Friday Adventure at the 2011 Honda Indy Toronto Part 2

Photo Credit: Christopher Nagy/XSL Speed Reporter

With the Castrol Canadian Touring Car series, Ferrari Challenge and Firestone Indy Lights already having a crack at the temporary street course on the 2011 Honda Indy Friday, it was time for the headlining IZOD INDYCAR Series to blitz the Toronto track.

Photo Credit: Christopher Nagy/ XSL Speed Reporter

Venturing through the team's paddock area ahead of the practice, I positioned myself on the road stretch between the paddock and pit lane called Gasoline Alley in preparations for seeing majority of the cars and drivers for the first time on the Friday. One of the first cars rolling down gasoline alley was the #9 Target/Chip Ganassi Racing car to be piloted by New Zealand's Scott Dixon. The #82 KV Racing Technology car of Tony Kanaan was wheeled out just behind the #9 car for the morning practice session. Coming off the 2nd place at Iowa Speedway two weeks before, Kanaan has come close to race victory many times in the 2011 IZOD INDYCAR season.

As the open wheel racing vehicles began collecting in greater numbers on Gasoline Alley, it has drawn an increased number of race spectators. It was this time in my Friday visit, I realized two things about the 2011 Honda Indy of Toronto; firstly, there were definitely a greater number of race fans at the event and second some of them seem to get even ruder with each passing year. I admit I do not appreciate being in large crowds but there is something that needs to be said on people who crowd me within inches. As the IZOD INDYCAR Series vehicles were preparing to enter pit road for first practice, some people insisted on being almost directly behind me. Finding it extremely uncomfortable, I lowered myself to keeling in order to get some space. As a person who does not like cramped crowds, I decided after many of the cars and drivers have flooded into the pit road stalls that I would regain my insanity by visiting the Firestone Indy Lights paddock. After quickly taking in the action on the support series paddock area, the Honda engines of the IZOD INDYCAR Series engines began to buzz around the 1.755-mile circuit.

Photo Credit: Chris Nagy/XSL Speed Reporter

The headliner, the big show for the 2011 Honda Indy, the IZOD INDYCAR Series rolled into town for their first road course race since the Sao Paulo Indy 300 at the beginning of May. In risk of having some serious cobwebs for to shake off their left and right actions with the steering wheel, the drivers and teams performed near flawlessly on the first practice session. However, there was one incident where hometown rookie driver James Hinchcliffe stalled his #06 Newman/Haas Racing Dallara-Honda. Making his first laps around the street circuit as a driver in the IZOD INDYCAR Series, Hinchcliffe's history with the race dates back through childhood where he attended the event religiously. James Hinchcliffe has referred to the INDYCAR event in Toronto as “Christmas”. Believe me, I can certainly identify with that feeling.

Photo Credit: Christopher Nagy/XSL Speed Reporter

Sitting in the frontstretch grandstands, I overlooked the pit road work of the teams tending to their Dallara-Honda racing machines. Hearing the rush of IZOD INDYCAR vehicles alongside the start/finish stretch, most of the morning practice session time was spent overlooking the pits of the #06 Newman/Haas Racing team and #5 KV Racing Technology team serving Japanese driver Takuma Sato. As 24 degree Celsius temperatures in the air cook the track surface (said to be 38 degrees in surface temperature), the 1 hour, 15 minute time on track gave a true picture to the reason I love summer.

Below is a video compilation I created on Canadian driver James Hinchcliffe and the #06 Newman/Haas Racing at the Honda Indy Friday.

James Hinchcliffe at 2011 Honda Indy Toronto

Friday Adventure at the 2011 Honda Indy Toronto Part 1

Photo by Christopher Nagy/ XSL Speed Reporter

For the past two years, I have been able to regale readers of this website on my trip to the Honda Indy of Toronto. An action-filled Friday, I regret the fact it took me so long to complete a posting relating to my trip. On top of other responsibilities, an intention to post the entire race day in one post would result in a long-winded mess for the Internet. I know, I tend to be rather detailed in the composition of my articles so I've began to break down my morning and afternoon recap into parts. Please enjoy this first part of my attendance of 2011 Honda Indy
With the Honda Indy Toronto crossing forth into its 25th anniversary since the first event won by Bobby Rahal, my true relationship to the race started 12 years later. Able to physically attend my first “Molson Indy” event, I have always been welcomed with a spectacle of auto racing life and culture I could never resist the following year. A major tourist draw for 25 years based on celebration of the many allures for motorsport, I just happened to be one of those automotive enthusiasts attracted by the power of advance open wheel racing technology watching the pursuit of driver and team questing for the top mastery of speed.
Granted media access to this year's very special Honda Indy event, the opportunity to present the racing festival of Toronto is now a responsibility wrapping many pleasures. Taking the only sensible method of travel through downtown Toronto (at least most of the time) is the TTC. Every time I ride on a subway car or streetcar, I suddenly hear the song “Romantic Traffic” by the Canadian 1980s new wave rock band “The Spoons” in my head. A little bit before of this websites readers (in fact “Romantic Traffic” roughly before my own interest in any music); the music video was staged within the subway line of the TTC during the mid 1980s.

