The Garage: Your daily dose of automotive news, reviews and motorsports coverage
Hinch gets strapped in
While the action is always hot out on the track, the real excitement for many happens on pit lane. The Garage Blog spent some time in pit lane with the Indycar series during practice and qualifying for the 2011 Honda Indy Toronto and came away with more than a few smokin’ hot photos.
Check out the excitement after the break.
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Earlier today at the Real Sports Bar & Grille in downtown Toronto, select members of the media joined up with a trio of Canadian IndyCar stars for lunch and some informal interviews. On had were IndyCar veteran, Paul Tracy, Oakville Ontario hot shoe, James Hinchcliffe and this year’s Indy 500 pole sitter, Alex Tagliani. It was one of the most chill media events I’ve ever attended, as just about everyone knew each other and there was no battling for face time, just some good old Canadian bench racing.
While some of the others did more formal interviews, I grabbed a few photos and socialized with Hinch and PT. Tracy and I shared a couple of stories from our time at the North Halton kart club in the early 80′s. That is not to say that I didn’t come away without any useful news for race fans. Quite the opposite actually, I learned some potentially life changing information.
For instance, did you know that Tags is deathly allergic to most types of nuts? So if you are some sort of hyper fan boy and want to send the speedy French Canadian some treats, you might want to avoid the peanut brittle.
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Toronto racing fans should be proud today, as home town boy James Hinchcliffe has won his first ever Indy Lites race and doing it in style. Not only did Hinch win at Long Beach, but he won from the pole. In fact, he led every lap! That isn’t to say it came easily, as he had to fight off Californian Charlie Kimball who was pumping hard to please his hometown crowd.
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What you see above is the 1962 Lotus Super Seven belonging to Jeremy Sale, just about at the apex of Mosport’s corner 10. This 1,500cc Ford powered Seven is an original car that has been racing for years. It lived with the Baker family for some time and was apparently bent up pretty well. It moved into the hands of Jeremy Hinchcliffe (father of Indy Lights driver James) who lovingly restored it. Due to their light weight, Sevens have always been pretty quick and this one is no slouch. Jeremy’s fastest lap at Mosport has been a 1:39.139 (quick for a 1,500cc anything) and it was a couple of seconds quicker with the young Hinch behind the wheel.
Check out a few laps of Mosport after the break. I’d be interested in knowing where the 911 driver was headed at times. Man, some really weird lines!
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On his way to a 3rd place finish at his home event, Toronto’s James Hinchcliffe had a fun way of making the competition envious. Be the only one on the grid with umbrella girls! Sponsor TW Steel brought along a couple of pretty ladies to help Hinch stay cool in pit lane while everyone else sweated it out in the sun. This was during final practice for the Firestone Indy Lights series on Friday afternoon of the Honda Indy Toronto.
A few more shots of the Mayor of Hinchtown and his cabinet after the break
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Just as the Toronto Grand Prix became a casualty of the final battle before the IRL/CCWS reunion, the home town boy may sit out the 08 season as well. TSN has reported that long time Champ Car team owner Gerald Forsythe has decided to call it a day for the format. Forsythe Racing Inc will apparently continue with their involvement with the Formula Atlantic series, ensuring that fellow Canuck James Hinchcliffe will keep his ride.
Whether Forsythe was fed up with the flip flopping, or not happy with the final terms of the reunification is not clear. Nor is it clear as to how the remaining 4 years of driver Paul Tracy’s 5 year contract will be dealt with.
Perhaps PT would like to come up to Mosport and run in the Arrive & Drive series!
Torontonian James Hinchcliffe has reason to give thanks on this Canadian Thanksgiving weekend. Firstly he launched from 5th to 2nd place at the start of the 10 lap sprint race. Hinch managed to stay in second, scoring his first podium in A1GP, with Formula 1 driver Alex Yoong taking the top spot.
The strong finish rewarded Team Canada with it’s first front row start and
