Toronto -- Dario Franchitti, points leader of the IZOD IndyCar Series, was crowned today champion of the 2011 Honda Indy Toronto. The victory, his third on the streets of Toronto and 30th of his career, capped off a riveting race that included numerous passes, multiple melees and action from start to finish. Target Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Scott Dixon was 0.7345 of a second behind and Ryan Hunter-Reay was third.
“There was no shortage of excitement today,” said Charlie Johnstone, Vice President and General Manager of Honda Indy Toronto. “The race was a fitting climax to a wonderful weekend.”
The Canadian contingent of Paul Tracy, Alex Tagliani and rookie James Hinchcliffe finished 16th, 23rd and 14threspectively.
Four additional support series joined the marquee event to complement a full weekend of racing. Stefan Wilson, younger brother of IZOD IndyCar Series driver Justin Wilson, gained his first win in Firestone Indy Lights. The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, Castrol Touring Car Championship and Ferrari Challenge added to the diversity of racing over the weekend.
“We could not have asked for a better way to celebrate 25 years of racing on the streets of Toronto,” said Johnstone. “We are confident that the next quarter of a century will bring a growing amount of entertainment and satisfaction for our core race fans, growing customer base, sponsors, partners in the racing community and general public. There is indeed progress on all accounts.”
For the second year in a row, Ontario Honda Dealers Association presented Free Friday, an innovative community-driven program through which the association underwrites the cost of admission to the first day of racing – a boon and blessing for families and race fans who ordinarily might not have the chance to attend a world-class motorsport event. Fans and families flocked to the track to enjoy a festival-like atmosphere that offered more activities than any edition of the event in the past five years. Spectators were invited to make a donation to Make-a-Wish Canada in lieu of admission, a call that helped to raise nearly $17,000 with a promise of matching funds from Honda Canada.
About Honda Indy Toronto
The Honda Indy Toronto takes place on the streets surrounding Exhibition Place near Lake Ontario and downtown Toronto. With 25 years of Indy car racing history in Toronto, the Honda Indy Toronto is among the most respected motorsports events in North America and includes the fastest racing series on the planet, celebrity athletes, and a week-long festival of live entertainment and interactive activities. For more information, visit hondaindytoronto.com.
About the Ontario Honda Dealers Association
The Ontario Honda Dealers Association, which was founded in 1989, represents 78 Honda dealers located in 62 communities throughout Ontario, which is home to the two Honda of Canada Mfg. assembly plants that produce Civic, Canada's number one selling car, in addition to the Acura MDX, ZDX and CSX. The 78 Honda dealerships in Ontario, which have a proven track record for providing maximum customer satisfaction, employ approximately 3,000 associates.
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