Following his final service stop with 30 laps remaining in the Honda Indy Toronto, Ryan Hunter-Reay was enjoying a Sunday drive on the Exhibition Place street circuit.Hunter-Reay, in the No. 28 Team DHL/Sun Drop Citrus Soda Chevrolet, inherited the lead on Lap 57 when JR Hildebrand pitted and upped his margin over Tony Kanaan from .6040 of a second to 4.0794 seconds in the matter of five laps on the 1.75-mile, 11-turn course.Though Charlie Kimball replaced Kanaan as the protagonist on Lap 72, the challenger didn't matter. Hunter-Reay pulled away by 7.6 seconds with 10 laps left and -- staying ahead of restart pileups in Turns 1 and 3 with three laps left -- went on to his third consecutive victory.Hunter-Reay crossed the start-finish line under caution, with Kimball securing a career-best runner-up finish and Mike Conway coming from the 11th starting spot to place a season-high third (the first podium for A.J. Foyt Racing since Brazil in 2010). Tony Kanaan finished fourth and Oriol Servia was fifth.Hunter-Reay, who entered the race three points behind front-runner Will Power in the IZOD IndyCar Series championship standings, heads to the Edmonton Indy with a 34-point lead as Power's No. 12 Verizon Team Penske car finished 15th (contact with the car driven by Josef Newgarden on Lap 56). Helio Castroneves, who finished sixth, overtook Scott Dixon (out early with an engine issue) for third (46 points back).Ten different teams were represented in the top 10 of the standings.DAY 3 NOTEBOOK:
Inactivity? Sebastien Bourdais grins at the notion. Whether at home in St. Petersburg, Fla., with his two daughters or in his profession, rarely does the four-time CART champion have extended time to kick back.Take his IZOD IndyCar Series month break - June oval races at Texas, Milwaukee and Iowa during which Katherine Legge drove the TrueCar car for Dragon Racing. Following the June 3 race at Belle Isle, Bourdais competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series' Six Hours of the Glen (third place).Returning for the Honda Indy Toronto, Bourdais qualified a season-high fourth and was in line for a podium finish until sliding into the Turn 1 tire barrier because of slight contact with the car driven by Charlie Kimball on a restart with three laps left. His seventh race of the season didn't end as he would have liked, but it showed progress for the team."That would have been great for the whole Dragon Racing crew. But we'll try again," said Bourdais, who will drive in the next four races in addition to testing a Grand-Am car July 9 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.Bourdais' season didn't kick off the way he'd like, with the team having an underpowered engine until switching to Chevrolet for the Indianapolis 500 in late May and no testing since he shared a Dallara chassis with Legge at Sebring International Raceway in early March."It's interesting sometimes to put yourself in positions where you're really kind of struggling," Bourdais said. "As long as you can see some light at the end of the tunnel."Bourdais will test the Dragon Racing car July 12 at Sonoma Raceway and is scheduled to spend a day at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on July 26 in advance of the Honda Indy 200 on Aug. 5.Expanded Canadian schedule possible: Toronto Mayor Rob Ford praised Green Savoree Promotions and INDYCAR for another successful event at Exhibition Place. The race (in its 26th year) has an estimated $50 million economic impact for the city."It creates thousands of jobs. I'm a businessman, that's why I got into politics. We have 189 cranes in the air and we're turning the city around, and this is one of the best events we have every year."Added Honda Indy Toronto vice president and general manager Charlie Johnstone: "We try to make this a community festival event and we couldn't do this without the support of the city. It's one of the best stops on the IndyCar circuit."INDYCAR CEO Randy Bernard isn't ruling out another IZOD IndyCar Series event in Canada to complement Toronto and the Edmonton Indy on the City Centre Airport circuit (July 22)."It's no secret we would like to have that third race (in Canada), (but) not at the expense of Toronto and Edmonton," Bernard said. "It needs to be a market that we can continue to grow INDYCAR. I know many people would like to see that Canadian triple crown again."This is the right time to build (the series) up here. When you have someone like James (Hinchcliffe) who is up there kicking butt, who has a great persionality, a great sponsor and is with a great team, you want to build around him."Bernard expects the 2013 schedule to be finalized by Sept. 1. He will meet with Phoenix International Raceway president Bryan Sperber this week about a race in the future, and he said Pocono Raceway president Brandon Igdalsky is "doing a complete analysis" about the prospects of an IZOD IndyCar Series race.Dixon the first out: Scott Dixon, who started fifth, climbed out of the No. 9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing car in the Turn 1 runoff on Lap 8 because of an issue with the Honda engine, according to team managing director Mike Hull.Dixon entered the race 15 points behind front-runner Will Power in the championship standings. He was using the fifth engine (the final fresh engine allowed under the lease agreement for the season), but will not face a 10-grid spot penalty if an engine change is necessary because it occurred in the race.Of note: INDYCAR is in discussions with Rogers Sportsnet to be its Canadian broadcast partner. TSN/TSN2 currently broadcasts IZOD IndyCar Series races. ABC and NBC Sports Network are the U.S. broadcast outlets.Robert Herjavec, star of ABC's "Shark Tank" and a Toronto resident, was the grand marshal.***IZOD IndyCar Series officials have penalized #19 Jakes with a 10 grid spot penalty for an unapproved engine change following qualifying. With the penalty, the following cars will have grid penalties for today's race: #19 Jakes, #27 Hinchcliffe, #78 De Silvestro and #98 Tagliani.***England's Jack Hawksworth of Team Pelfrey won Saturday's Star Mazda Race #1 at Exhibition Place. It was his third win of the season and allowed him to regain the point lead in the Star Mazda Championship. Zach Veach of Andretti Autosport was second and Gabby Chaves of JDC Motorsports was third. Hawksworth, who has a 13-point lead over Connor De Phillippi, will start today's Race #2 from pole.***England's Jack Hawksworth of Team Pelfrey won today's Star Mazda Race #2 at Exhibition Place. It was his second win of the weekend and his fourth win of the season and allowed him to extend his point lead in the 2012 Star Mazda Championship. Juan Piedrahita of JDC Motorsports was second followed by Sage Karam of Andretti Autosport, who started 21st in the 21-car field.
