DOUBLEHEADER FORMAT TO PROVIDE TWICE THE ACTION IN TORONTO
Race 1 Broadcast Saturday, July 13 3 p.m. (ET) NBC Sports Network
Race 2 Broadcast Sunday, July 14 3 p.m. (ET) NBC Sports Network
Qualifying Broadcast Friday, July 12 5:30 p.m. (ET) NBC Sports Network
Track Streets of Toronto's Exhibition Place (11-turn, 1.75-mile temporary street course) Distance 85 laps/149.74 miles (Both Races)
Radio IMS Radio Network XM 211/Sirius 211
2012 Race Winner Ryan Hunter-Reay
2012 Pole Sitter Dario Franchitti (59.3510, 106.451 mph)
Track Record Gil de Ferran (57.143, 110.565 mph):
IZOD IndyCar Series prepares for Toronto doubleheader
Honda Indy Toronto will mark the second of three doubleheaders on the 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series schedule. The series will race a pair of 85-lap races Saturday and Sunday on the 1.75-mile temporary street circuit, posing a unique challenge for IZOD IndyCar Series drivers and teams. Who will be crowned Toronto's king of the street.
Standing starts to debut at Toronto
The IZOD IndyCar Series will conduct a standing start for the first time in the first race of the Two in T.O. doubleheader. The last time an Indy car race had a standing start was at Long Beach in 2008 when Will Power swept around the first three cars to take the lead. How will the first standing start go in Toronto?
Will anyone have a SONAX Perfect Finish?
SONAX, the official automobile detail partner of INDYCAR, will offer a $100,000 bonus to any driver who can sweep both races at Toronto. The SONAX Perfect Finish Award offers a $50,000 bonus to any driver who wins both races of a doubleheader weekend. No driver won the award at Belle Isle, so the $50,000 bonus doubles for the 2 in T.O. twin bill. Can anyone have a Perfect Finish at Toronto.
Resurgent Ganassi team seeks another Toronto win
After sweeping the podium at Pocono, Chip Ganassi Racing hopes to recapture its success on the streets of Toronto, where it has won four times previously. Dario Franchitti is a three-time winner at Exhibition Place, Scott Dixon has four top-five finishes in six previous starts and Charlie Kimball scored his first podium in 2012. Can Ganassi make it two-straight sweeps?
Castroneves aims for his first win in Toronto
Helio Castroneves took control of the IZOD IndyCar Series point standings with his victory at Texas Motor Speedway in June and carries a 23-point advantage into the Honda Indy Toronto Two in T.O. doubleheader weekend. But the Brazilian hasn't fared well in Toronto, scoring his best finish of sixth last season. Can Castroneves score his first win in Toronto and maintain his advantage over Andretti Autosport's duo of Ryan Hunter-Reay and Marco Andretti?
Hunter-Reay seeks repeat win on streets of Toronto
Reigning IZOD IndyCar Series champion Ryan Hunter-Reay used a three-race win streak that included a victory at Toronto to propel himself into championship contention in 2012. He returns to the track seeking his fourth straight trip to the podium. Can Hunter-Reay, who repeated at Milwaukee, make history repeat itself again at Toronto?
Welcome to Hinchtown
James Hinchcliffe attended every Honda Indy Toronto since he was 18-months old. This year, the Toronto native returns to his hometown race as a favorite to win. Can Hinch, who leads the series with three wins, visit Victory Lane in his hometown for the first time?
Will to win at Toronto?
Will Power hasn't won a race in 2013, but the 2010 Honda Indy Toronto champion would like to add another win on the streets of Exhibition Place to his resume. The Australian has a pair of wins at Toronto, winning in 2007 at the temporary circuit in Champ Car and again in 2010. Can Power, the 2011 pole winner, become a three-time race winner at the circuit?
Wilson hopes to make it back to victory lane
Justin Wilson has visited Victory Lane at Toronto before and aims to bring Dale Coyne Racing back. Wilson, who won a race and pole at Toronto in Champ Car, sat on the pole in 2010. Can Wilson again find success and give Dale Coyne Racing its second win of the season?
