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July 17, 2022
Toronto, Ontario – Jace Denmark continued his rich streak of form this morning on the streets around Exhibition Place in Toronto, Ont., Canada. The 18-year-old from Scottsdale, Ariz., remained in control – just – throughout an action-packed 20-lap Cooper Tires Grand Prix of Toronto but there was plenty of drama in his wake following a late full-course caution which set the scene for a one-lap dash to the checkered flag.
Myles Rowe, from New York, N.Y., looked set to extend his lead in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship by following in the wheel tracks of his Pabst Racing teammate, until his closest title rival, Michael d’Orlando (Cape Motorsports), from Hartsdale, N.Y., attempted a pass for second place in Turn Eight on the final lap. Heavy contact cost both contenders a podium finish and allowed DEForce Racing teammates Thomas Nepveu, from Oka, Que., Canada and Dylan Christie, from Princeton, N.J., to claim second and third.
Denmark started from the inside of the front row of the grid after earning his second Cooper Tires Pole Award in qualifying on Saturday morning. Fellow Scottsdale, Ariz., resident Jagger Jones lined up alongside on the front row with the top two championship protagonists, Rowe and d’Orlando, together on Row Two.
An aggressive move by Rowe saw him up into second place by the completion of the opening lap, but the top four remained virtually locked together as they inched clear of Nepveu in fifth.
Rowe attempted to make a pass for the lead at Turn Three on the 13th lap and when that was rebuffed, Jones saw an opportunity to challenge Rowe for second as they exited the tight hairpin turn. Unfortunately for Jones, slight contact with Rowe dislodged his car’s front wing, leaving him an ill-handling car for the remainder of the race.
The incident also served delay to d’Orlando, who proceeded to claim the fastest lap of the race as he strove to make up the deficit to the two Pabst cars.
Then came the final twist of the plot, when d’Orlando’s younger brother, Nicholas, crashed his Exclusive Autosport Tatuus USF-22 in Turn Five to bring out the caution flags.
The damage was cleared with enough time for one final lap of green-flag racing, and while the order at the top remained the same for much of the lap, d’Orlando glimpsed an opportunity under braking for Turn Eight and dived to the inside. The pair made heavy contact at the exit. Both were able to continue, although Nepveu and Christie took advantage of the melee to nip through into second and third.
Both DEForce teammates were delighted, with Nepveu taking his second podium finish of the season and his first in front of a Canadian crowd and Christie finally making his first trip to the podium. Christie also earned the Tilton Hard Charger Award after making up eight positions from 11th on the grid.
D’Orlando and Rowe were able to maintain fourth and fifth, with Jones hanging on in sixth, also with a damaged car.
Denmark’s impressive victory secured the eighth PFC Award of the year for Augie Pabst as the winning car owner. It also moved him into the thick of the title mix.
Just 25 points now separate the top three contenders with just one weekend of racing remaining on the schedule – a triple-header at Portland International Raceway, in Portland, Ore., in conjunction with the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, on September 2-4.
Provisional championship points after 15 of 18 races:
1. Myles Rowe, 346
2. Michael d’Orlando, 323
3. Jace Denmark, 321
4. Jagger Jones, 265
5. Billy Frazer, 229
6. Thomas Nepveu, 221
7. Bijoy Garg, 203
8. Christian Weir, 180
9. Nicky Hays, 172
10. Dylan Christie, 165
Jace Denmark (#23 Radford Racing School Metal Works-Pabst Racing Tatuus USF-22): “I’m really happy to get the win after everything that happened out there. It was a very high-stress race – even more so than usual. I’m glad to have gotten it done today, with calculated defending playing a big role. I lost it at the end yesterday so to come back today and get a win is helping us end the season on a high note with only three races remaining. I’m looking forward to Portland.”
