Verizon IndyCar Series heads north for twice the action in Toronto
Race 1 Broadcast Saturday, July 19 3 p.m. (ET) NBCSN
Race 2 Broadcast Sunday, July 20 3 p.m. (ET) NBCSN
Qualifying Broadcast Saturday, July 19 2 p.m. (ET) NBCSN
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 209/Sirius 213
2013 Race Winner Scott Dixon (Both Races)
2013 Polesitters Dario Franchitti (59.6756 seconds, 105.872 mph)/ Scott Dixon (58.9686 seconds, 107.142 mph
Track Record Gil de Ferran (57.143, 110.565 mph)
First Indy car Race 7/20/1986
Verizon IndyCar Series prepares for Toronto doubleheader
The Honda Indy Toronto Two in T.O. doubleheader weekend will mark the last of three doubleheaders on the 2014 Verizon 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 Verizon IndyCar Series drivers and teams. Who will be crowned king of Toronto's streets?
Castroneves aims for his first win in Toronto
Helio Castroneves took control of the Verizon IndyCar Series point standings at Iowa and carries a nine-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 second in last season's second race. Can Castroneves score his first win in Toronto and maintain his advantage over teammate Will Power and Andretti Autosport's Ryan Hunter-Reay?
Resurgent Ganassi team seeks another Toronto win
Chip Ganassi Racing hopes to recapture its success on the streets of Toronto, where it has won six times previously. Scott Dixon swept last year's doubleheader as part of a three-race win streak that propelled him into the title race and has six top-five finishes in eight previous starts. Tony Kanaan and Ryan Briscoe have seen their fortunes turn over the last two events and Charlie Kimball scored his first-ever podium at the track in 2012. Can Ganassi make it two straight Toronto sweeps?
Hunter-Reay seeks another win on streets of Toronto
Indianapolis 500 winner Ryan Hunter-Reay used a three-race win streak that included a victory at Toronto to propel him into championship contention in 2012. He returns to the track seeking to repeat the feat coming off a win in Iowa. Can Hunter-Reay, who has three podium finishes in his last five starts in Toronto, make history repeat itself?
Welcome to Hinchtown
James Hinchcliffe attended every Honda Indy Toronto since he was 18 months old. This year, the Toronto native returns among the favorites to win. Can the Mayor of Hinchtown visit Victory Lane in his home town for the first time?
Will to win at Toronto?
Will Power has already won on street courses at St. Petersburg and Detroit, and the 2010 Honda Indy Toronto champion would like to add another win on the streets of Exhibition Place to his resume. The Australian also won at Toronto in 2007 at the temporary circuit in Champ Car. Can Power become a three-time race winner at the circuit and retake the lead in the series point standings?
Wilson hopes to make it back to Victory Lane
Justin Wilson has visited Victory Lane in Toronto before and aims to give Dale Coyne Racing its second street course win of 2014. Wilson has won a race and a pair of poles at Toronto. Can Wilson again find success and take Dale Coyne Racing to another win?
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 find success on the Toronto circuit like his father?
Generation Next
James Hinchcliffe, Simon Pagenaud and Charlie Kimball all scored their first win in 2013, finished top 10 in the championship standings and established themselves as the next stars of the sport. The trio of young stars is joined by a talented rookie class that has already produced a race winner in Carlos Huertas. Will a young star be a threat to win this weekend?