Andretti aims to end winless drought
The Andretti name has been a major part of open-wheel racing history at Toronto. Michael Andretti won a record seven times on the temporary street course. Now Marco Andretti returns to the circuit in search of adding to his family's legacy at the track. Can Marco, who stands third in IZOD IndyCar Series points, find success on the Toronto circuit like his father?
Race Notes:The Honda Indy Toronto 2 in T.O. doubleheader will be the fifth and sixth IZOD IndyCar Series races on the streets of Exhibition Place. Ryan Hunter-Reay was 2012 race winner.Dario Franchitti and Hunter-Reay are the only drivers to win IZOD IndyCar Series race on the streets of Toronto and the championship in the same season. Franchitti won the inaugural IZOD IndyCar Series race in 2009 and again in 2011. Hunter-Reay won in 2012. Seven other drivers have claimed the Indy car championship in the same season they won at Toronto. They are: Bobby Rahal (1986), Al Unser Jr. (1990), Michael Andretti (1991), Alex Zanardi (1998), Cristiano da Matta (2002), Paul Tracy (2003) and Sebastien Bourdais (2004).Since 1993, a driver won the 12th race of the season and the championship eight times. Dario Franchitti (2010, Mid-Ohio), Sam Hornish Jr. (2006, Kentucky), Sebastien Bourdais (2005, Australia; 2004, Las Vegas), Cristiano da Matta (2002, Road America), Alex Zanardi (1997, Michigan), Jacques Villeneuve (1995, Cleveland), Al Unser Jr. (1994, New Hampshire).Since 1993, a driver won the 13th race of the season and the championship seven times. Scott Dixon (2008 Edmonton), Sebastien Bourdais (2007, Australia), Dan Wheldon (2005, Pikes Peak), Paul Tracy (2003, Mid-Ohio), Sam Hornish Jr. (2001, Texas2), Alex Zanardi (1997, Mid-Ohio), Al Unser Jr. (1994, Vancouver).Twenty-three (23) drivers entered in the event have competed in Indy car races at Toronto. Alex Tagliani (12) has the most starts at Toronto among the entered drivers. Tristan Vautier (0) has the fewest.Past winners at Toronto entered in this year's race are: Ryan Hunter-Reay (2012) Dario Franchitti (2011, 2009, 1999), Will Power (2010, 2007), Justin Wilson (2005) and Sebastien Bourdais (2004).Drivers who have won poles at Toronto entered in this year's race are: Dario Franchitti (1997, 1998, 2009, 2012), Will Power (2011), Justin Wilson (2010, 2006), Sebastien Bourdais (2007, 2005, 2004), and Helio Castroneves (2000) Chip Ganassi Racing has won four times at Toronto: Michael Andretti (1994), Alex Zanardi (1998) and Dario Franchitti (2009 and 2011.) Team Penske has two wins at the track (Paul Tracy 1993 and Will Power 2010). It has six pole positions at the track: Danny Sullivan (1988 and 1990), Emerson Fittipaldi (1993), Helio Castroneves (2000), Gil de Ferran (2001) and Will Power (2011).Andretti Autosport is the only other active team to win at Toronto. Team owner Michael Andretti won at Toronto seven times as a driver.
Season to Date:Scott Dixon led the first podium sweep for Chip Ganassi Racing when he won the Pocono INDYCAR 400 Fueled by Sunoco. It was his first win of 2013 and the 30th of his Indy car career.Marco Andretti won his second pole position of 2013 at Pocono. It was his fourth career pole position.James Hinchcliffe won the Iowa Corn Indy 250. It was his third win of 2013 and the fourth straight win at Iowa for Andretti Autosport. Helio Castroneves won qualifying heat #3 to secure his first pole of the season.Ryan Hunter-Reay won Milwaukee IndyFest for the second consecutive year. It was Hunter-Reay's second win of 2013 and the fourth for Andretti Autosport in 2013.Helio Castroneves won his 28th Indy car race in the Firestone 550 at Texas Motor Speedway.Will Power won his 31st career Indy car pole at Texas. Mike Conway and Simon Pagenaud split the winsin the Chevrolet Indy Dual in Detroit. It was Conway's second Indy car win and Pagenaud's first Indy car victory.Tony Kanaan won the 97th Indianapolis 500 to record his 16th Indy car victory.Ed Carpenter won his first pole position since 2010 at Kentucky when he won the pole for the 97th Indianapolis 500.There were a race-record 14 leaders and race-record 68 lead changes at Indianapolis. James Hinchcliffe won the Itaipava Sao Paulo Indy 300 with a last-lap, last-turn pass of Takuma Sato. It was his second win of 2013 and the third win in four races for Andretti Autosport.Takuma Sato won his first Indy car race in the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. He was the 208th driver to win an Indy car race and first Japanese driver to win. It was A.J. Foyt's first win as a car owner since 2002. Dario Franchitti won his 30th career Indy car pole at Long Beach.Ryan Hunter-Reay won his 10th Indy car race in the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama at Barber Motorsports Park from the pole position. It was the second time he had won a race from pole.James Hinchcliffe won the season-opening Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. It was the first win of his Indy car career. He was the 207th driver to win an Indy car race.Will Power won his 30th career Indy car pole at St. Petersburg. Tristan Vautier started his first career IZOD IndyCar Series race at St. Petersburg.
