The 2.8km, 11 turn street course began July 20, 1986 with the Molson Indy, which later became the Molson Grand Prix of Toronto and, after open car IndyCar and CHAMP joined together again, saw the start of the Honda Indy Toronto. The main grandstands, the pits with their 8 second pit stops and start/finish line are in front of the Direct Energy Centre on Princes' Boulevard so the Gold, Silver and Dr Pepper grandstands get to see the drivers, the cars and the race the best of all - unless you are in the suites! They also have plenty of giant screen televisions so you can check out the action around the course from most locations. The Victory Circle is actually right beside the Budweiser Winners Circle beer garden and stage so you can watch the Bud girls then see the winning driver on the podium without having to travel to far. I loved the Dr Pepper Grandstand for their tasty pop and the Schick Hydro Grandstand had excellent razors. Here is a fast drive in a Pace Car around the Streets of Toronto race track.
The main straightaway is Lakeshore Boulevard and the cars get up to their maximum speed along this stretch. The noise and speed provide the inspiration for the name 'Thunder Alley'.
Thursday July 7: Alex Tagliani at Future Shop Yonge and Dundas, from noon to 2pm.
Thursday July 7: Run, Walk n' Wheelathon at the Honda Indy Toronto track start times 6pm and 7pm.
Thursday July 7: Team Penske drivers will be appearing at the Bay store on Queen Street West between 6pm and 7pm at IZOD department (thanks Alex!).
Honda Indy Toronto 2011 Street Party/Bash 'Race to the Party' Drivers Party? May not happen in 2011.
Pit Stop Challenge? Yep, missed the media pit stop challenge.
Very few events are scheduled off track for the 2011 race week.
Thursday
| 8:00 am - 7:00 pm | Credential Centre Open |
| 11:30 am - 2:00 pm | IZOD INDYCAR Experience 2-Seater Rides |
| 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm | IZOD INDYCAR Pace Car Rides |
| 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm | Official Track Walk |
| 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm | Ferrari Ride And Drive |
| 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm | Sam Schmidt Track Walk |
Honda Indy Toronto 2011 - Race Weekend Events (gates open to public at 8:00am)
Keep updated at the Honda Indy Toronto schedule of events website.
Practice and qualifying for IndyCar happen Friday and Saturday with the main race on Sunday. IZOD qualifying has three segments - Segment 1; two groups race for 15 minutes each, the fastest six cars advance to the next segment. Segment 2; one 15 minute qualifying group of 12 cars, the fastest 6 advance to the next segment. Segment 3 (The Firestone Fast Six); one ten minute, six car qualifying group. Placing determines the Pole Position Award and the rest of the next six places.
Thunder Alley and the Thunder Stage
Dr Pepper Chill Zones x2
IZOD and IndyLites Paddock
Grandstands, Suites, Beer Gardens and Lounges
Direct Energy Centre and the Support Race Paddock/Garage
Automotive Building/Allstream Centre
Track side/pit access
Motorcycle stunt shows
Starboyz street bike performers
Celebrity Grand Marshall - Dan Aykroyd
Victory Podium/Victory Circle
Concerts stages x2
FREE FRIDAY: No cost entrance sponsored by Ontario Honda Indy Dealers Association. Check out the practice and pit action, walk through Thunder Alley and drink a cold beverage. If you like it, get a ticket for the rest of the weekend.
| 7:00 am - 5:00 pm | Credential Centre Open |
| 8:00 am - 6:30 pm | Gates Open |
| 8:00 am - 8:30 am | CTC Practice |
| 8:50 am - 9:35 am | Ferrari Practice |
| 9:55 am - 10:40 am | Firestone Indy Lights Practice |
| 10:55 am - 12:10 pm | IZOD INDYCAR Practice |
| 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm | NASCAR Practice |
| 1:30 pm - 1:50 pm | VIP Pit Walk-Thru |
| 1:50 pm - 2:35 pm | Ferrari Challenge Practice |
| 2:50 pm - 3:50 pm | IZOD INDYCAR Practice |
| 4:10 pm - 5:10 pm | NASCAR Qualifying |
| 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm | IZOD IndyCar Series Autograph Session (Group A) |
| 5:30 pm - 6:00 pm | CTC Qualifying |
| 6:10 pm - 6:55 pm | Ferrari Ride And Drive |
Saturday
| 7:00 am - 5:00 pm | Credential Centre Open |
| 8:00 am - 6:30 pm | Gates Open |
| 8:00 am - 8:45 am | Firestone Indy Lights Practice |
| 9:00 am - 10:00 am | IZOD IndyCar Practice |
| 10:15 am - 10:45 am | Firestone Indy Lights, All Driver Autograph Session |
| 10:20 am - 11:25 am | Ferrari Challenge Qualifying |