Race Notes:
The Honda Indy Toronto 2 in T.O. doubleheader will be the 29th and 30th Indy car races on the streets of Exhibition Place. Scott Dixon swept the doubleheader races in 2013.The IndyCar Series champion has won in Toronto in four of the last five years. Dario Franchitti, Ryan Hunter-Reay and Scott Dixon all won on the streets of Toronto before eventually claiming the championship. Franchitti won the inaugural IndyCar Series race in 2009 and again in 2011. Hunter-Reay won at Toronto in 2012 and Dixon swept both races in 2013. 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 1994, a driver has won the 13th race of the season and the championship seven times. They are Scott Dixon (Edmonton, 2008), Sebastien Bourdais (Australia, 2007), Dan Wheldon (Pikes Peak, 2005), Paul Tracy (Mid-Ohio, 2003), Sam Hornish Jr. (Texas-2, 2001), Alex Zanardi (Mid-Ohio, 1997), Al Unser Jr. (Vancouver, 1994).Since 1994, seven drivers have won the 14th race en route to winning the championship they are: Ryan Hunter-Reay (Baltimore, 2012), Dario Franchitti (Chicagoland, 2010 and Infineon, 2009), Scott Dixon (Kentucky, 2008), Sebastien Bourdais (Mexico City, 2007, 2006 and 2004), Sam Hornish Jr. (Chicagoland, 2002), Juan Pablo Montoya (Mid-Ohio, 1999) and Alex Zanardi (Road America, 1997).Nineteen drivers entered in the event have competed in Indy car races at Toronto. Helio Castroneves, Tony Kanaan and Justin Wilson (10) have the most starts at Toronto among the entered drivers. Mikhail Aleshin, Luca Filippi, Jack Hawksworth and Carlos Huertas (0) have the fewest.Past winners at Toronto entered in this year's race are Scott Dixon (2013, both races), Ryan Hunter-Reay (2012), 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: Scott Dixon (2013, Race 2), Will Power (2011), Justin Wilson (2010, 2006), Sebastien Bourdais (2007, 2005, 2004), and Helio Castroneves (2000).Chip Ganassi Racing has won six times at Toronto: Michael Andretti (1994), Alex Zanardi (1998), Dario Franchitti (2009 and 2011) and Scott Dixon (2013, both races).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 with Ryan Hunter-Reay in 2012. Team owner Michael Andretti won at Toronto seven times as a driver.Sebastien Bourdais has finished in the top 10 in eight of his nine races at Toronto, including four podium finishes.Scott Dixon has finished on the podium in three of the last four races at Toronto. Dixon has six top-five finishes in eight starts.The Honda Indy Toronto 2 in T.O. doubleheader will be the ninth and 10th races on a road/street course in 2014. The first eight races were won by Will Power (St. Petersburg), Mike Conway (Long Beach), Ryan Hunter-Reay (Barber), Simon Pagenaud (Grand Prix of Indianapolis and Houston-2), Will Power (Belle Isle-1), Helio Castroneves (Belle Isle-2) and Carlos Huertas (Houston-1).The No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Dallara/Chevy crew won the Firestone Pit Stop Performance Award at the Iowa Corn Indy 300 presented by DEKALB with a total pit lane time of 113.685 seconds. This is the No. 12 Verizon crew's third consecutive Pit Stop Performance Award after winning at the Pocono INDYCAR 500 and Houston Race 2, and its fourth win of the season. Verizon Team Penske will receive the award during pre-race festivities at the Honda Indy Toronto. Firestone, a brand known for performance and innovation, recognizes teamwork at the highest level with the Firestone Pit Stop Performance Award. For each Verizon IndyCar Series event this year, with the exception of the Indianapolis 500, the team with the shortest amount of accumulated time on pit lane will be awarded $10,000. During doubleheader events, the winning teams will be awarded $5,000 per race. Teams must run at least 95 percent of the scheduled laps in order to be eligible. INDYCAR shall determine the recipient following the conclusion of the race.Season to Date:
