Grand Prix of Toronto

Last updated

Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto
OHD-INDY Logo.png
Toronto, Ontario street circuit track map 2023.svg
NTT IndyCar Series
Location Exhibition Place
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
43°38′14″N79°24′56″W / 43.63722°N 79.41556°W / 43.63722; -79.41556
Corporate sponsor Ontario Honda Dealers
First race1986
First ICS race2009
Laps90
Previous namesMolson Indy Toronto (1986–2005)
Molson Grand Prix of Toronto (2006)
Steelback Grand Prix of Toronto (2007)
Honda Indy Toronto (2009-2023)
Most wins (driver) Michael Andretti (7)
Most wins (team) Newman/Haas Racing (7)
Most wins (manufacturer)Chassis: Dallara (15)
Engine: Chevrolet (13)
Circuit information
SurfaceAsphalt/Concrete
Length2.874 km (1.786 mi)
Turns11
Lap record0:58.806 ( Flag of Brazil.svg Cristiano da Matta, Lola B02/00, 2002, CART)

The Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto is an annual Indy Car race, held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Originally known as the Molson Indy Toronto, it was part of the Champ Car World Series from 1986 to 2007. After a one-year hiatus, it has been part of the NTT IndyCar Series schedule since 2009. The race takes place on a 2.874 km (1.786 mi), 11 turn, temporary street circuit through Exhibition Place and on Lake Shore Boulevard. Toronto is classified as an FIA Grade Two circuit. [1]

Contents

It is IndyCar's second-longest running street race, only behind the Grand Prix of Long Beach [2] and is the third oldest race on the current schedule (tied with the Mid-Ohio 200) in terms of number of races run. [3] The Toronto Indy is one of seven Canadian circuits to have held an IndyCar race, the others being Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Mont-Tremblant, Sanair, Montreal, Vancouver, and Edmonton.

Origins

Motorsport and automobile demonstrations has a history at Exhibition Place going back over 100 years. [4] [5] Automotive shows, displays, races and driving demonstrations have taken place on the grounds since the invention of the automobile, including the first appearance of an indy car, the 1916 Indianapolis 500 winning Peugeot during the 1918 Canadian National Exhibition. [6]

2003 Molson Indy pit lane and front straight. 2003 Molson Indy Toronto.jpg
2003 Molson Indy pit lane and front straight.

From 1952 until 1966 the grandstand hosted stock car racing on a paved quarter mile circuit on Friday nights and Sunday afternoons, hosting crowds upwards of 20,000 often broadcast live on CBC in Toronto. [7] [8] In 1958 the venue hosted a NASCAR Cup Series race, the Jim Mideon 500. The race was the first of Richard Petty's 1,184 starts in NASCAR and was won by his father Lee Petty.

Following the 1977 Formula One Canadian Grand Prix, Labatt, the sponsor who held the rights to F1 racing in Canada at the time, as well as the owners of Mosport Park revived the proposal to move the race to Exhibition Place after the FIA deemed Mosport as an unsuitable host facility going forward. [9] Toronto city council turned down the proposal by a margin of two votes and within a few hours, Montreal mayor Jean Drapeau had negotiated with Labatt to move the race permanently to Montreal. [10] [11] [12]

In 1984, Molson Breweries in-house promotional division, Molstar Sports & Entertainment acquired the rights to CART sanctioned IndyCar races in Canada and ran the first Molson Indy at the Sanair Speedway outside Montreal. The tight tri-oval was unpopular with the CART teams in part due to a severe injury to Rick Mears during the first event. [13] In the spring of 1985, Molson revived the idea of a street circuit through Exhibition Place in Toronto for a third time. Toronto City Council approved the race by two votes in July 1985 for the race to be held the following year. [14]

Race history

The first Molson Indy Toronto was won by Bobby Rahal on July 20, 1986. The event quickly became Canada's second largest annual sporting event, eclipsed only by the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, with three-day attendance figures routinely around 170,000 people. [15]

Time trials for the 2013 race.