Thomas Nepveu (#10 Cromwell/Karting Excellence/Home Hardware-DEForce Racing Tatuus USF-22): “It’s great to be on the podium for my home race in Canada. That was a great race. I got a bit lucky there at the end to finish on the podium, but I was super happy to stay out of trouble considering how many crashes there were during the race. I had good pace, it’s just really hard to pass here. I’m happy that we were able to put two DEForce cars on the podium after a tough Race One.”
Dylan Christie (#11 Stilo-DEForce Racing Tatuus USF-22): “I’m so happy with how this race went! The team has been working hard all weekend – and all season, of course. We finally had the car and my driving is going well. Even though we started back in 11th, we had the car and I had the driving to get us into P3. Massive thanks to DEForce for working so hard all weekend, even though qualifying didn’t go so well for us. They did all they could, as did I. With the car on rails, I was able to stay out of trouble and bring home the podium, I am so happy.”
Canadians In BOLD
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July 16, 2022
Toronto, Ontario – The Honda Indy Toronto is excited to announce Arkells frontman Max Kerman and lead guitarist Mike DeAngelis as the honorary grand marshals for tomorrow’s NTT INDYCAR SERIES race as it returns to the streets of Toronto for the first time since 2019.
As the grand marshals, Kerman and DeAngelis will announce the most famous words in motorsports, "Drivers, start your engines!" for the 85-lap race on the 11-turn, 2.874 kilometre (1.786-mile) temporary street circuit at Exhibition Place.
"Everything I’ve learned about cars I’ve learned from my bandmate, Mike D," said Kerman. "Back when we met at McMaster University, Mike spent most of his time on a Supercars web forum, and now he’s on the INDYCAR stage announcing the most famous words in motorsports."
"I’ll truly be making my automotive group-chat jealous this weekend," said DeAngelis. "It’ll be one for the books."
Arkells are widely considered one of the most passionate, exuberant and in-demand live bands working today. Their recent hometown concert event “The Rally” was a years-in-the-making extravaganza that yielded record breaking attendance. Arkells have remained ever present as they continue to release and tease new music in support of their chart-topping BLINK ONCE and hotly-anticipated BLINK TWICE companion albums, while touring internationally.
General Admission tickets for the weekend are still available with 2-Day Weekend General Admission tickets priced at $75. Single Day General Admission is $50 for Saturday and $60 for Sunday. Saturday’s on-track action includes NTT INDYCAR SERIES qualifying and races from four support series: Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship, Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires, Porsche Carrera Cup North America and Sports Car Championship Canada. On Sunday, fans can again enjoy races from the four support series with the green flag dropping on the NTT INDYCAR SERIES Honda Indy Toronto at 3:30 p.m. ET. Children 12 and under are admitted free (general admission) with a ticketed adult providing an exceptional family value.
About Honda Indy Toronto
Honda Indy Toronto is a world-class motorsports festival which takes place annually on a 2.874-kilometre, 11-turn temporary circuit using the streets surrounding Exhibition Place near Lake Ontario in downtown Toronto. The event features many attractions, food trucks, interactive displays and activities, and supports local charities. Honda Fan Friday offers general admission courtesy of the Ontario Honda Dealers Association through a voluntary donation. Over $820,000 has been raised in ten years for Make-A-Wish® Canada. As one of Ontario's largest annual sporting events with the first race held in 1986 first known as the Molson Indy, it has become a prestigious meeting place for some of the world’s fastest race car drivers including past NTT INDYCAR SERIES champions like Scott Dixon, Josef Newgarden, Simon Pagenaud and Will Power as well as Canadian racing greats Scott Goodyear, James Hinchcliffe, Greg Moore, Alex Tagliani, Paul Tracy, Jacques Villeneuve, Robert Wickens, and more. Canadians Dalton Kellett and Devlin DeFrancesco will be in this year’s starting field. Honda Indy Toronto is owned and operated by Green Savoree Toronto, ULC, whose affiliates also promote three additional INDYCAR races, Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding (Feb. 25-27, 2022), The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio (July 1-3, 2022), and Grand Prix of Portland (Sept. 2-4, 2022).
