Ron Fellows and Canadian Tire return to NASCAR

Canadian driver Ron Fellows, winner of several NASCAR and Le Mans series races, and sponsor Canadian Tire will run in the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) races at Watkins Glen on August 13, 2011 and Montreal on August 20, 2011 with the #5 Chevrolet JR Motorsports (JRM) car. It was also announced that Danica Patrick will race the No 7 car at the Montreal Circuit Gilles Villeneuve race.

NCTS driver Scott Steckly of the 22 Canadian Tire car

Canadian Tires supports a lot of racing and motor sports in Canada, which includes my favourite stock car races with the Canada's local NASCAR Canadian Tires Series (NCTS). We last checked out this series in the Honda Indy Toronto 2011 weekend and previously at the Mosport Vortex Brake Pads 200. And that reminds how great Mosport International Raceway is.

The largest automotive retailer in Canada has more than 480 Canadian Tire stores and supports Ron both in Canada and the Unitied States. The driver has four wins and nine top-five finishes in the Nationwide Series road cours races driving with JRM. Ron Fellows who has also raced in the Camping World Truck Series and the Sprint Cup competition says "Having Canadian Tire on board for both Watkins Glen and Montreal is a bonus, particularly with the number of Canadian fans who make the trip to Watkins Glen."

Danica to NASCAR?

Say it ain't so! The Dean of Speed is reporting that Danica is ready to make the leap full time into NASCAR which means that unless a NASCAR race comes into town this year's recent Honda Indy Toronto 2011 (pictured here in green) might have been the last time we saw Danica race in the streets of the big smoke. And  she has a lot of fans in Toronto.

Danica in Toronto in the 2010 Honda Indy Toronto.

Dragon Robert Herjavec and Ferrari Honda Indy Toronto

Dragon's Den Robert Herjavec races the Ferrari sports car #007 in the Honda Indy Toronto 2011. Have I got an investment for you.

More pictures after the jump.

The beauty of IndyCars at Honda Indy Toronto

The Honda Indy Toronto IndyCars are sleek, full of power and run on ethanol (the Sunoco brand they used was 100% sugar cane) and when they race it smells like a strong fruit juice. Butts are molded into individual driver seats and the steering wheels are full of toggles, buttons and lights. Put the throttle down and the engines scream with power and the cars become a blur as they head down straight-aways or weave around the corners of the Streets of Toronto course.

See more photos after the jump.

Dr Pepper Marco Andretti #26

Driver Marco Andretti of Andretti Autosports' #26 Dr Pepper IndyCar was having a tough time during practice and qualifying. On Friday they decided to make some changes closer to his team mates but they had some problems making the changes, he said "It's a little frustrating but we'll make some changes tonight and go back at it tomorrow morning." Marco ended up starting Sunday's race in 20th spot and just finished out of the podium in 4th place and sits 7th in point standings this season.

Marco Andretti meets the media at the Honda Indy Toronto 2011

Marco's Dr Pepper #26 car joins the pack heading out of the pits during the 2011 IndyCar race.

Danica Patrick has a change of the front wing during the 2011 race and now even she is a Dr Pepper Too.

IndyCar Lights - all the speed and half the calories

The up and coming racers (just look at Canada's James Hinchliffe) of the IndyCar Lights join the IndyCar circuit and they had a full schedule at the Honda Indy Toronto 2011. There were thirteen cars entered into the race and they all used the Dallara chassis and Firestone tires. Andretti Autosports' Stefan Wilson won the race, team mate Peter Dempsey finished second while Gustavo Yacaman was third.

Stefan said of the Honda Indy Toronto "I love this circuit and city, so the 25th anniversary race is a really special win for me. We're still a long way out for the championship. Right now, it's about getting race wins."

The field of drivers were Gustavo Yacaman of car #2, Victor Carbone #3, Jorge Goncalvez #4, Stefan Wilson #5, Esteban Guerrieri #7, Anders Krohn #9, Josef Newgarden #11, David Ostella #16, Victor Garcia #22, Peter Dempsey #26, Duarte Ferreira #28, Bruno Andrade #29 and Daniel Herrington #77.

Some of the drivers are superstars in training but overall they are generally less well known than the IndyCar drivers. The Firestone Lights are the farm team of the big leagues - even their paddock wasn't fenced in and you didn't need a special pass to walk around the temporary garages.

