live downtown in Canada’s most populated city?
And while suggestions have been made in recent years that the event has run its course at its current venue on the grounds of Exhibition Place and that attendance is a far cry from its beer-and-cigarette sponsorship glory days, we offer another thought.
While the Indy might never again match the peak of its popularity witnessed decades ago, the event remains an exciting spectacle that draws thousands into the core of the city for something a little less traditional than hockey, basketball or baseball. Like it or not, it’s a world-class event.
Professional race-car drivers speeding along the streets of Toronto on a temporary 2.89-km, 11-turn street course that draws rave reviews from those who race on it? That ain’t such a bad thing.
Buckle up. Here are a few storylines to watch for at the 33rd edition of Indy-style racing along the city’s lakeshore this weekend.
TRUE NORTH STRONG
Last year’s race featured three Canadian drivers, but Oakville, Ont., native James Hinchcliffe is the lone flag-bearer this time around as he tries to become the first Canuck to win on home soil since two-time Toronto winner Paul Tracy (2003, 1993).
Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports teammate Robert Wickens of Guelph, Ont., continues his inspiring road to recovery following a life-altering crash at Pocono Raceway last August, while Montreal’s Zachary Claman DeMelo has returned to the Indy Lights series this season after spending 2018 as a part-time driver in the top North American open-wheel series, where he competed in nine races for Dale Coyne Racing, including a 14 thplace finish in Toronto.
Hinchcliffe should enter the weekend with mounds of confidence. He returns home for the 11th of 17 races on the U.S.-based NTT IndyCar Series schedule situated ninth overall in the championship standings, thanks to five top10 finishes. What’s more, the self-proclaimed Mayor of Hinchtown has enjoyed solid showings on the streets of Toronto in recent years, including a fourth-place finish last year and back-to-back third-place finishes in 2016 and 2017, respectively.
“We’ve been on a good run the last few,” Hinchcliffe said. “Being on the podium with all the fans ... I think it just fuelled the desire to get up on the top step of that podium a little bit more.”
Wickens finished third as a rookie making his Toronto debut last July, behind Simon Pagenaud (second) and Scott Dixon (first), and just ahead of Hinchcliffe.
In what can only be described as an ultra-classy move, Wickens’ team, Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, is holding Wickens’ No. 6 Arrow Honda in reserve until the 30-year-old is able to return to racing, if he is ever able to return.
It’s sure to get emotional when Wickens returns to the race track for the parade lap in Toronto on Sunday afternoon, driving a custom Acura NSX fitted with special hand controls.
Claman DeMelo will race in Toronto’s Indy Lights event, alongside Stouffville, Ont. ’s Dalton Kellett. Red Deer, Alta.’s Parker Thompson (Indy Pro 2000, Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge), Toronto’s Jeff Kingsley (Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge), Montreal’s Alex Tagliani (Pinty’s NASCAR Series) and Toronto’s Russell Boyle (Robby Gordon’s Stadium Super Trucks) are other notable Canadians competing on the weekend.
DIXON THE DEFENDER
He has a long way to go to catch the ridiculous seven career wins of a certain racing legend in Toronto, but Australian-born New Zealander Scott Dixon is one of three drivers to score three career T.O. wins, and the 38-year-old defending champ and 2018 overall series winner is always a solid bet to land in Victory Lane along the lakeshore in Ontario’s capital city.
One more victory here would give the five-time series champ and 2008 Indy 500 winner the most wins of any driver not named Michael Andretti.
“I guess it’s the closest thing to a home race for me, being part of the Commonwealth,” Dixon said. “I don’t get the cheers, obviously, that Hinch does. We need to work on that.”
Another second home for Dixon is at the top of the standings. Like clockwork, the 38-year-old who drives for Chip Ganassi Racing, is once again knocking on the doorstep in fourth overall through the first 10 races of the season. Dixon has one win — the second of two races in Detroit at the beginning of June — and six topfive finishes and counting him out in Toronto would be a fool’s game.
LEADER OF THE PACK
Speaking of drivers who have dominated in Toronto over the years, Josef Newgarden is no slouch around these parts, with two of his 10 career race wins coming here in 2015 and 2017, including a pole victory here last year before settling for a ninth-place finish.
The fact the 28-year-old Tennessean has fared well in Toronto should come as no surprise considering he basically succeeds everywhere he goes these days.
Newgarden, who won the overall championship title in 2017 in his first year with Team Penske, arrives in town leading the driving standings thanks to three wins — the season-opener at St. Petersburg, Fla., the first of two races in Detroit and in Texas — along with a pole victory and eight top-five finishes.
THE MORE THE MERRIER
The thrill from West Hill, otherwise known as Paul Tracy, is the only Canadian to ever win in Toronto. He turned the trick twice, first in 1993, then a decade later in 2003. But there have been numerous multiple winners at the famed Canadian stop over the years, led by Hall of Famer Michael Andretti’s record seven career Toronto wins.
Others to taste success on more than one occasion here? Al Unser (1988, 1990), Will Power (2007, 2010, 2016), Dario Franchitti (199, 2009, 2011), Dixon (2013 twice, 2018), Sebastian Bourdais (2004, 2014) and Newgarden (2015, 2017).
ARROW ROOTS
Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports is otherwise known as Team Canada.
The Indianapolis-based company is co-owned by Calgary’s Ric Peterson and features a pair of Canuck drivers, Oakville, Ont.’ s Hinchcliffe and Guelph, Ont.’ s Wickens, on its roster.
The other co-owner, Sam Schmidt, hails from Lincoln, Neb., while Swedish driver Marcus Ericsson came over from Formula racing in the off-season to race in place of Wickens, who was seriously injured last August. British racer Jack Harvey has a parttime ride with ASPM.
PLENTY TO OFFER
Sunday’s feature race draws the most interest, but there is no shortage on offer throughout the weekend, which is billed as a festival, and for good reason.
Aside from the NTT IndyCar Series, six other racing series will run throughout the weekend, including Indy Lights — the top step on the Road to Indy ladder system — the Indy 2000 Championship, the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship, the NASCAR Pinty’s Series, Robby Gordon’s Stadium Super Trucks and the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge.
OF COURSE, IT’S TOUGH
Toronto’s Indy track is a beast. That’s the belief shared among the drivers tasked with taming the 2.89km, 11-turn temporary street course on the grounds of Exhibition Place.
With multiple surface changes, it’s always a bumping ride, to say nothing of the concrete walls that surround every corner.
Toronto is the 11th event on the 17-race NTT IndyCar Series schedule and the fourth and final street circuit (the others include St. Petersburg, Fla., Long Beach, Calif., and Detroit). It has long been viewed as one of, if not the most challenging track in North America.
“I think the first time I drove here, actually the first practice, I just came in and said, if the car can have less airtime we’ ll find a little luck,” said IndyCar rookie Felix Rosenqvist, who previously raced in Toronto in Indy Lights. “It was the bumpiest circuit I’ve ever been to. But it’s an awesome track.”
ishantz@postmedia.com