For more information, visit hondaindy.com, ‘like’ its Facebook page @HondaIndyToronto or follow the event on Twitter @HondaIndy and Instagram @HondaIndy using #indyTO.
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July 16, 2022
Toronto, Ontario – Myles Rowe was simply picture perfect this afternoon as the Atlanta, Ga., native romped to his fifth win of the year. Rowe extended his championship points lead with his seventh consecutive podium finish and brings his Pabst Racing team another step closer to its first driver’s title in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship. Crossing the finish line with a comfortable lead of 5.7 seconds over the field, Rowe had little pressure in an all-green flag race on the ultra-challenging 1.786-mile circuit held on the streets of Toronto.
Teammate Jace Denmark finished second to notch his seventh podium of the season with Jagger Jones of Cape Motorsports, a winner earlier in the season at Barber Motorsports Park, in third for Race One of the Cooper Tires Grand Prix of Toronto.
Rowe claimed his third Cooper Tires Pole Award of the year yesterday, but was subsequently issued a post-qualifying penalty of two grid spots for missing the entrance to pit lane and completing an additional lap after the checkered flag fell. That handed the prime starting spot to Denmark with Jones also moving up to slot in second.
Both Denmark and Jones held pace until Lap 3 when Rowe found his way to the front. He held off a brief challenge from Denmark but by Lap 5 had managed a gap of over a second which continued to grow as he settled in comfortably.
Michael d’Orlando of Cape Motorsports, who entered the weekend fresh off his third win of the season two weeks ago, finished fourth after a move on Jacob Douglas of Exclusive Autosport on the opening tour. The biggest mover of the race, however, was his brother, Nicholas d’Orlando, with a gain of three positions to finish ninth and claim the Tilton Hard Charger Award.
With a full bonus points hull for pole, laps led and fastest race lap and another PFC Award for team owner Augie Pabst, Rowe now holds a 26-point lead over d’Orlando.
Following a second qualifying session this morning, Denmark will start on pole for Race 2 of the Cooper Tires Grand Prix of Toronto at 9:45 am EDT tomorrow, followed by Jones, Rowe, d’Orlando and Billy Frazer of Exclusive Autosport.
Provisional championship points after 14 of 18 races:
1. Myles Rowe, 329
2. Michael d’Orlando, 303
3. Jace Denmark, 290
4. Jagger Jones, 250
5. Billy Frazer, 223
6. Bijoy Garg, 196
7. Thomas Nepveu, 196
8. Christian Weir, 168
9. Nicky Hays, 161
10. Spike Kohlbecker, 160.
Myles Rowe (#22 Penske Entertainment-Pabst Racing Tatuus USF-22): “The weekend is going really well right now – we’ve had good pace all weekend. We qualified first but unfortunately got a penalty for missing the pit lane but we made a good recovery. It’s awesome for the whole team to come back and recover to get the win. We qualified third for tomorrow’s race so the job is not done, but it’s a good start to this great weekend.”
Jace Denmark (#23 Radford Racing School Metal Works-Pabst Racing Tatuus USF-22): “It was great to lead the race for a few laps, but my teammate was able to get by. Small mistakes led up to losing the lead, but it’s a really good points day for Pabst Racing. I’m happy with the results but we’ll be going for one more step tomorrow.”
Jagger Jones (#3 Cape Motorsports Tatuus USF-22): “Solid finish in third. We didn’t get the great start we wanted so we were fighting from behind a bit. We need to work harder tonight and tomorrow to figure some things out – and hopefully we can have a bit more pace to run with the front guys. We’re starting second, so we’re all focused on getting the win tomorrow.”
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July 16, 2022
Toronto, Ontario – Louis Foster has taken another step forward in his quest for the Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires title with a flag-to-flag win by a 5.2 second margin in this afternoon’s L&W Supply Grand Prix of Toronto for his Canadian-owned Exclusive Autosport team.