HONDA INDY TORONTO RACE SPECIFICS:The race is 85 laps, 148.75 miles on the 11-turn, 1.75-mile street course. The time-limit of 2 hours, 30 minutes will go into effect in the event of rain.The pit road speed limit is 60 mph.Pole sitter Dario Franchitti has chosen to grid drivers' left.The green flag to start the race will be shown the third time by the start-finish line.The E85 ethanol allotment for today's race is 68.5 gallons. Three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Johnny Rutherford will drive the Honda Civic si Safety Car.There will be no tow-ins or returns from the garage within the final 15 minutes of the race.***HONDA INDY TORONTO PRE-RACEAt 12:45 p.m., the ambient temperature was 80 degrees with a relative humidity of 48 percent. Skies were partly cloudy. The track temperature was 115, according to Firestone engineers.12:53 p.m. - "Dragons' Den" and "Shark Tank" star Robert Herjavec gave the command, "Drivers, start your engines." All cars have started and are rolling on the grid..HONDA INDY TORONTO COM RACE RUNNING:Lap 1: GREEN. #10 Franchitti leads the field to Turn 1. #18 Wilson passes #12 Power for second place in Turn 3.Lap 3: #10 Franchitti leads #18 Wilson by .6015 of a second.Lap 5: #10 Franchitti leads #12 Power by .4363 of a second.Lap 6: #12 Power takes leads from #10 Franchitti in Turn 3. He leads at the line at 1.0433 seconds.Lap 7: #9 Dixon off course in Turn 1. Crew reports mechanical issue.Lap 8: #78 De Silvestro on pit road.Lap 9: #12 Power leads #10 Franchitti by 1.5951 seconds.Lap 11: #12 Power leads #10 Franchitti by 2.3253 seconds.Lap 12: #5 Viso on pit lane for four red tires and fuel.Lap 13: #12 Power leads #10 Franchitti by 2.0476 seconds.Lap 14: #77 Pagenaud and #8 Barrichello on pit lane for four red tires and fuel.Lap 15: #12 Power leads #10 Franchitti by 2.0912 seconds, #2 Briscoe on pit lane for four red tires and fuel.Lap 16: #98 Tagliani on pit lane for four black tires and fuel. Team also makes front wing adjustment.Lap 17: #12 Power leads #10 Franchitti by 3.3517 seconds. #27 Hinchcliffe on pit lane for four black tires and fuel. Team also makes front wing adjustment.Lap 18: #11 Kanaan and #22 Servia on pit lane for four tires and fuel.Lap 20: #12 Power leads #10 Franchitti by 3.1794 seconds. #18 Wilson on pit road for four tires and fuel.***IZOD IndyCar Series officials have penalized #11 Kanaan with a drive through for hitting pit equipment.***Lap 23: #12 Power leads #10 Franchitti by 4.4198 seconds.Lap 24: FULL COURSE YELLOW. #38 Rahal has made contact with the wall at the exit of Turn 1. Leaders under caution are #12 Power, 10, 7, 14, 3.Lap 26: Leaders on pit road for four tires and fuel. New leader is #77 Pagenaud, who did not stop. Pit report: #10 Franchitti was slow to refuel the car. #98 Tagliani changed the nosecone.Lap 28: GREEN. #77 Pagenaud leads the field into Turn 1. #27 Hinchcliffe on pit road with a mechanical issue.Lap 30: #77 Pagenaud leads #28 Hunter-Reay by 1.4784 seconds.Lap 34: #18 Wilson passes #8 Barrichello for sixth in Turn 3.Lap 36: #77 Pagenaud leads #28 Hunter-Reay by 3.5797 seconds.Lap 38: #77 Pagenaud leads #28 Hunter-Reay by 2.7479 seconds. #5 Viso on pit lane for four tires and fuel. #27 Hinchcliffe has retired from the event with a mechanical issue.Lap 40: #77 Pagenaud leads #28 Hunter-Reay by 1.9884 seconds.Lap 43: #77 Pagenaud leads #28 Hunter-Reay by 1.4311 seconds.Lap 45: #77 Pagenaud leads #28 Hunter-Reay by 1.6175 seconds.Lap 47: #77 Pagenaud leads #28 Hunter-Reay by 1.5649 seconds.Lap 48: #8 Barrichello on pit lane for four red tires and fuel. Team
Lap 49: #77 Pagenaud on pit lane for four red tires and fuel. New leader is #28 Hunter-Reay. Car had an issue and was slow to exit.Lap 50: #28 Hunter-Reay leads #11 Kanaan by .6823 of a second.Lap 51: #11 Kanaan on pit lane for four tires and fuel.