In the 1996 race, American driver Jeff Krosnoff was killed in a crash with 4 laps remaining. In that same crash, volunteer corner marshal Gary Avrin was killed, and marshal Barbara Johnston also received injuries in the crash; she was treated and released that evening. Adrián Fernández won the race.

The name of the race was changed in 2006 from the Molson Indy Toronto to the Molson Grand Prix of Toronto after it was purchased by the Champ Car World Series from Molstar Sports and Entertainment. The name was also changed to distance Champ Car from the rival Indy Racing League (IRL), which had gained the exclusive right to use the "Indy" name after 2002. In 2007, after Molson dropped their title sponsorship to the race, Steelback Brewery signed a multi-year, multimillion-dollar deal to become the event's title sponsor, renaming it the Steelback Grand Prix of Toronto. This marked the first title sponsorship change since the event started in 1986.

The unification of Champ Car and the Indy Racing League was announced on February 22, 2008, and the Grand Prix of Toronto's future was left in doubt. After attempts were made to preserve the race for 2008, it was confirmed on March 5, 2008, that the race had been cancelled. On May 15, 2008, Andretti Green Racing (co-owned by Michael Andretti) purchased the assets of the former Grand Prix of Toronto. [16] On July 30, 2008, it was confirmed that the race would return to Toronto on July 12, 2009. [17] On September 18, 2008, Andretti Green Racing announced that it had signed a multi-year agreement with Honda Canada Inc. for the title sponsorship of the race, henceforth named from 2009 onward as the Honda Indy Toronto. [18]

Looking towards the Direct Energy Centre during the 2013 race. Team Penske pits are at the bottom of the image. 2013 Honda Indy Toronto Exhibition Place.jpg
Looking towards the Direct Energy Centre during the 2013 race. Team Penske pits are at the bottom of the image.

In 2013, the race weekend was changed to a 2 race format with one race Saturday and one race Sunday. The Saturday race would feature a standing start while the Sunday race would be a rolling start. After an aborted standing start Saturday leading to a rolling start, teams and officials agreed to try the standing start again Sunday. The Sunday standing start was successful on its first attempt and was the first successful standing start in unified IndyCar series history (the Champ Car World Series had used standing starts late in its history shortly before unification). In 2014, weather forced both races to be run Sunday, exposing the difficulty in logistics of running two races in an already packed schedule. By 2015, both standing starts and the two race format were abandoned.

In 2016, the track layout was modified to accommodate the newly constructed Hotel X Toronto. Under the new layout, the pit lane was moved to the opposite side of the race course, starting at the outside of turn 9 and exiting just after turn 11. This, in turn, made turn 11 a sharper turn than it had been in the previous configuration. [19]

Michael Andretti is the all-time race win leader with seven victories.

The 2020 and 2021 editions of the event were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario, marking the second gap in the race's history. This came due to the restrictions that were in place barring non-essential travel at the Canada–United States border (as most IndyCar Series races are within the United States) and after Mayor John Tory announced that all mass public gatherings were banned throughout the summers of 2020 and 2021 respectively in response to the pandemic. [20] [21]

Following the cancellation of the 2020 race, a new three-year agreement was reached in September 2020 between Exhibition Place and Green Savoree Toronto to host the event through 2023. [22]

On March 14, 2024 it was announced that the new title partner of the race would be the Ontario Honda Dealers, changing the name to the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto. [23]