As I stepped off the TTC streetcar when reaching early morning rush of the Castrol Canadian Touring Cars, I was to know this year (perhaps for than any other year) the 2011 Honda Indy Toronto would provide this automotive writer and editor with inspiration so ripe with excitement.

Arriving in the early morning hours, my residual sense of grogginess was vanquished immediately with action-filled day. Taking my first step into the media center acquaint myself with the part of my work area, an announcement that past event IZOD INDYCAR winner Marco Andretti will be in the media conference room was relayed. Arriving in a surprisingly near empty pressroom just past 9 am, the Iowa Speedway winner walked in minutes later.

Photo Credit: Christopher Nagy/ XSL Speed Reporter

Having the 2011 race winner and third generation Andretti racer in the room, I regretted I was unable to think of an intelligent question ideal for the 24-year old driver. Through the day, I continued to consider what question I could have asked Marco Andretti. It was not until lunch that I had finally brainstormed a suitable query. Not a very serious question, I probably could have asked it there is any place in Toronto Marco enjoyed when the IZOD INDYCAR Series visits the city. I know, it's not incredibly hard-hitting and somewhat light-hearted but it would have been a break from the racing-related questions (not that the Honda Indy would be considered a tiring subject.

As Marco Andretti left the conference room to prepare for Friday morning practice, I proceeded outside within the 1.755-mile track for the first time. Under the beautiful, cloudless skies, the Ferrari Challenge cars warmed up on the 11-turn street course for the very first time. The sound as well as the movement of those almost completely stock Ferrari F430 and Ferrari 458 supercars demonstrated a near perfect accompaniment to high speeds of the Lakeshore Boulevard stretch. Taking in the show on the Thunder Alley grandstands, I recalled my first Honda Indy presence in 1998. There for the Saturday and Sunday, I remembered how exciting it was to watch the CART World Series in probably one of their last great seasons. With my own eyes that weekend almost 13 years ago, I watched Michael Andretti, Paul Tracy, Patrick Carpentier as well as the late, great Greg Moore roaring down the Lakeshore. I remembered how the race was won by than Target/ Chip Ganassi driver Alex Zanardi.

Photo Credit: Christopher Nagy/ XSL Speed Reporter

Recalling my first race, I began to wonder how many fans young and old would take in this 2011 Honda Indy event. Since the race lost the long-time Molson sponsorship, crowds appeared to have dipped considerably. Following 2008 when a race did not take place due to reunification of open wheel racing, the 2009 Honda Indy had trouble bringing fans back to the event and not greeted kindly by the media. For 2011, this event is burning on all cylinders. To start, the Honda Canada sponsored Free Friday reached full potential as the combination of a sunny hot day and parent seeking to entertain their recently summer break bound tykes stormed through the attendance gates. By noontime, the CNE ground was well covered by a potpourri of individuals sharing the event. Besides the racing action on track, there was no shortage fun inside the enclosed Toronto street circuit including the IZOD INDYCAR Fan Zone. One of the sights on the area was a preview of the 2012 IZOD INDYCAR Series race vehicle.

Photo Credit: Christopher Nagy/XSL Speed Reporter

  

As the Ferrari Challenge cars left the track with only the memory of their brute, Italian sound, the Firestone Indy Lights cars prepared for competition. With the graduation of last year's Canadian Firestone Indy Lights series star James Hinchcliffe to the Newman/Haas Racing IZOD INDYCAR team, Canada's lone representative in the ladder series was Maple, Ontario's David Ostella. Riding 7th in the Firestone Indy Lights standing leading into the Honda Indy event, Ostella's rookie appearance with Jensen Motorsport did not go without notice by Canadian auto racing fans. During the weekend, that 19 year old was probably given a full initiation into what it means to be a rising auto racing star competing in his home country. With Ostella 6th fastest on track, Andretti Autosport's Stefan Wilson took fastest time in the morning practice on the streets of Toronto. As we know in hindsight, this top time for Wilson was a precursor to what would be a first career Firestone Indy Lights victory during Sunday's 100-mile event.

