2013 Indy Toronto

[Yannick]

The standing start went pretty well but I'm still not a fan of them for IndyCar. And I come from Europe. They do standing starts everywhere here. I like IndyCar because the rolling starts are different. Having them at one race of a double-header is OK with me, though.

[Paradise City]

Oh, yes. I don't mind a novelty standing start but keep the rolling start as the regular starting procedure. The camera angle of the standing start was a dumb gaffe.

[Peat]

I watched both races back to back last night. Saturday's was cracking, Sunday's not so much.

The spilt screen cameras for the start and Turn 3 were just awful.

[gomick]

Will Power - 2 4th place finishes thrown away on the last laps, what a poo year
I hope Scott Dixon wins the championship, Helio annoys me...

[rwintle]

Originally Posted by fieldodreams79

Seabass, you klutz. Has it been that long since you held a trophy?

Wasn't his fault. The presenter made a mistake and picked up both the trophy and its stand, handing both to Bourdais. He was supposed to pick up only the mug itself.

At the race #2 podium, the first thing Bourdais did was pick up the mug and hold it aloft, for laughs. Agree with whoever said he has a good sense of humour. After race #1 he also spun some awesome donuts, he was so excited to be on the podium.

Got the chance to shoot the race again with credentials. Photos at www.flickr.com/photos/ricardipus if you're interested. Here ya go... race #2 podium just for fun:


Podium ceremony, race #2, Honda Indy Toronto by Richard Wintle, on Flickr

[racerkeke]

Originally Posted by canamman

Big fan of these doubles! I would like to see that trend gain some steam.

As a marshal who survived (and I use that word on purpose) 2inTO and also did Dual in Detroit, I agree... to a point.

Where I have a problem is with packing the schedule to the point that the track workers have essentially ZERO downtime. On Friday the longest break we had was 15 minutes. That is from checker to green. Yes, that includes lunch, post-session cleanups and rotating staff. Friday's morning meeting was at 6 am and we finished at 6:20 pm. Saturday and Sunday were just an hour shorter, although Sunday we did get an hour to find some shade because Indycar was doing pace cars/two-seaters.

Combine that with 30C+ temps, high humidity, little breeze and standing on broiling asphalt. I am amazed the "army in white" did as well as we did, especially Sunday.

Sure, the promoters had no way of knowing what the weather would do, although history could have told them that July in Toronto is usually this way. But they and Indycar could have considered the event "infrastructure", so to speak. Teams, mechanics and drivers for a single series will have downtime. Marshals and local safety crews handle all sessions. One fewer series to monitor may be the difference between surviving and doing a proper job.

I will be re-evaluating my options for next year if Indycar continues the doubleheader format. I may put in for one and change my mind when I see the event schedule if it's too tight. As much as I love what I do, I am still recovering from Toronto now, two days later.
keke

[rwintle]

Originally Posted by racerkeke

As a marshal who survived (and I use that word on purpose) 2inTO and also did Dual in Detroit, I agree... to a point.

Where I have a problem is with packing the schedule to the point that the track workers have essentially ZERO downtime. On Friday the longest break we had was 15 minutes. That is from checker to green. Yes, that includes lunch, post-session cleanups and rotating staff. Friday's morning meeting was at 6 am and we finished at 6:20 pm. Saturday and Sunday were just an hour shorter, although Sunday we did get an hour to find some shade because Indycar was doing pace cars/two-seaters.

Combine that with 30C+ temps, high humidity, little breeze and standing on broiling asphalt. I am amazed the "army in white" did as well as we did, especially Sunday.

Sure, the promoters had no way of knowing what the weather would do, although history could have told them that July in Toronto is usually this way. But they and Indycar could have considered the event "infrastructure", so to speak. Teams, mechanics and drivers for a single series will have downtime. Marshals and local safety crews handle all sessions. One fewer series to monitor may be the difference between surviving and doing a proper job.

I will be re-evaluating my options for next year if Indycar continues the doubleheader format. I may put in for one and change my mind when I see the event schedule if it's too tight. As much as I love what I do, I am still recovering from Toronto now, two days later.
keke

The schedule was really full even before they added the NASCAR Jumpy Trucks! I for one am happy to give a shout-out to you and the "army in white" - great work all weekend long, thank you. The corner workers/marshals/flaggers I talked with on the weekend were unfailingly friendly, knowledgeable, and good-humoured, with some great stories of races past. Big thumb's up from me and I hope you've become a bit less sun-baked by now.