Past winners

SeasonDateDriverTeamChassisEngineRace distanceRace timeAverage speed
(mph)
Report
LapsMiles (km)
CART IndyCar / Champ Car
1986 July 20 Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Rahal Truesports March Cosworth 103183.34 (295.057)2:05:5087.414 Report
1987 July 19 Flag of Brazil.svg Emerson Fittipaldi Patrick Racing March Chevrolet-Ilmor 103183.34 (295.057)1:54:3595.991 Report
1988 July 17 Flag of the United States.svg Al Unser Jr. Galles Racing March Chevrolet-Ilmor 103183.34 (295.057)1:59:3491.994 Report
1989 July 23 Flag of the United States.svg Michael Andretti Newman/Haas Racing Lola Chevrolet-Ilmor 103183.34 (295.057)2:01:0090.9 Report
1990 July 22 Flag of the United States.svg Al Unser Jr. Galles/KRACO Racing Lola Chevrolet-Ilmor 94*167.32 (269.275)2:13:2675.997 Report
1991 July 21 Flag of the United States.svg Michael Andretti Newman/Haas Racing Lola Chevrolet-Ilmor 103183.34 (295.057)1:50:5799.143 Report
1992 July 19 Flag of the United States.svg Michael Andretti Newman/Haas Racing Lola Ford-Cosworth 103183.34 (295.057)1:52:2197.898 Report
1993 July 18 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Paul Tracy Penske Racing Penske Chevrolet-Ilmor 103183.34 (295.057)1:53:5896.51 Report
1994 July 17 Flag of the United States.svg Michael Andretti Chip Ganassi Racing Reynard Ford-Cosworth 98174.44 (280.733)1:48:1596.673 Report
1995 July 16 Flag of the United States.svg Michael Andretti Newman/Haas Racing Lola Ford-Cosworth 98174.44 (280.733)1:50:2594.787 Report
1996 July 14 Flag of Mexico.svg Adrian Fernandez Tasman Motorsports Lola Honda 93*165.912 (267.009)1:41:5997.548 Report
1997 July 20 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Mark Blundell PacWest Racing Reynard Mercedes-Benz 95163.495 (263.119)1:45:4392.779 Report
1998 July 19 Flag of Italy.svg Alex Zanardi Chip Ganassi Racing Reynard Honda 95163.495 (263.119)1:52:2487.274 Report
1999 July 18 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dario Franchitti Team Green Reynard Honda 95166.725 (268.317)1:56:2785.897 Report
2000 July 16 Flag of the United States.svg Michael Andretti Newman/Haas Racing Lola Ford-Cosworth 112196.56 (316.332)2:00:0298.248 Report
2001 July 15 Flag of the United States.svg Michael Andretti Team Green Reynard Honda 95166.725 (268.317)1:59:5883.375 Report
2002 July 7 Flag of Brazil.svg Cristiano da Matta Newman/Haas Racing Lola Toyota 112196.56 (316.332)2:06:1993.361 Report
2003 July 13 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Paul Tracy Forsythe Racing Lola Ford-Cosworth 112196.56 (316.332)2:02:3696.189 Report
2004 July 11 Flag of France.svg Sébastien Bourdais Newman/Haas Racing Lola Ford-Cosworth 84147.42 (237.249)1:45:3683.749 Report
2005 July 10 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Justin Wilson RuSPORT Lola Ford-Cosworth 86150.93 (242.898)1:46:1085.296 Report
2006 July 9 Flag of the United States.svg A. J. Allmendinger Forsythe Racing Lola Ford-Cosworth 86150.93 (242.898)1:38:0192.386 Report
2007 July 8 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Will Power Walker Racing Panoz Cosworth 73128.115 (206.181)1:45:5872.534 Report
2008 Race cancelled following reunification of Champ Car and IRL.
IndyCar Series
2009 July 12 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dario Franchitti Chip Ganassi Racing Dallara Honda 85149.175 (240.073)1:43:4786.24 Report
2010 July 18 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Will Power Penske Racing Dallara Honda 85149.175 (240.073)1:47:1583.451 Report
2011 July 10 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dario Franchitti Chip Ganassi Racing Dallara Honda 85149.175 (240.073)1:56:3276.805 Report
2012 July 8 Flag of the United States.svg Ryan Hunter-Reay Andretti Autosport Dallara Chevrolet 85149.175 (240.073)1:33:2795.787 Report
2013 July 13 Flag of New Zealand.svg Scott Dixon Chip Ganassi Racing Dallara Honda 85149.175 (240.073)1:41:1788.37 Report
July 14 Flag of New Zealand.svg Scott Dixon Chip Ganassi Racing Dallara Honda 85149.175 (240.073)1:35:0294.177
2014 July 20* Flag of France.svg Sébastien Bourdais KV Racing Technology Dallara Chevrolet 65*114.075 (183.585)1:15:4490.37 Report
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Mike Conway Ed Carpenter Racing Dallara Chevrolet 56*98.28 (158.166)1:20:3673.168
2015*June 14 Flag of the United States.svg Josef Newgarden CFH Racing Dallara Chevrolet 85149.175 (240.073)1:39:0090.41 Report
2016 July 17 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Will Power Team Penske Dallara Chevrolet 85151.81 (244.314)1:42:3988.739 Report
2017 July 16 Flag of the United States.svg Josef Newgarden Team Penske Dallara Chevrolet 85151.81 (244.314)1:35:0595.79 Report
2018 July 15 Flag of New Zealand.svg Scott Dixon Chip Ganassi Racing Dallara Honda 85151.81 (244.314)1:37:0093.898 Report
2019 July 14 Flag of France.svg Simon Pagenaud Team Penske Dallara Chevrolet 85151.81 (244.314)1:30:16100.9 Report
2020 July 12Race cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2021 July 11
2022 July 17 Flag of New Zealand.svg Scott Dixon Chip Ganassi Racing Dallara Honda 85151.81 (244.314)1:38:4592.234 Report
2023 July 16 Flag of Denmark.svg Christian Lundgaard Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Dallara Honda 85151.81 (244.31)1:41:5589.361 Report
1997 Molson Indy Toronto 1997 Toronto Molson Indy.jpg
1997 Molson Indy Toronto