| 11:25 am - 11:45 am | VIP Pit Walk-Thru |
| 11:45 am - 12:35 pm | Firestone Indy Lights Qualifying |
| 12:55 pm - 2:10 pm | IZOD INDYCAR Qualifying |
| 2:15 pm - 2:30 pm | NASCAR PreRace |
| 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm | NASCAR RACE |
| 3:15 pm - 4:15 pm | IZOD IndyCar Series Autograph Session (Group B) |
| 3:50 pm - 4:20 pm | CTC RACE #1 |
| 4:40 pm - 5:40 pm | Ferrari Challlenge RACE#1 |
| 5:30 pm - 6:15 pm | Ferrari Ride And Drive |
Sunday
| 8:00 am - 11:00 am | Credential Centre Open |
| 8:00 am - 5:30 pm | Gates Open |
| 8:00 am - 8:20 am | Firestone Indy Lights Warm-Up |
| 8:40 am - 9:10 am | IZOD INDYCAR Warm-Up |
| 9:30 am - 10:00 am | CTC RACE #2 |
| 10:20 am - 11:05 am | Ferrari Challenge RACE #2 |
| 11:10 am - 11:55 am | Ferrari Ride And Drive |
| 11:30 am - 12:00 pm | VIP Pit Walk-Thru |
| 12:00 pm - 12:15 pm | Firestone Indy Lights Pre-Race |
| 12:15 pm - 1:15 pm | Firestone Indy Lights RACE |
| 1:35 pm - 1:50 pm | Pace Car Rides |
| 2:00 pm - 2:52 pm | IZOD INDYCAR Pre-Race |
| 2:52 pm - 5:00 pm | IZOD INDYCAR RACE, Liver Versus - 85 laps. |
| 5:00 pm - 5:30 pm | Post-Race |
Beautiful ladies at the Honda Indy Toronto include: Bud Girls at the Budweiser Winners Circle, Hooters Girls, and plenty of models along Thunder Alley.
CHAMP Girls
Bud Pit Crew Girls
Hooters Girls
Race Series
IZOD IndyCar - Honda Indy Toronto
Firestone Indy Lights - Toronto 100
NASCAR Canadian Tire Series
Castrol Canadian Touring Car Championship
Ferrari Challenge Exotic Cars
Honda Indy Toronto racing news
Wanting to be a race marshall? Check out MMS until June 23rd.
It's rumored that Danica Patrick will make the full time move into NASCAR and leave IndyCar behind starting in 2012. This could be your last chance to see Danica race in Toronto.
Canadian driver Paul Tracy won in Toronto in 1993 and 2003 and the 2010 winner was Will Power.
Current 2011 leaders in IndyCar are: 1, 2 and 3 - Will Power, Dario Franchitti and Oriol Servia. Alex Tagliani is 9th and Danica Patrick is in 15th place.
The following races remain till the Toronto event. June 11 Firestone Twin 275s, June 19 Milwaukee 225, June 25 Iowa Corn Indy 250 and the July 10 Honda Indy Toronto. The only other Canadian race in this series follows in two weeks at the July 24 Edmonton Indy.
Honda Indy Toronto Maps and Stands
Check out my post showing the various stand locations and the views that they provide.
Honda Indy Toronto Location and getting there
The race runs within the Exhibition Place grounds and onto Lakeshore Boulevard.
1. TTC
a) Go to Dufferin Station on the Bloor Subway and get on the No 29 bus south to Exhibition Place.
b) Go to Bathurst Station on the Bloor Subway and get on the Harbourfront No 509 streetcar south to
Exhibition Place.
c) Go to Union Station on the Yonge-University Subway. Find the Queens Quay platform and board
the No 510 streetcar west to Exhibition Stadium.
d) Go to Dundas West Subway Station on the Bloor Subway and get on the No 193 Exhibition
Rocket.
2. GO Transit
Take the Lakeshore Line to Exhibition Station (it is just west of Union Station).
Here is a information bulletin from GO Transit:
This year the Honda Indy will take place July 8th to the10th, 3 days of fun filled on and off-track activities.
For race fans on July 10th, in addition to our regular hourly Lakeshore line train services, we will be operating extra train trips to and from the Exhibition GO. Lakeshore East passengers will have an extra train departing Oshawa at 11:11 making all stops to the Exhibition, arriving at 12:16, and Lakeshore West line riders will have an extra train to Union from Aldershot at 11:34, scheduled to arrive Exhibition GO at 12:30. We will also operate additional train trips to you get you back home after the race; an extra westbound train trip to Aldershot from Union will serve the Exhibiton GO at 17:31 and the extra eastbound train to Oshawa will depart Exhibition at 17:30. For details, please visit our What's New page at www.gotransit.com or click on the link http://www.gotransit.com/
3. By Car
From the Gardiner Expressway (don't forget the Jameson Avenue exit is closed for construction) to
the Spadina/Lakeshore exit (from the east) or Lakeshore (from the west).
Take Lakeshore Boulevard to Strachan Avenue or British Columbia Road, or use the Dufferin Street
Entrance. Don't forget that the race track part of Lakeshore will be closed.
Parking is limited within the CNE but there are usually several lots open around the exhibition grounds
and in Ontario Place.