Dario Franchitti wins Honda Indy Toronto 2011

Dario Franchitti (podium photo with William Ashley crystal cups at top, centre with Cameron the IZOD model) won another Streets of Toronto Honda Indy Toronto. Here he is smoking out of the pits during the Sunday IndyCar race ahead of the pack.

His number 10 Target IndyCar took the checkered flag ahead of team mate Scott Dixon (left) in the number 9 Target IndyCar. Ryan Hunter-Reay (right) of the DHL number 28 finished third on Sunday, July 10, 2011.

Dario Franchitti

Honda Indy Toronto says "Dario Franchitti, points leader of the IZOD IndyCar Series, was crowned today champion of the 2011 Honda Indy Toronto. The victory, his third on the streets of Toronto and 30th of his career, capped off a riveting race that included numerous passes, multiple melees and action from start to finish. Target Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Scott Dixon was 0.7345 of a second behind and Ryan Hunter-Reay was third.

Scott and Ryan discuss the race

“There was no shortage of excitement today,” said Charlie Johnstone, Vice President and General Manager of Honda Indy Toronto. “The race was a fitting climax to a wonderful weekend.”

Ryan sprays Dario with some victory Champagne

Read more and see more photos of the podium presentation after the jump.

The Canadian contingent of Paul Tracy, Alex Tagliani and rookie James Hinchcliffe finished 16th, 23rd and 14^threspectively.

Four additional support series joined the marquee event to complement a full weekend of racing. Stefan Wilson, younger brother of IZOD IndyCar Series driver Justin Wilson, gained his first win in Firestone Indy Lights. The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, Castrol Touring Car Championship and Ferrari Challenge added to the diversity of racing over the weekend. 

Budweiser girls

IZOD model Cameron

“We could not have asked for a better way to celebrate 25 years of racing on the streets of Toronto,” said Johnstone. “We are confident that the next quarter of a century will bring a growing amount of entertainment and satisfaction for our core race fans, growing customer base, sponsors, partners in the racing community and general public. There is indeed progress on all accounts.”"

Honda Indy Toronto 2011

Update: Dario Franchitti (# 10) wins the Honda Indy Toronto 2011. Scott Dixon (#9) was 2nd and Ryan Hunter-Reay (#28) finished 3rd.

one, two and three in turn 5

Bud Pit Crew Girls contestants

The long week of promotion, practice and qualifying ends today with a warm up and then the afternoon Honda Indy Toronto 2011 Streets of Toronto IndyCar race from 2:50pm to 5:00pm. The race will be 85 laps and the key will be to get out front and stay away from the damage zone with the rest of the pack. Drivers can make up mistakes or other issues because they say that there are great passing opportunities in Toronto.

Danica in turn 4 during the race

Canadian actor, comedian, wine and booze maker Dan Aykroyd was the Grand Marshal and got the cars to start those noisy, rumbling engines. I heard he got a speeding ticket on the way to the race! The race started with a military band, prayer, national anthems and Canadian fighter jets flying overhead.

My preference this year to win is Danica Patrick in the Go Daddy #7 car in a great shade of green. She needs a reason to keep splitting her time between NASCAR and IndyCar. She is suiting up in the photo at top. To round out the top three we need Alex Tagliani to edge out Dario Franchitti. I also think it will be a three way tie between the Schick Hydro girls, the Bud girls and the Shoeless Joes girls.

Helio Castroneves

Alex Tagliani coming into the pits

Pit row

Dario Franchitti

Today's race schedule calls for Indy Lights, Canadian Touring Car Race #2, Ferrari Race #2 followed by the IZOD IndyCar race. First thing in the morning is the warm ups, it's time to shake out the problem areas and focus on driving fast. The sky is a little cloudy, it cooled off a little and around ten it rained just a tiny little bit.

More coverage of the day after the jump.


The Bud Pit Crew Girl Pageant wrapped up Saturday and they are ready to award the trophies to the top three winners of this year's race. Thunder Alley will be open and I am sure there will be some beer and lovely ladies - see you in Exhibiton Place.

Paul Tracy

Paul in turn 5 during the race

Here are more exciting pictures from the Sunday, July 10, 2011 Streets of Toronto IndyCar race.

Firehawk the IndyCar mascot

The stands were full for all the race day action.

There were a few tangles and cautions during the race

Danica went into the pits for repairs and borrows a fender from Marco's #26 Dr Pepper car.

Dario pulls his car into Victory Circle and gets ready for the trophy ceremony.