This is the fifth win of the year for the driver who hails from Basingstoke, England, and has now become the first driver this season to win on each type of circuit – road, oval and street – on the 2022 schedule.
Enaam Ahmed, who is chasing his first win of the season for Juncos Hollinger Racing, finished second with Josh Green of Turn 3 Motorsport, who rebounded impressively from a heavy crash in the morning qualifying session, third.
Results
Foster continued his rich vein of form during qualifying on Friday afternoon when he posted the fastest time to clinch another Cooper Tires Pole Award, his third of the season. He held off Ahmed’s challenges at the start but that was short-lived when caution flags flew midway through the opening lap for a wing on the front straight from the #2 entry of Jonathan Browne of Exclusive Autosport.
The resulting single file restart was no problem for Foster as he continued to extend his gap while second through fifth battled nose to tail. Reece Gold (Juncos Hollinger Racing), Nolan Siegel (DEForce Racing) and Green were in the thick of the battle as Green managed to displace Siegel for fourth.
A second, brief caution on Lap 10 for Salvador De Alba (DEForce Racing), who found the tires in Turn Three, wiped clean the 4.9 second lead Foster had developed and the ensuing result gave Green the opportunity he needed to bump Gold from a podium finish.
With his victory today, Foster earns another PFC Award for team owner Michael Duncalfe and extra points for fastest race lap and most laps led bringing his tally to a 63-point lead over Gold in the standings.
Tomorrow’s L&W Supply Grand Prix of Toronto Race Two will see Foster again lead the field to the green flag following qualifying this morning with Siegel, Green, Gold and Jordan Missig (Pabst Racing) rounding out the top five. The action will get underway at 11:40 am EDT.
Provisional championship points after 13 of 18 rounds
1. Louis Foster, 315
2. Reece Gold, 252
3. Nolan Siegel, 244
4. Enaam Ahmed, 243
5. Josh Green, 231
6. Braden Eves, 218
7. Kiko Porto, 207
8. Salvador De Alba, 199
9. Jack William Miller, 179
10. Yuven Sundaramoorthy, 173.
Louis Foster (#90 Copart.com/Novara Technologies-Exclusive Autosport Tatuus PM-22): “Our pace on cold tires was better than everyone else’s so we were able to pull out a good lead early. The safety car bunched us up, but the car was great and we were able to stay out front. The team worked hard, as they always do, and I’m proud to bring them a win in their home country!
“It’s been a good stretch, these past five races. I think it just comes down to getting a feel for the tires and how to maximize them in qualifying – we’ve had strong race pace all year, but we didn’t get the results because of where we qualified. Once we’ve been in the lead, we’ve been able to drive away. But before this year, I’d never driven on an oval or on a street course. St. Pete was such a new experience but this weekend, I had so much more confidence coming in. You can’t make a mistake, it’s so unforgiving. The championship is obviously in my mind – we just have to make correct decisions in the races and be smart. But we’re starting on pole again tomorrow so we’ll be aiming for another win.”
Enaam Ahmed (#47 Clear Capital Market/The Support of Pakistan-Juncos Hollinger Racing Tatuus PM-22): “It seems as though these past two weekends – this one, and Mid-Ohio – Exclusive has really made a step forward and we haven’t quite had their pace. We’ve been good in qualifying, but I knew Louis would be fast and the only place I’d be able to get him would be on a restart. I pushed hard and was able to get alongside but it was just too difficult to pass. I tagged the wall in qualifying this morning so we’re starting seventh tomorrow, but I’m just going to focus on moving forward.”
Josh Green (#3 SessionGuardian/Zimperium-Turn 3 Motorsport Tatuus PM-22): “I have a wrap on my right hand so I don’t have a lot of grip in the middle of my hand, so the last sector – especially Turn 11, which is super high speed with a big load on the steering wheel – it was a bit difficult to get the car hooked up the whole way through. Those last five laps were a struggle, but I’m so proud of the Turn 3 guys. They made an awesome car, putting it back together quickly after this morning, so I know we’ll have something to fight with tomorrow. Bit of rest and some ice tonight!”
