The inaugural Ontario Honda Dealers Indy event in Markham experienced a setback at the starting line. The first day of practice and qualifying for the only IndyCar race in Canada had to be canceled on Friday because the track construction was not finished, preventing officials from conducting a final safety inspection. Organizers are planning to fit all the missed track sessions from the first day into Saturday’s schedule.
Markham is hosting the event for the first time this year after it was relocated from Toronto’s Exhibition Place, where it had taken place since its inception in 1986. IndyCar President J. Douglas Boles expressed disappointment in a statement, citing the delay in completing the track build despite support from the IndyCar team.
Veteran race attendees Mark Coburn from Kitchener, Ont., and Scott Stobo from Waterloo, Ont., who have been coming to the event for two decades, drove to Markham on Friday morning. Coburn mentioned it was both “good and bad” that the practice and qualifying sessions were postponed, emphasizing the importance of ensuring a safe track for all participants.
The move to Markham from downtown Toronto was announced by IndyCar and the City of Markham last September. The temporary circuit, constructed for the first time this week, spans between Kennedy Road, Enterprise Boulevard, the Unionville GO tracks, and Highway 407. Several features, such as a pedestrian bridge over Enterprise Boulevard and safety fencing modifications for marshals, remained incomplete.
The Ontario government invested $1.5 million in the event in late July, with an additional $3.5 million contributed by the federal government four days later. Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti confirmed substantial capital spending on the race, exceeding $12 million, primarily for infrastructure upgrades.
Friday attendance at the IndyCar event was free, with donations encouraged for the Make-A-Wish Foundation instead of ticket purchases. Despite the hot weather, thousands of fans gathered around the Markham track. Off-track activities, including driver autograph sessions, proceeded as scheduled.
Saturday’s schedule will be packed, with IndyCar conducting practice sessions and qualifying rounds. The qualifying will follow the traditional road course knockout format due to time constraints. Boles expressed confidence in the track’s potential, thanking the city of Markham for its support in providing a fast and technical layout for the upcoming races.
In addition to IndyCar, other races including the USF2000 Championship, USF Pro 2000, Radical Cup Canada, and NASCAR Canada Series will take place on the road course over the weekend. Stobo remarked that after the day’s experiences, they may not return for future events.