Why are people walking on the race track during the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy of Markham? Because the event didn’t even happen—at least not Day 1 which was Free Fan Friday.
At 8am, the Demaras family (like thousands of other families) tuned in to Breakfast Television to see the roving reporter live from the track. There was Markham’s excitable Mayor, Frank Scarpitti, giving sound bites about how the IndyCar race would be the biggest event in Markham’s history, and calling his town the fastest growing city in York Region. Very cute, Frank.
You know what the Mayor didn’t say? That the track wasn’t ready. That portions of the barriers hadn’t been constructed yet. That both IndyCar and the FIA still had to inspect the track for safety, and that it was not a slam dunk for a new track to get homologated.
Nope, Mayor Frank smiled and told everyone to come down to the makeshift street circuit in “downtown” Markham even though there was a very good chance that no cars would run on Friday. Seems a bit of honesty from a politician was just too much to ask.
When the realization set in that we’d been duped, Daniel demanded that everyone keep a positive attitude. Knowing his father has such disdain for the town of Markham (the suburb Chris was imprisoned in during his teenage years) someone had to stop the negativity before it started. Daniel quickly reminded his father and sister that a bad day at the race track is better than a good day at work. This statement would be put to the test!
Funny thing is that since there was no on-track activity, and drivers didn’t have any media or sponsor obligations —remember, they were scheduled to be on track—there was plenty of time to talk to fans.
The Demaras Racing family got a chance to chat with team owner and Indy 500 racer Ed Carpenter. Young racer Mick Schumacher —son of F1 legend Schumi— was very popular with fans who lined up for his autograph. And outside the Andretti Global IndyCar team tent, Michelle and Daniel met Indy 500 winner and all-around nice guy Markus Ericsson.
Of course, the star of the show was family favourite and all around racing hero Will Power, now driving the No. 26 TWG AI Dallara-Honda for the famous Andretti team.
Who knows if Will actually recognizes the Demaras family after all these years. Everyone is older and more mature, plus the guy meets thousands of fans every weekend. But it’s unlikely too many people have given Power glow-in the dark LED drumsticks. After a little chat about the chance of rain on Sunday, Will scootered off to the team paddock.
Communication from the Honda Indy of Markham wasn’t impressive. At noon, they announced that on-track action would be delayed until 3:00 pm, which was the originally scheduled practice slot for the IndyCars. Anyone interested in watching junior series like USF2000, or our own top-level professionals in the NASCAR Canada Series, would have to wait until Saturday.
But at least the Big Show would go on, right? The IndyCars would be screaming down Enterprise Blvd, passing under the GO Train?
The teams didn’t seem to believe it. The cars sat in the paddock, never being fired up. The crew was ready, but not exactly on high-alert to start moving down to pit lane. And just one look at the track told the obvious truth; heavy equipment was still out there hauling barriers and bundles of tires to high speed corners.
Clearly, series veteran Will Power didn’t believe it either. Just sitting on the sidepod of his No. 26 race car while wearing casual black jeans —not a fire suit.
At 3:00 pm, officials announced that the track was nearly complete, and that the IndyCars would run at 6:05 pm. Over the P.A. system they asked people to stick around for a couple more hours. On social media, drivers posts thanked race fans for being so patient. But it was all BS. Tire bundles were being trucked in from Mosport.
Apparently 11 months and 11 days just wasn’t enough time for the Town of Markham and event promoter Green Savoree Racing to actually finish the race track. And what made this situation worse is that the Friday of the IndyCar weekend in Toronto is always a free admission day, allowing casual race fans, or those who may never have been to a professional auto race, to see it up close. All those people left disappointed.
The closest anyone came to actual open-wheel racing was sitting in the No. 06 Hertz Rent-A-Car sponsored Formula 1200 car, like the one Daniel raced in from 2022 to 2024.
By the time everyone got home, the sun was setting, and people realized they got scammed. Attendees expressed their anger online, noting that the “Fan Fest” was essentially reduced to a collection of corporate booths and video game sim rigs.
The local TV news had a field day, pointing the finger at the race promoter for not finishing the track, but the race promoter blamed the construction company, who in turn blamed the town of Markham for not allowing them to begin work on portions of the track until Wednesday.
All in all Friday was a disaster —a real black eye for IndyCar racing— no matter who was truly to blame.
Nice piece as always. I am looking forward to cars in DC. The people who call Washington their home will never see anything like this again. Everyone is excited!
Yup. We’re watching the DC practice and qualifying. It’s a unique event we doubt will EVER be seen again.
I know right. What fun for so many who would never get to the Indy 500.
In Toronto, the urbanites appetite for motor racing is ZERO and we actually let the big race leave for the suburbs. I would be surprised in many DC types will like what they see.
It’s not very fossil-fuel friendly.
lol oh that side maybe but the paper said this before the official head count lol
IndyCar fans were enthusiastic about the historic D.C. race, indicating strong turnout from both local residents and visitors
. This enthusiasm suggests the race attracted a significant number of spectators, though no official headcount was published in the available reports.
I am sorry, Chris, that you don’t have good memories of Markham, but for me, it was our hometown for 5 years during the Ontario chapter of our Canadian adventure, and I love the city. Naturally, I was very excited when I heard the Honda 500 was transferred there.
It’s a shame the free Friday didn’t happen, but I believe they will get it right next year.
Great reading, as always.