DRIVEN TO DRIVE

GP of Toronto - 2007

I recall the excitement when the Indy Cars, under the sanctioning body of Championship Automobile Racing Teams (CART), first came to Toronto – it was 1986. Yes, there were other Indy Car races run in Canada prior to then, but this one was in the streets of Toronto. Actually most of the temporary track was within the compounds of the CNE grounds, but who cared – it was a race in the city.

I went to that race. The excitement mounted exponentially the closer we got to the CNE grounds, and once inside the gates, the sounds of engines screaming at maximum revs, the smell of tires and burnt fuel, the contagion of excited fans – it was all we could bear.  All our senses were alive and working to the limit.

What a wonderful event. Bobby Rahal won. I didn’t know who Bobby Rahal was at the time.  I didn’t care. All that seemed to matter was, someone called Bobby Rahal won the first INDY Car race in Toronto. I was hooked.

Back then, the series had a life of its own.  In those early days the series had three sources of drivers, the up-and-coming young bloods that had been groomed in the support series – drivers like Canadian Greg Moore who came in from the INDY Lights series. There were those following a family tradition such as the Andrettis, the Unsers and Mears, and thirdly, there were a host of ex-Formula 1 drivers – drivers such as Teo Fabi, Nigel Mansell and Alex Zanardi to name but a few. But sadly, in 1996 when the series split into IRL and Champ Cars, so did the interest. In 2007, the year of the last Champ Car series to run in Toronto, there were 12, almost lonely, cars sitting on the starting grid, and the grandstands were less than crammed full.  The media hyped it up and the field of cars tried to look exciting, but everyone knew the thrill had gone.

There was no race in 2008 in Toronto. Perhaps this was a good thing. Sometimes we need a break, a hiatus, a period to reflect, a time to gather our thoughts and rekindle our enthusiasm. As the saying goes – absence makes the heart grow fonder.

As in life, things change.  Sometimes new things come along – sometimes things emerge from the ashes – whatever.  Once again there will be racing in the streets of Toronto as the INDY returns with what promises to be a full field, with teams and drivers the racing fans have come to know, love and support. Who knows – 2009 may very well prove to be 1986 all over again.

Go to HONDA Indy Toronto for more details.