Milestones & Records:
Should Dario Franchitti win the 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series championship, he will join A.J. Foyt as the only drivers to win at least five Indy car titles in their career. Franchitti won the title in 2007 and again from 2009-2011. Foyt won seven championships in his career.
With their next victory, either Dario Franchitti or Sebastien Bourdais will move into sole possession of seventh place on the all-time wins list. Franchitti and Bourdais are tied with Paul Tracy with 31 wins.
Scott Dixon extended his streak of consecutive seasons with a win to nine with his win at Pocono Raceway.
Scott Dixon moved into sole possession of 10th place on the all-time wins list with his win at Pocono Raceway. Dixon won his 30th race to break a tie with Rick Mears.
Helio Castroneves moved into sole possession of 11th place on the all-time victory list with his win at Texas Motor Speedway on June 8. Castroneves won his 29th race to break a tie with Johnny Rutherford.
Helio Castroneves needs two earned poles to reach 40 career poles in his Indy car career after he won the Verizon P1 Award at Iowa Speedway.
Will Power recorded the 30th pole of his Indy car career at St. Petersburg and his 31st pole position at Texas.
Dario Franchitti recorded the 30th pole of his Indy car career at Long Beach and his 31st pole position at Detroit 1.
Scott Dixon needs two earned poles to reach 20 in his Indy car career.
With one pole in 2013, Scott Dixon will extend his IZOD IndyCar Series streak to seven consecutive seasons.
Scott Dixon's second-place finish at Barber was the 30th of his Indy car career. It tied Helio Castroneves, A.J. Foyt, Al Unser Jr., and Bobby Unser for fifth on the all-time list.
Tony Kanaan tied Helio Castroneves for 10th on the all-time top-five list by recording his his 110th top-five finish at Iowa.
Scott Dixon recorded the 100th top-five finish of his Indy car career at Barber Motorsports Park. With his win at Pocono, Dixon broke a tie with Paul Tracy for 12th on the all-time list.
Tony Kanaan will attempt to make his 208th consecutive start. Jimmy Vasser holds the all-time record of 211. Scott Dixon with 149 straight starts (Tied with Michel Jourdain for 6th all-time), Marco Andretti with 125 straight starts (15th all-time) and Ryan Hunter-Reay with 100 straight starts are the only other active drivers with a streak of more than 100 consecutive starts.
At-Track Schedule (all times local):
Friday, July 12
10:25 - 11:55 a.m. - IZOD IndyCar Series practice (all cars)
3:10 -4:20 p.m. - Honda Indy Toronto 2 in T.O. Race 1 qualifying for Verizon P1 Award. (Knockout qualifying/Firestone Fast Six)
Saturday, July 13
10:50-11:20 a.m. - Honda Indy Toronto 2 in T.O. Race 2 qualifying for Verizon P1 Award. (Two groups/12 minutes each)
3:33 p.m. - Honda Indy Toronto 2 in T.O. Race 1 (85 laps/149.75 miles), NBC Sports Network (Live)
Sunday, July 14
10:50 - 11:20 a.m. - IZOD IndyCar Series warmup
3:33 p.m. - Honda Indy Toronto 2 in T.O. Race 2 (85 laps/149.75 miles), NBC Sports Network (Live)