Will Power won the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. It was the 22nd win of his Indy car career, tying Tony Bettenhausen and Emerson Fittipaldi for 19th all time.Mike Conway won the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach for the second time in his career. It was his third Indy car win.Ryan Hunter-Reay won the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama for the second consecutive season.Simon Pagenaud won the inaugural Grand Prix of Indianapolis, becoming the fourth different winner in as many races.Ryan Hunter-Reay won the 98th Indianapolis 500, becoming the first driver to win multiple races in 2014.Will Power and Helio Castroneves split the doubleheader races at the Chevrolet Indy Dual in Detroit presented by Quicken Loans - helping Team Penske sweep the wins in Detroit for the first time.Ed Carpenter won the Firestone 600 at Texas Motor Speedway for the first time in his career. It was his third Indy car win.Carlos Huertas claimed the first win of his career when he won the Shell and Pennzoil Grand Prix of Houston Race 1. He became the 211th different winner in Indy car racing.Simon Pagenaud won the Shell and Pennzoil Grand Prix of Houston Race 2. It was his second win of the season and fourth of his career.Juan Pablo Montoya became the eighth different winner in 11 races when he won the Pocono INDYCAR 500 from the pole. It was his 12th career win. He was the first driver to win the Verizon P1 Award and race this season.Ryan Hunter-Reay claimed his second win at Iowa Speedway in three years when he won the Iowa Corn Indy 300. Hunter-Reay was the fifth driver in a row from Andretti Autosport to win at Iowa.Mikhail Aleshin, Jack Hawksworth and Carlos Huertas started their first career Verizon IndyCar Series race at St. Petersburg.Milestones & Records:
Should Scott Dixon win the 2014 Verizon IndyCar Series championship, he will join A.J. Foyt, Dario Franchitti, Sebastien Bourdais and Mario Andretti as the only drivers to win four Indy car titles in his career. Foyt won seven championships in his career, while Andretti, Bourdais and Franchitti each won four titles.With his next victory, Scott Dixon will tie Al Unser Jr. for sixth on the all-time wins list. Dixon, the active leader for wins, won his 33rd race at Houston's Reliant Park in October 2013.With a victory in 2014, Scott Dixon will extend his streak of consecutive seasons with a win to 10.Helio Castroneves tied Rick Mears for 11th place on the all-time wins list with his 29th race win at The Raceway at Belle Isle Park on June 1.Will Power tied Tommy Milton for 18th place on the all-time wins list with his 23rd race win at The Raceway at Belle Isle Park on May 31.Will Power's win at St. Petersburg extended his streak of consecutive seasons with a win to eight.With his next victory, Sebastien Bourdais will move into sole possession of eighth place on the all-time wins list. Bourdais is tied with Dario Franchitti and Paul Tracy with 31 wins.Helio Castroneves reached 40 career poles in his Indy car career by earning the pole for the second race at Houston. Castroneves is the active leader with 40 pole positions, which is tied with Rick Mears for fourth all time.With his pole at Iowa, Scott Dixon extended his Verizon IndyCar Series streak to eight consecutive seasons with at least one pole position earned.Tony Kanaan will attempt to make his 228th and 229th consecutive starts at Toronto, which would extend his all-time record. Scott Dixon with 169 straight starts (fourth all time), Marco Andretti with 145 straight starts (tied for eighth all time) and Ryan Hunter-Reay (16th all time) with 120 straight starts are the only active drivers with a streak of more than 100 consecutive starts.Helio Castroneves is the active leader in starts with 289, which is eighth on the all-time list.Tony Kanaan has 288 starts, which is ninth on the all-time list.Helio Castroneves is the active leader in top-five finishes with 117, which is eighth on the all-time list.Tony Kanaan and Scott Dixon are tied for ninth on the all-time list with 114 top-five finishes.At-Track Schedule (all times local):
Friday, July 18
10 - 10:45 a.m. - Verizon IndyCar Series practice #1
1:55 - 2:50 p.m. - Verizon IndyCar Series practice #2 and standing start practice
Saturday, July 19
10-11:10 a.m. - Verizon IndyCar Series qualifying for the Verizon P1 Award (Knockout qualifying/Firestone Fast Six), NBCSN (Taped, 2 p.m. ET)
3:55 p.m. - Honda Indy Toronto Race #1 (85 laps/149.74 miles), NBCSN (Live)
Sunday, July 20
10-10:30 a.m. - Verizon IndyCar Series qualifying for the Verizon P1 Award (Two Groups)
3:55 p.m. - Honda Indy Toronto Race #2 (85 laps/149.74 miles), NBCSN (Live)
