Multi-year deal sees Honda sponsor Toronto race
09/18/08 There may be only one Canadian in the field though that will line up for the green flag – Marty Roth of Toronto.
Paul Tracy of Toronto finished fourth in the Rexall Edmonton Indy in July for Vision Racing, in his first IRL appearance since 2002. But the Champ Car veteran hasn't been able to secure a permanent ride.
Michael Andretti said it wouldn't hurt to have a high-profile Canadian in the lineup, but it's not crucial.
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| Toronto Honda announcement |
"Obviously it would be really great to have Paul back in there for sure for the event, but having said that, there is a following for our series here, you just feel it when you come here, everybody knows everything that's going on," Andretti said. "It would be a great bonus if we had them, but we don't I still think it's going to be a great success."
The Ontario government is providing $1 million a year for the next three years for the event, which generates an estimated $50 million in Toronto. CP
09/18/08 Honda to sponsor IndyCar Series race in Toronto: Andretti Green Toronto has signed a multi-year agreement with Honda Canada for the title sponsorship rights to the Toronto-based IndyCar Series event that will debut July 10-12, 2009.
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| 2001 – One of 7 Michael Andretti wins at Toronto |
"This is a great day for everyone that is a fan of IndyCar racing in Toronto," said Michael Andretti, co-owner of Andretti Green Racing and Andretti Green Toronto. “Honda has been a great partner of ours for years, and this will take that partnership deeper into the future. Andretti Green and Honda plan to do great things with this event, and everyone associated with the event is very excited for July 2009 to get here."
Honda employs more than 22,000 Canadians, buys $1.1 billion of goods and materials annually from Canadian-based suppliers, and manufactures about 390,000 vehicles per year. Honda Canada began operations in 1969, selling motorcycles and power equipment. Four years later the Civic was the first car to be sold by Honda in Canada. Today Honda Canada sells more than 170,000 cars and trucks annually, led by the Civic which has been the best-selling car in Canada the past 10 years.
"We are very pleased to be sponsoring this exciting event which has been one of the top attractions in Ontario since it first roared to life in 1986," said Jerry Chenkin, executive vice president, Honda Canada Inc. “We salute Andretti Green for its commitment to bring the IndyCar Series back to the streets of Toronto as a premier open wheel race series, powered by Honda."
Honda and Andretti Green's event promotions business unit have also partnered on the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (Fla.) since 2005.
Press Release
Andretti Green Toronto (AGT) announced today it has signed a multi-year agreement with Honda Canada for the title sponsorship rights to the company's Toronto-based IndyCar Series event. The announcement was delivered at a media conference held today at the Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place in Toronto.
Scheduled for July 10-12, 2009, the Honda Indy Toronto will be part of next year's 18-race IndyCar Series schedule and will also feature the Firestone Indy Lights Series as part of the weekend's diverse activities.
The Honda Indy Toronto is the most-recent addition to Andretti Green's event promotions business unit. The company began operating the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg in 2005 on the downtown streets of St. Petersburg, Fla. That event recently received the distinction of being named as the 2009 IndyCar Series season-opener.
Honda employs more than 22,000 Canadians, buys $1.1 billion of goods and materials annually from Canadian-based suppliers, and manufactures about 390,000 vehicles per year. Honda Canada began operations in 1969, selling motorcycles and power equipment. Four years later the Civic was the first car to be sold by Honda in Canada. Today Honda Canada sells more than 170,000 cars and trucks annually, led by the Civic which has been the best-selling car in Canada the past 10 years.
As part of today's announcement, Andretti Green also announced the launch of a new event website, which can be accessed at www.hondaindytoronto.com.
Tickets for the 2009 Honda Indy Toronto will go on sale in early 2009. Fans interested in receiving information about tickets can visit the website or contact Andretti Green Toronto at (416) 588-7223 or at hondaindytorontotickets@andrettigreen.com.
Quotes
Jerry Chenkin, executive vice president, Honda Canada Inc.:
"We are very pleased to be sponsoring this exciting event which has been one of the top attractions in Ontario since it first roared to life in 1986. We salute Andretti Green for its commitment to bring the IndyCar Series back to the streets of Toronto as a premier open wheel race series, powered by Honda."
Michael Andretti, co-owner and chairman, Andretti Green:
"This is a great day for everyone that is a fan of IndyCar racing in Toronto. Honda has been a great partner of ours for years and this will take that partnership deeper into the future. Andretti Green and Honda plan to do great things with this event and everyone associated with the event is very excited for July 2009 to get here."
Kevin Savoree, co-owner and president, Andretti Green Toronto and Andretti Green Promotions; co-owner, president and chief operating officer, Andretti Green:
"The Honda brand is very powerful and is one of the true driving forces behind the growth and success of the IndyCar Series. Andretti Green and Honda have a long legacy of successful partnership and the Honda Indy Toronto will benefit immeasurably from the strength of our relationship. Not only has Honda Canada lent its name and mark to this event, but they also plan to engage our fans in a big way. The next several months promise to be a very exciting time for IndyCar Series fans in Toronto and Ontario."