Support race winners

Road to Indy

SCCA Trans-Am Series

YearWinning driverCarRef
1993 Flag of the United States.svg Scott Sharp Chevrolet Camaro [24]
1994 Flag of the United States.svg Tommy Kendall Ford Mustang [25]
2004 Flag of Puerto Rico.svg Jorge Diaz, Jr. Jaguar XKR [26]
2005 Flag of the United States.svg Paul Gentilozzi Jaguar XKR [27]
2010 Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg R. J. Lopez Chevrolet Corvette [28]

Pirelli World Challenge – GT

SeasonWinning driverCar
2007 Flag of the United States.svg Randy Pobst Porsche 911 GT3
2010 Flag of the United States.svg Randy Pobst (GT)
Flag of the United States.svg Peter Cunningham (GTS)
Volvo S60
Acura TSX
2013 Flag of the United States.svg Johnny O'Connell (GT)
Flag of the United States.svg Lawson Aschenbach (GTS)
Cadillac CTS-V
Chevrolet Camaro
2014 Race 1
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Nick Tandy (GT)
Flag of Brazil.svg Marcelo Hahn (GTA)
Flag of the United States.svg Dean Martin (GTS)
Porsche 911 GT3 R
Lamborghini Gallardo GT3
Ford Mustang Boss 302S
Race 2
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Kuno Wittmer (GT)
Flag of the United States.svg Michael Mills (GTA)
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Mark Wilkins (GTS)
Dodge Viper SRT GT3-R
Porsche 911 GT3 R
Kia Optima

Pirelli World Challenge – Touring Car

SeasonWinning driverCar
2007 Flag of the United States.svg Peter Cunningham Acura
2010 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Nick Wittmer Honda Civic Si
2013 Race 1
Flag of the United States.svg Michael Cooper (TC)
Flag of the United States.svg Joel Lipperini (TCB)
Mazdaspeed 3
Honda Fit
Race 2
Flag of the United States.svg Michael Cooper (TC)
Flag of the United States.svg Ernie Francis Jr. (TCB)
Mazdaspeed 3
Mazda 2