Photo Credit: Christopher Nagy/ XSL Speed Reporter

In part 2 of my 2011 Honda Indy Toronto review, I will recap the arrival of the headline IZOD INDYCAR Series to the race track. Star drivers such as Dario Franchitti, James Hinchcliffe, Paul Tracy and Danica Patrick take to 1.755-mile race circuit. Below, I have compiled a few videos which are now posted on Youtube. Posting them much sooner than I was able to construct the written review of my 2011 Honda Indy experience, I am very impressed by the reception of both videos.

2012 IZOD INDYCAR Dallara Chassis

2011 Honda Indy Ferrari Challange Morning Practice

Ryan Newman Starts on Pole for New Hampshire Cup Race

Photo Credit: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

A reintroduction to flat, short track racing, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is set to compete on the smallest track since Dover in May. The 1.058-mile oval of New Hampshire Motor Speedway hosts its first of two races in 2011 for North America's premier stock car racing organization.

In qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Lenox Industrial Tools 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Ryan Newman piloted the #39 Stewart/Haas Racing Chevrolet to his 5th pole at the race track. Team owner Tony Stewart will start alongside Newman in the #14 Chevy. The NASCAR Sprint Cup race team is still seeking their first win for the 2011 season. In the second row, David Reutimann's #00 Toyota and the #22 Dodge of Kurt Busch line up for Sunday's race in Loudon.

2010 winners at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway start reasonably down on the grid for the Lenox Industrial Tools 301 race. Recording the 12th fastest time in qualifying Friday the #33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, Clint Bowyer is still hunting his first win of the 2011 season. Past winner of the early summer event Jimmie Johnston is starting well down in 28th spot.

The New Hampshire Motor Speedway was the scene of Ryan Newman's first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory in 2002. That year driving for Penske Racing through his first season, Newman's momentum from the New Hampshire race win allowed the Indiana native to beat Jimmie Johnson for Rookie of the Year.

While qualifying position is important at New Hampshire, 8 of the 32 previous NASCAR Sprint Cup races held at the oval were won by a driver who started outside of the top-20. Closing from the deepest position of 38th place to win in July of 1999 was Jeff Burton.

The NASCAR Sprint Cup's Lenox Industrial Tools 301 race is scheduled for 1 pm eastern time on Sunday.


2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup

New Hampshire Motor Speedway

Starting Line-up

1. 39 Ryan Newman U.S. Army Chevrolet
2. 14 Tony Stewart Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet
3. 00 David Reutimann Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota
4. 22 Kurt Busch Shell/Pennzoil Dodge
5. 2 Brad Keselowski Miller Lite Dodge
6. 31 Jeff Burton Catepillar Chevrolet
7. 24 Jeff Gordon Drive To End Hunger Chevrolet
8. 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Target Chevrolet
9. 27 Paul Menard Richmond/Menards Chevrolet Chevrolet
10. 4 Kasey Kahne Red Bull Toyota
11. 78 Regan Smith Furniture Row Chevrolet
12. 33 Clint Bowyer Good Sam/Cheerios Chevrolet
13. 56 Martin Truex Jr. NAPA Toyota
14. 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Freight Toyota
15. 99 Carl Edwards Ortho Home Defense Ford
16. 20 Joey Logano Home Depot Toyota
17. 43 A J Allmendinger Best Buy Ford
18. 29 Kevin Harvick Budweiser Chevrolet
19. 18 Kyle Busch Interstate Batteries Toyota
20. 16 Greg Biffle 3M Ford
21. 83 Brian Vickers Red Bull Toyota
22. 9 Marcos Ambrose DeWALT Ford
23. 47 Bobby Labonte Capital Window/CapWinFund.com Toyota
24. 5 Mark Martin Godaddy.com Chevrolet 
25. 1 Jamie McMurray Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Chevrolet
26. 6 David Ragan UPS Ford
27. 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. National Guard/AMP Energy Chevrolet
28. 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe's Chevrolet
29. 30 David Stremme Inception Racing Chevrolet
30. 17 Matt Kenseth Affliction Clothing Ford
31. 13 Casey Mears GEICO Toyota
32. 51 Landon Cassill Security Benefit/Thank A Teacher Today Chev
33. 66 Michael McDowell HP Racing LLC Toyota
34. 34 David Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford
35. 87 Joe Nemechek AMFMEnergy.com Toyota
36. 55 Jeff Green Front Row Motorsports Ford
37. 36 Dave Blaney Golden Corral Chevrolet
38. 38 J J Yeley Long John Silver's Ford
39. 60 Mike Skinner Big Red Toyota
40. 46 Erik Darnell Red Line Chevrolet
41. 32 Mike Bliss Starrett Ford
42. 7 Scott Wimmer SPEED Energy Dodge
43. 71 Andy Lally Interstate Moving Services Ford