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July 15, 2022
Lakeville, Connecticut – Today is "N Day" the official day celebrating Hyundai's N performance line of vehicles. The BHA team honored N Day with an exclamation point, clinching the first two rows for tomorrow's Lime Rock 120 grid at Lime Rock Park.
Robert Wickens topped the charts, winning his first IMSA pole position and his first pole position driving with hand controls. It took just four laps for Wickens to set the pole winning time of 54.048 at 98.448 mph. His time was the fifth quickest overall, he outqaulified 18 competitors from the faster GS class. It's been a month full of firsts for Wickens and his teammate Mark Wilkins.
The pair won at Watkins Glen, their first win of the season and Wickens' first as a disabled racer. The following weekend, Wickens missed qualifying as he and his wife Karli welcomed their first child, Wesley Joseph. The next day Wickens arrived back at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park just in time to earn their second victory of the season, a joyous occasion for the Canadian driver pairing and their passionate fans on home turf. The win in Canada was all the more impressive as it came from the back as Wickens was forced to start last as a consequence for missing qualifying.
Wickens welcomes his front row start for tomorrow, "I'm happy, I pushed a lot, saving that left front which seems to be pretty important here, and I think I did a good job of that. Fortunately, we were able to set that time pretty quickly and then park it, great job to everyone at BHA. This place is awesome you really have to push here. Traffic will be an issue on such a small track, so I'm glad to start up front, and the #33 Hyundai #Elantra #N #TCR is dialed in!"
Parker Chase earned his season best qualifying result; he and co-driver Harry Gottsacker IV will start second in the #98 Elantra N TCR. The pair have one victory and one podium so far this season and are currently ranked third in the standings.
Rounding out the top-three, it was a great day for Michael Johnson in the #54 Universal Coating Elantra N TCR. The trailblazer for racing with hand controls, Johnson earned his best qualifying result of 2022 today at Lime Rock Park, the same track he and co-driver Stephen Simpson won at in 2018. Johnson's career best start was at Daytona in 2019 when he won the pole position.
2022 two-time pole winner, Mason Filippi will start fourth. His co-driver, Tyler Maxson has also qualified first on two occasions this season and will take over at the half-way point.
AJ Muss qualified sixth, his fourth top six start of 2022 in the #2 Elantra N TCR. Muss and co-driver Ryan Norman will contend for their second podium of the season.
2021 Lime Rock Park race winners and current championship leaders Taylor Hagler and Michael Lewis will start ninth, based on Hagler's qualifying time of 55.094 seconds. Hagler made history when she became the first woman to win a IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge race at Lime Rock Park last year. Michael Lewis holds the track qualifying record from his pole winning run in 2019 at 54.034 second.
The green flag falls for the 2-hour Lime Rock Park 120 at 11:05 am ET and will be televised live on NBC's Peacock TV. Live radio coverage in addition to live timing and scoring will be available at IMSA.com.
Noteworthy:
*For the first time ever, two paraplegic race car drivers will start from the first two rows tomorrow, in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Lime Rock Park 120 at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, CT.
**Hyundai's web series, "Next Level" released the first episode of the 2022 season today, titled "Drive to Three-Peat." The episode takes a look at BHA's expansion to six cars and the excitement and challenges behind the first two races of the season. Watch here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZbtY2LR2Ag
Lime Rock Park 120
Bryan Herta Autosport Starting Line-Up
P.1 Robert Wickens and Mark Wilkins #33 Elantra N TCR
P.2 Parker Chase and Harry Gottsacker IV #98 Elantra N TCR
P.3 Michael Johnson and Stephen Simpson #54 Universal Coating Elantra N TCR
P.4 Mason Filippi and Tyler Maxson #77 Elantra N TCR
P.6 AJ Muss and Ryan Norman #2 Elantra N TCR
P.9 Taylor Hagler and Michael Lewis #1 Elantra N TCR
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