Honda Indy Toronto to host two IndyCar races in 2013
By Mark Atkinson for MSN Autos
Not long after it was announced that Edmonton, AB would no longer host an IndyCar event after losing money the last couple years, series officials and promoters of the sister event in Toronto picked up the slack. For 2013, Toronto will be one of three cities (the others being Houston and Detroit) to host double-header race weekends meaning two full-points races during the usual three-day stretch.
That means IndyCar races on both Saturday and Sunday, squeezing out time traditionally set aside for support races from other series in an attempt to get more 'bums in seats.' Toronto Star Wheels editor Norris McDonald has a good take on what that means to fans. I have to admit that when I saw the title of his story I'd assumed that IndyCar was also expanding its schedule out to Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (formerly Mosport) about an hour east of Toronto, not doubling down on the lakefront street race instead.
Anyway, the Honda Indy Toronto's certainly had its shine come off in the last decade or so... it no longer captures the public's attention and isn't a must-see event in the average Torontonian's mind. It's also usually scheduled on the same weekend as other more popular festivals that get better coverage in the local media. Generally, people just complain about the added traffic congestion that sparks up from the setup and take-down of the concrete barriers along Lakeshore Drive for weeks on either side.
What do you think? Would the Honda Indy Toronto be better off abandoning the city and moved to another location? Do you think it has the legs to stay in Toronto? Does the double-header make you more likely to attend? Let us know in the comments.
Photo courtesy INDYCAR/LAT USA
Justin Couture
Mark Atkinson
John LeBlanc