CASCAR Super Series

YearRace nameWinnerCarRef
1999Miller Lite 100 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Robin BuckPontiac [29]
2000Exide 99 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Kevin DowlerFord [30]
2001 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Robin BuckPontiac [31]
2002CASCAR Toronto Indy, presented by NAPA Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Kevin DowlerFord [32]
2003Avenue ACDelco 100 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Jeff LapcevichChevrolet [33]
2004CASCAR Toronto Indy 100 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Jeff LapcevichChevrolet [34]
2005ATTO 100 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Kerry Micks Ford [35]

NASCAR Pinty's Series

The Indy Toronto circuit is based around Exhibition Place, but the heritage of NASCAR and Exhibition Place dates considerably earlier than the 2010 Canadian Tire Series round at Indy Toronto. In 1958, the 31st round of NASCAR's Grand National (now Cup Series) championship was held at the third Exhibition Stadium (located on the site of BMO Field). That race marked the Cup debut of Richard Petty.

Ron Beauchamp, Jr. practicing for the 2010 Jumpstart 100 Ron Beauchamp Jr 60 Dodge Toronto 2010.jpg
Ron Beauchamp, Jr. practicing for the 2010 Jumpstart 100
YearRace nameWinnerCarRef
2010 Jumpstart 100 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Andrew Ranger Dodge [36]
2011 Streets of Toronto 100 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Andrew Ranger Dodge [37]
2016 Pinty's Grand Prix of Toronto Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Alex Tagliani Chevrolet [38]
2017 Pinty's Grand Prix of Toronto Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Kevin Lacroix Dodge [39]
2018 Pinty's Grand Prix of Toronto Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Andrew Ranger Dodge [40]
2019 Pinty's Grand Prix of Toronto Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Alex Tagliani Chevrolet [41]
2020 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2021
2022 Grand Prix of Toronto Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Kevin Lacroix Dodge [42]
2023 Tiffany Gate Grand Prix of Toronto Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Alex Tagliani Chevrolet [43]

Stadium Super Trucks

Stadium Super Truck racing at Toronto in 2016
YearWinnerRef
2013 Flag of the United States.svg Justin Lofton [44]
Flag of the United States.svg Sheldon Creed
2014 Flag of the United States.svg Sheldon Creed [45]
Flag of the United States.svg Sheldon Creed
2015 Flag of the United States.svg Scotty Steele [46]
Flag of the United States.svg Keegan Kincaid [47]
2016 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Matthew Brabham [48]
Flag of the United States.svg Sheldon Creed
2019 Flag of the United States.svg Cole Potts [49]
Flag of the United States.svg Gavin Harlien
2020 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lap Records

As of July 2023, the fastest official race lap records at the Grand Prix of Toronto (Exhibition Place) are listed as:

CategoryTimeDriverVehicleEvent
Second Grand Prix Circuit: 2.824 km (1996–present) [50]
CART 0:58.806 [51] Cristiano da Matta Lola B02/00 2002 Molson Indy Toronto
IndyCar 0:59.7140 [52] Will Power Dallara DW12 2018 Honda Indy Toronto
Indy Lights 1:04.0124 [53] Esteban Guerrieri Dallara IPS 2011 Toronto 100
Formula Atlantic 1:05.487 [54] Graham Rahal Swift 016.a 2006 Toronto Formula Atlantic round
Indy Pro 2000 1:07.0213 [55] Rasmus Lindh Tatuus PM-18 2019 Indy Pro 2000 Grand Prix of Toronto
US F2000 1:10.9853 [56] Rasmus Lindh Tatuus USF-17 2018 US F2000 Grand Prix of Toronto
Porsche Carrera Cup 1:11.501 [57] Trenton Estep Porsche 911 (992) GT3 Cup 2022 Toronto Porsche Carrera Cup North America round
Trans-Am 1:12.149 [58] Paul Gentilozzi Jaguar XKR 2004 Toronto Trans-Am round
Radical Cup 1:14.042 [59] Jon Field Radical SR3 SRX 2023 Toronto Radical Cup North America round
Super Touring 1:15.599 [60] Randy Pobst Honda Accord 1996 Toronto NATCC round
GT4 1:16.730 [61] Charles Robin Mercedes-AMG GT4 2022 Toronto Sports Car Championship Canada round
TCR Touring Car 1:17.473 [62] Richard Boake Audi RS 3 LMS TCR 2023 Toronto Sports Car Championship Canada round
F1600 1:18.440 [63] Edouard Aube EuroSwift SC92 1998 Toronto Canadian F1600 round
Mazda MX-5 Cup 1:24.7092 [64] Matt Cresci Mazda MX-5 (ND) 2017 Toronto Mazda MX-5 Cup round
Original Grand Prix Circuit: 2.871 km (1986–1995) [50]
CART 0:58.830 [65] Bobby Rahal Lola T95/00 1995 Molson Indy Toronto
Indy Lights 1:03.799 [66] Robbie Buhl Lola T93/20 1995 Toronto Indy Lights round
Trans-Am 1:10.553 [67] Scott Pruett Chevrolet Camaro 1994 Toronto Trans-Am round