Lap 53: #28 Hunter-Reay leads #18 Wilson by 1.0110 seconds. #14 Conway and #12 Power on pit lane forLap 55: Leaders, #28 Hunter-Reay and #67 Newgarden on pit road for four tires and fuel. New leader is #4 Hildebrand.Lap 57: #12 Power makes contact with the barrier in Turn 12. Car continues back to the pit lane where he pits for new tires. #4 Hildebrand on pit road for four tires and fuel. New leader is #28 Hunter-Reay.Lap 59: #28 Hunter-Reay leads #11 Kanaan by .5955 of a second.Lap 60: #12 Power on pit lane to change nosecone.Lap 61: #28 Hunter-Reay leads #11 Kanaan by 1.1269 seconds.Lap 63: #28 Hunter-Reay leads #11 Kanaan by 2.7871 seconds.Lap 65: #28 Hunter-Reay leads #11 Kanaan by 4.0790 seconds.Lap 66: #18 Wilson, running fifth, brushes the wall on the frontstretch and is slow on course.Lap 68: #28 Hunter-Reay leads #11 Kanaan by 5.3205 seconds. #18 Wilson has retired with a suspension damage due to contact.Lap 70: #28 Hunter-Reay leads #11 Kanaan by 6.0360 seconds.Lap 72: #83 Kimball passes #77 Pagenaud and #11 Kanaan for second place in Turn 3.Lap 73: #28 Hunter-Reay leads #83 Kimball by 8.3401 seconds.Lap 75: #28 Hunter-Reay leads #83 Kimball by 7.6056 seconds.Lap 77: #28 Hunter-Reay leads #83 Kimball by 7.5963 seconds.Lap 79: #67 Newgarden makes bid for the third in Turn 3 and can't make the corner and stops on course. FULL COURSE YELLOW. Leader under caution are: #28 Hunter-Reay, #83 Kimball, #77 Pagenaud, #2 Briscoe and #8 Barrichello.Lap 82: GREEN. #28 Hunter-Reay leads the field into Turn 1. #83 Kimball makes light contact with #7 Bourdais, who makes contact with the wall, behind #8 Barrichello is spun. In Turn 3, there are a pair of multi-car incidents. #10 Franchitti makes contact with #2 Briscoe entering the corner. #26 Andretti stops mid-corner and collects #77 Pagenaud and #20 Carpenter.. FULL COURSE YELLOW.Lap 85: CHECKERED. Ryan Hunter-Reay wins the Honda Indy Toronto - his third race win in a row.***Following the event, IZOD IndyCar Series officials penalized #77 Pagenaud with 30-second penalty for blocking #67 Newgarden on Lap 79.***
HONDA INDY TORONTO POST-RACE NOTES: This is Ryan Hunter-Reay's third straight win and his eighth career Indy car win. It is his first win on the streets of Toronto. Hunter-Reay is the first American to lead the IZOD IndyCar Series point standings since Sam Hornish Jr., won the series title in 2006. This is Andretti Autosport's first win in Toronto. Team owner Michael Andretti won here seven times as a Indy car driver. Charlie Kimball finished second, his career best finish in the IZOD IndyCar Series. His previous best finish was eighth, three previous times. Mike Conway finished third, his best finish of the 2012 season. His previous best finish was seventh at Barber. Tony Kanaan finished fourth, his fifth top-five finish of the season. Oriol Servia finished fifth, his fourth top-five finish of 2012.IZOD INDYCAR SERIES POINT STANDINGS1. Ryan Hunter-Reay 3352. Will Power 3013. Helio Castroneves 2894. Scott Dixon 2815. James Hinchcliffe 2686. Tony Kanaan 2677. Simon Pagenaud (R) 2648. Dario Franchitti2309. Ryan Briscoe 21710. Oriol Servia 215IZOD INDYCAR SERIES MANUFACTURERS CHAMPIONSHIPChevrolet 81Honda 68Lotus 40SUNOCO ROOKIE OF THE YEAR STANDINGSSimon Pagenaud 264Josef Newgarden 143Katherine Legge 103Bryan Clauson 13Wade Cunningham 13Jean Alesi 13 The next IZOD IndyCar Series race is the Edmonton Indy on July 22 at Edmonton City Centre Airport. The race will be broadcast live by NBC Sports Network at 2:30 p.m. (ET).
