The Honda Indy Toronto is one of Canada's most prominent motorsport events, and maybe the best weekend of the years to be in the 6ix. The first version of the race was held in 1986 and was known as the Molson Indo Toronto; today, it’s sponsored by Honda and is one of seven Canadian circuits to have held an Indy Car race, the others being Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Mont-Tremblant, Sanair, Montreal, Vancouver and Edmonton.
Whether you're a longtime Indy fan coming to the city for the event, a resident of the Toronto area looking to get a motorsport fix or simply curious to see what all the fuss is about here’s what to do at the Honda Indy Toronto.
1: Get it for free on Friday.
On Fan Friday, admission is free for all, so use this time to get the lay of the land, check out practices for the various series that will race over the weekend and even some qualifying runs by the competitors of the Nascar Pinty's series, USF2000 and the Indy Series. The Porsches from the Ultra 94 GT3 Cup are also racing, so you definitely have something to look forward to.
2. Get an autograph.
Starting Friday, there will be many opportunities to meet some of the most famous drivers racing in Toronto. We recommend going to the Porsche Paddock around 4:00 PM on Saturday; there, you will be able to chat with our GT3 driver, Michael De Quesada. The young driver scored a second-place finish in the GT3 Cup Challenge Canada in 2015 and won the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA Gold Class last year. He is also is the youngest driver to win at the venerable Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona having been part of the championship team this year.
3. Don’t miss the main event’s official start.
Obviously, with everything going on, you might actually forget that this week-long event is a race and not only a great show. The Indy race starts at 3:40 pm on Sunday, so don't miss it!
4. And catch the action in the corners.
Pick out the best spot for watching the race. The track itself is 2.874 km long and features 11 turns. While you might be tempted to stay near the start/finish line, here is a tip: go and check out the turns. Since the track is really tight, most of them will offer lots of action all weekend.
Here's what the GT3 Cup Challenge looked like a few years ago.
5. Stop by the NHL Centennial Fan Arena between races
New this year, the NHL Centennial Fan Arena features a 53-foot truck full of interactive digital displays, video, photography and hockey memorabilia from the NHL vault. You’re there for the racing, sure, but there’s always time for a little hockey.
6. Get fed and further entertained in Thunder Alley
Thunder Alley is your Indy stop for good food, live entertainment, family fun and more. They’ve got food trucks, interactive displays and activities put on by event sponsors, and The Honda Speed Zone, which has a ton of games and such for the kids.
7. Keep one eye on Instagram.
Even if you are there physically, it’s never a bad idea to check out what’s going on digitally. Instagram offers an insider view on the race as well as some great things to check out. We recommend you keep an eye on our driver's (@michaelDeQue) account as well the official account of Honda Indy Toronto (@hondaindy).
Date Posted: July 11, 2017