Current series

Former series

Besides the main event, Honda Indy Toronto also holds races of lower levels before. These are known as support series. A variety of racing series have previously run as support series on the race weekend. These include: [68]

Charities

During the tenure of Molson's original race ownership, the Molson Indy Festival Foundation hosted various fundraising events in the city in the week leading up to the race week. As of 2004 the foundation had donated $5.6 million towards community groups and charitable organizations. [69]

In 2010 the race introduced the annual Fan Fridays to the race weekend. In lieu of paid admission, attendees are encouraged to make a contribution to the Make-A-Wish Foundation upon entering the grounds. [70] The initiative has raised $820,000 as of 2019 for the organization dedicated to granting wishes for children with critical illnesses. [71] [72]

Race day attendance

YearAttendance
198660,000
198764,000
198859,155
198961,156
199064,245
199161,264
199265,094
199366,225
199466,503
199568,238
200072,976
200173,628
200273,160
200373,255 [73]
200472,561
200573,155
2006
2007
2008Not held
200915,000 est. [74]
2010
201125,000 est [75]

See also

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The Clarington 200 is a NASCAR Pinty's Series stock car race held twice annually at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada. In previous seasons, one race would take place on the facility's 3.957 km (2.459 mi) road course and one race taking place on the facility's now-closed 0.805 km (0.500 mi) oval speedway. It has been part of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series in every season since 2007. Previous editions of the race have belonged to the USAC Stock Car division, the ASA National Tour and the CASCAR Super Series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Honda Indy Toronto</span> Motor car race

The 2016 Honda Indy Toronto was a scheduled open-wheel motorsport event held at Exhibition Place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on the weekend of July 15–17, 2016. The event marked the 30th annual edition of the Toronto Indy, and the twelfth round of the 2016 Verizon IndyCar Series season. The race was the only event on the 2016 IndyCar season outside of the United States. The headline race was the 32nd IndyCar race to be held at the 1.755-mile (2.824 km) street circuit.

Cayden Lapcevich is a former NASCAR Pinty's Series driver who competed from 2015 to 2017. During his career, Lapcevich won the 2016 NASCAR Pinty's Series championship with three wins and was the "youngest champion ever in Canadian professional auto racing". During the 2016 season, Lapevich was named the Jostens Rookie of the Year. After winning three additional races in his final Pinty's season, Lapcevich was awarded the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame Rising Star Award in 2017. Outside of competing, Lapcevich was a crew chief for Andrew Ranger in 2022. Lapcevich is currently the crew chief for the No. 55 car for Venturini Motorsports in the ARCA Menards Series East.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Motorsport in Canada</span>

Motorsports are a popular physically demanding sport competed in many countries worldwide, including in Canada. One of the most internationally significant Canadian events is the Montreal Grand Prix, a race for the Formula One World Championship. Ongoing since 1967. Lance Stroll is the only Canadian competing in the series in 2024.

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Preceded by
Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio
IndyCar Series
Grand Prix of Toronto
Succeeded by
Iowa 250