TORONTO

Honda Indy Toronto

Date / Time -Sunday, July 12 1 p.m. (EDT)ABC (Live)Track -Streets of TorontoDistance -85 laps /148.75 milesRadio -IMS Radio Network / XM 145 / Sirius 211

1.75-mile temporary street course

This weekend marks the IndyCar Series’ debut on the streets of Toronto, one of the oldest temporary street circuit events in North America. Eleven drivers entered have previously competed on the 1.721-mile, 11-turn track under other sanctioning bodies, with four claiming victories (Dario Franchitti, 1999; Paul Tracy, 1999, 2003; Justin Wilson, 2005; Will Power, 2007). How much will experience play a role in determining the winner at Toronto?

Hometown HeroScarborough, Ontario-native Paul Tracy will attempt to make his 17th start in Toronto, this time behind the wheel of the No. 15 KV Racing Technology machine, co-owned by his good friend Jimmy Vasser. “The Thrill from West Hill” has two wins (1993 and 2003), eight top-five finishes, five podium performances and one pole in Toronto. After a year absence from competing in Toronto, can Tracy again dominate at his hometown race?

First-time visitor to TorontoWith the championship points battle heating up, Ryan Briscoe finds himself the odd man out when it comes to past experience in Toronto. His closest rivals for the title – Helio Castroneves, Scott Dixon and Dario Franchitti – have a combined 12 starts, with Castroneves collecting a pole at the circuit and Franchitti garnering two poles and a win. Can Briscoe acclimate himself quickly to the circuit and keep pace with his championship competitors?

Power returnsAfter making two starts this season, Will Power returns to competition in Toronto for the first of a five-race stretch with Penske Racing. Power won the last Champ Car race at Toronto, starting from the seventh position and gaining the lead on Lap 56. After a five-race absence, can Power quickly get up to speed on the challenging circuit?

Welcome to Victory LaneAfter 25 years in open-wheel racing, Dale Coyne scored his first win as a team owner last weekend at Watkins Glen International. Driver Justin Wilson gave Coyne his first victory in the team’s 558th open-wheel racing starts, holding off the powerhouse teams of Target Chip Ganassi Racing and Team Penske. Can  Wilson and Coyne build on the momentum for the win to find themselves in Victory Lane at Toronto?

Andretti, Rahal family legacyThe names Andretti and Rahal have been a major part of open-wheel racing history at Toronto. Michael Andretti won a record seven times on the temporary street course while Bobby Rahal won the inaugural Champ Car race in Toronto 1986. Now their sons, Marco Andretti and Graham Rahal, will compete in Toronto for the first time since the 2008 unification of open-wheel racing under the IndyCar Series banner. Can Andretti and Rahal become the next generation to find success on the Toronto circuit?

Dixon takes points lead at season mid-pointDrivers leading the series championship at the midway point of the season have won the title in six of the last 12 seasons, dating to the 1996-97 season. Watkins Glen was the midway point of the 2009 season, round nine of 17. Scott Dixon assumed the points lead, the same position he held at the midpoint of his 2008 championship season. Will Dixon, who became a first-time father this week, be able to hold on the top spot for the remainder of the season?

Race Notes:

The Honda Indy Toronto will be the first IndyCar Series event conducted at Toronto.Eleven drivers entered in the event have competed at Toronto in CART/ Champ Car-sanctioned events. They are: Helio Castroneves (4 starts), Scott Dixon (2), Robert Doornbos (1), Dario Franchitti (6), Ryan Hunter-Reay (2), Tony Kanaan (4), Will Power (2), Graham Rahal (1), Alex Tagliani (7), Paul Tracy (16) and Justin Wilson (5).

Past winners at Toronto under Champ Car/CART sanctioning include Will Power (2007), Justin Wilson (2005), Paul Tracy (1993, 2003) and Dario Franchitti (1999).

