There seems to be a different kind of anticipation for this year’s Honda Indy Toronto, which is set to race around the streets of Exhibition Place beginning Friday. Sure the championship battle is a good one with Juan Pablo Montoya leading Penske teammate Will Power and Ganassi’s Scott Dixon in third place and closing fast. There’s also the Honda vs. Chevy debate.
That all leads to good stories during the race weekend, however the uniqueness of this year’s event is more surrounding the lead up. It’s a month earlier than usual due to the Pan Am Games, and with James Hinchcliffe out of his Schmidt Peterson ride due to injury, many are wondering how the crowds will be affected. To that, I say: Don’t worry about any of that stuff. If you’re able, come on down and enjoy the experience.
One of the biggest reasons I’m a fan of motorsports is being able to attend this event and see the IndyCar stars perform in person. When you have the opportunity to witness the speed of the cars right in front of you, it’s amazing. Equally impressive is seeing how quickly they slow down and come to a stop, watching the drivers come frighteningly close to the concrete barriers and other cars in an effort to be a fraction of a second quicker.
The other part of the experience is hearing the incredible sound of these street-hugging missiles as they fire up and scream by. Please remember to bring ear protection. And this may sound weird but the smell gets me too, with the foul rubbery stench from cars taking off after a pit stop, the fuel and other kinds of car smells. It all provides a sensory overload that you can’t help but enjoy.
Those sights, sounds and smells help you feel the excitement. But don’t mistake those elements for something only a racecar fan would enjoy. I wouldn’t consider myself a “car guy” so having all the other parts of the weekend by the waterfront is also what appeals to me. Weekend events like the Honda Indy Toronto have always been much more than just a race; it’s actually three days of many different racing disciplines all wrapped up in a festival of food, entertainment and much more. It’s a social event and interaction that’s much more than just a car race.
Oakville’s James Hinchcliffe won’t be racing this year, but the plan is to keep his Toronto attendance streak alive by serving as the grand marshal, so you’ll still be able to catch a glimpse of him.
Hinch welcomed me along with our Sportsnet crew into his home this week for his first interview following his frightening crash at Indianapolis. A few segments of our hour long chat have already aired on Sportsnet Central and others will be part of our pre-race show Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ET. He was very candid speaking about the crash, his recovery process from the serious injuries he suffered and was extremely thankful for all the support he’s received in the last few weeks.
Hinchcliffe also has that same kind of affection I’ve tried to describe for his hometown event. It’s where he became a fan and that’s part of why he wants to be there this weekend. Hopefully you will be too.