Round 12: Honda Indy Toronto. Exhibition Place, Toronto. July 15-17, 2016

[bjohnsonsmith]

Round 12: Honda Indy Toronto. Exhibition Place, Toronto. July 15-17, 2016.

Originally a CART event, it is the second longest running street race on the calendar after Long Beach. In the spring of 1985, Molson Breweries in-house promotional division, Molstar Sports & Entertainment proposed to run a CART race at Exhibition Place in Toronto, as an alternative to the
Candian F1 Grand Prix, which was sponsored by rival brewers Labatt's. The race was first held the following year on July 20, 1986 and was known as the Molson Indy Toronto and was won by Bobby Rahal, driving a March 86C-Ford Cosworth DFX for Truesports.

With the demise of CART, the race morphed into a Champ Car World Series event, changing its name to the Molson Grand Prix of Toronto and continued until 2007, after which Molson dropped sponsorship of the event. The Steelback Brewery signed a multi-year, multimillion-dollar deal to become the event’s title sponsor, renaming it the Steelback Grand Prix of Toronto and though unification of the Champ Car World Series and the Indy Racing League was announced on February 22, 2008, the race that year was cancelled. It returned in 2009, after Andretti-Green Racing acting as the event organiser and promoter, (later Green-Savoree Promotions) had purchased the assets of the former Grand Prix of Toronto, as well as signing a multi-year agreement with Honda Canada Inc.

Since then the event has remained on the calendar and although the race had been traditionally held in mid-July, there were concerns that last year's event might be cancelled, as it would clash with the Pan-American games also being held in mid-July. However the race was moved to June but unlike the two previous years there was no double header. This year's event is back to it's traditional mid July slot and remains a single race.

Last year's race saw Josef Newgarden, win his second IndyCar race driving for CFH Racing, with Luca Filippi coming 2nd giving CFH Racing their first 1–2 finish.

Some Trivia:
The driver with the most wins: 7, Michael Andretti: 1989, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001.
The team with the most wins: 8, Newman/Haas Racing: 1989, 1991, 1992, 1995, 2000, 2002, 2004.

The original 1986 track length was changed from 1.784 miles (2.871 km) to 1.755 mile (2.824 km) in 1996, due to construction of The National Trade Centre building, which led to the pit straight being lengthened and last turn being altered. Since last year, major changes have been made to the track. The Pit Lane has been moved to the North side of the track, starting at Turn 9 and extending back onto Princes' Boulevard, past Turn 11. The hospitality suites have also moved to the North side and the Turn 11 grandstands are now on the south side of Pit Lane. However, the paddock remains in its original location, linked by a pedestrian bridge.

1986 original track layout:


1996 - 2015 rack layout:


2016 track layout:

Length: 1.755 mi - 2.824 km
Turns: 11
Lap record: July 17th, 1999. Gil de Ferran, 57.143 seconds, 110.565 mph (177.937 km/h). Walker Racing, Reynard 99i-Honda HRS V8t, CART FedEx Championship Series.

Last year's winner:
Josef Newgarden,
CFH Racing,
Dallara DW12-Chevrolet

Laps: 85
Distance: 149.175 mi (240.073 km)
Race Time: 1:39:00
Average Speed: 90.41 mph (145.500 km/h)

TV Coverage:
NBCSN
Green flag, 2:30pm EST.