Drivers who have won poles at Toronto under Champ Car/CART sanctioning include Justin Wilson (2006), Paul Tracy (2003), Helio Castroneves (2000) and Dario Franchitti (1997 1998).

Season-to-Date:

Twenty-five drivers have recorded top-10 finishes. Fourteen drivers have recorded top-five finishes. The top 10 drivers in points come from six teams. Justin Wilson gave Dale Coyne Racing its first-ever open wheel win at Watkins Glen. It is the first victory for a team other than Team Penske and Target Chip Ganassi Racing since Wilson won Aug. 31, 2008 atBelle Isle for Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing, a streak of 10 points races and one non-points race. Rookie Mike Conway finished a career-best sixth at Watkins Glen, E.J. Viso finished a season-best seventh at Watkins Glen. With his ninth place finish at Watkins Glen, Robert Doornbos takes the lead in the race for Rookie of the Year, with a one point lead over Raphael Matos. Dario Franchitti finished 15th at Watkins Glen, just his second finish outside the top 10 this season. He finished 18th at Kansas. Scott Dixon’s win at Richmond gave him two or more victories in three consecutive seasons. At Richmond, Ryan Briscoe ended his streak as the only driver to be running at the finish of all seven races and the only driver who had completed all 1,288 laps. Briscoe leads all drivers with 516 laps led. Hideki Mutoh led his first career IndyCar Series laps (74) at Richmond. Helio Castroneves became the ninth driver to win the Indianapolis 500 three or more times.

The win gave Castroneves at least one victory in a record nine seasons and a victory from the pole in a record eight consecutive seasons. Dario Franchitti earned his ninth career victory and Target Chip Ganassi Racing’s 25th IndyCar Series victory in the race at Long Beach. Ryan Hunter-Reay gave Vision Racing its best-ever finish with a second at St. Petersburg. Ryan Briscoe earned his third career victory and Team Penske’s 30th IndyCar Series victory in the season opener at St. Petersburg. With his pole at St. Petersburg this season, Graham Rahal became the youngest polesitter in IndyCar Series history at the age of 20 years, 90 days.

Milestones & Records: Tony Kanaan will attempt to make his 107th consecutive start, the active leader among IndyCar Series drivers. Scott Dixon has 24 consecutive top-10 starts, and Ryan Briscoe has 17 consecutive top-10 starts. Sam Hornish Jr. holds the record with 32. Scott Dixon has tied Sam Hornish Jr. for most career victories at 19. Andretti Green Racing’s next victory will be its 35th. The team ranks first in the IndyCar Series. Team Penske has 32 IndyCar Series victories. Target Chip Ganassi Racing has 29 IndyCar Series victories. A victory in 2009 will give Tony Kanaan a victory in seven consecutive seasons, He would become the fourth driver to do so. Helio Castroneves has 70 career top-five finishes, the most in IndyCar Series history. Helio Castroneves has 94 top-10 finishes, the most in IndyCar Series history.

Helio Castroneves has led 76 races, the most in IndyCar Series history. Helio Castroneves has at least one race victory in each of the last nine seasons, an IndyCar Series record. Helio Castroneves has at least one victory from the pole in each of the last eight seasons, an IndyCar Series record. His eight career wins from the pole is also a record. Helio Castroneves has 27 career poles, the most in IndyCar Series history. Helio Castroneves ranks second all-time with 105 races running at the finish. Scott Sharp holds the record with 111. Helio Castroneves ranks second all-time with 3,202 laps led. Sam Hornish Jr. holds the record with 3,428.

At-Track Schedule (all times local):

Friday, July 1010:10-11:40 a.m. – IndyCar Series practice1:50-2:50 p.m. – IndyCar Series practice

Saturday, July 119:40-10:40 a.m. – IndyCar Series practice2:05 p.m. – PEAK Performance Pole Qualifying

Sunday, July 129-9:30 a.m. – IndyCar Series practiceNoon – Honda Indy Toronto pre-race8:45 p.m. – Honda Indy Toronto (85 laps/148.75 miles