Paul Tracy’s Toronto car unveiled

Paul Tracy's Toronto Make A Wish car

A sparkling new car and the smiles of adoring young fans gave Paul Tracy the lift he needed following one of the worst weekends of his career. The Toronto native returned to his hometown Tuesday to unveil the car he'll drive at the Honda Indy Toronto in July. The car, sponsored by the Make-a-Wish Foundation, is the same light-blue design as the one he drove during his tenure with Team Players.

Tracy was all smiles afterwards, posing for pictures with his new car. Two days earlier, the veteran driver was seething after missing out on a spot in the Indianapolis 500, erasing a time that turned out to be good enough.

Tracy admitted the gaffe stung right up until Tuesday morning.

"It did (Monday) for sure, I can't say it didn't," said Tracy. "Everything happened quite quickly. The first few hours I was kind of numb and in shock. That turned into being frustrated and not being able to sleep.

"I came to Toronto, and was pretty P.O.'ed all day, and then woke up (Tuesday) still pretty P.O.'ed, but that all changed when the kids came to visit."

"It makes your own personal problems or the things that you think are causing you issues in your life seem pretty immaterial," he said.

"Not qualifying for Indianapolis, it stung at the time, but when we came here this morning and met some of the children here, and see the struggles they go through, it makes missing a race not very important."