Car FYI

In addition to the headline NTT IndyCar Series, the 2025 Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto on-track activities include a range of other types of racing. The CASC Miata Cup Canada cars were part of this year's festivities for the first time. Pictured above is the Operation Motorsport-supported 1999 Mazda Miata of Huw Leahy. (Photo Credit: Chris Nagy/Car FYI Canada)     Summer in Canada goes by so quickly but we certainly know how to make the most of the longer daylight and warm weather. A steady summer ritual for me in July involves a visit to Toronto’s Exhibition Place where the sound of engines is like a siren song. Getting closer, sights are delighted by shapes and colours in motion being handled by a handful of speed warriors. Of course, I’m talking about the 2025 edition of the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto that took place from July 18th to the 20th delighting with a weekend of racing activities.  To go back to what I had written about this season moving ...

Winner of the 2025 Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto Pato O'Ward celebrates (Photo Credit: Joe Skibinski/Penske Entertainment) IndyCar’s only visit outside of the states, the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto has been a classic attraction where some of the greatest open wheel racers tested their talents on a tricky, tight temporary street course nestled within Exhibition Place. The 2025 edition of the event headlined by the NTT IndyCar Series drew a consistently large crowd of Canadian race fans throughout the weekend who were rewarded with plenty of off-track and on-track excitement.  By virtue of a magnificent defence of pole position for a third consecutive year, Colton Herta and his Gainbridge #26 Andretti Global team earned the honours of leading the field to the green flag for Sunday’s main event. Whether or not he would be able to defend his 2024 victory would depend on the outcome of 90 laps on the 11-turn, 2.874-kilometer (1.786-miles) race track. Following time trials, ...

The original trophy awarded to the Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year winner, this trophy was sponsored by Indiana meat company Stark and Wetzel. For 2025, an all-new Ray Harroun Trophy was given to this year's top rookie. (Photo Credit: JeromeG111 Link to image here )   As Spain’s Alex Palou claimed the ultimate prize at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend by winning the 2025 Indy 500, a race for a desirable secondary trophy was fought for throughout practice, qualifying as well as the race. For this year’s event, the Indianapolis 500's Rookie of the Year award was handed to Robert Shwartzman who stunned the motorsport world by taking pole position driving for Prema Racing (also an IndyCar newcomer for 2025). The honour being given to Shwartzman despite a forgettable 26th place result in the 500-mile race is the latest example for the somewhat unique criteria used in crowning the achievement. First given out in 1952, the Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year award as...

Close-up of Scott Dixon's Honda-branded Engine Cover (Chris Nagy/Car FYI Canada)   A company maintaining an uninterrupted 30-year association with motorsports is a commitment involving a great deal of mutual appreciation and respect. Back in 1994, the Honda name’s appearance on Indy cars was a new sight for many racing fans. While the auto marker had gained a reputation for winning in Formula 1 through the 1980s and early 1990s, the North American open wheel racing scene presented a much different challenge. Honda Racing’s endeavour into IndyCar immediately demonstrated that some first steps may be uneasy but the capacity to endure these early struggles can amount to greatness.   Honda had explored involvement with Indy car racing during the early 1980s partnering with Engine Development Limited (a company jointly founded by Jack Brabham and John Judd) to create a competition powerplant. While Honda opted not to officially enter the CART Indy car racing, work on t...

Photo Credit: Chris Owens/IMS The 108th running of the Indianapolis 500 was destined to provide a Memorial Day weekend worth remembering in the United States. Not even a long anticipated rain shower was enough to bring silence the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday. Showers did press the green flag back from its usual early afternoon start close to 4:45 pm eastern time but the sounds of Chevrolet and Honda engines propelling Dallara race cars did fill the air.  Among the 33 competitors starting the 2024 Indianapolis 500 was NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson driving for Arrow McLaren. Larson had planned to compete for 1,100 miles during Sunday as he would have run 500 miles at Indianapolis before boarding a private jet to Charlotte, North Carolina to drive his familiar #5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro in the Coca-Cola 600. The temptation to run the prestigious event on the yard of bricks was just too much for Larson causing him to remain at the track.  ...

Photo Credit; Chris Owens/IMS   NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson will pursue a motorsport feat many now term “The Double” by competing in two major events during the United States’ Memorial Day weekend. In addition to his regular duties driving the #5 Chevrolet Camaro for Hendrick Motorsports in the Cup series’ longest distance event, the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Larson will be involved in the 108th running of the Indianapolis 500. He will be driving the #17 Arrow McLaren fielded entry for his first IndyCar Series outing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Kyle Larson is set to become the fifth driver in 30 years to complete the task. Not only did Larson secure a spot inside the 33-car grid for the Indy 500 but made a spirited run for the front row and even the pole during Sunday qualifying at the 2.5-mile speedway. His effort would ultimately result in an impressive fifth place starting spot for the #17 car. Scheduled to run in NASCAR’s All-Star race at No...