Honda Indy Toronto Removed From 2021 Calendar
The NTT IndyCar championship and support series like Canadian Touring Car Championship won’t see the streets of Toronto in 2021 due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation in the city and province. The Honda Indy Toronto event was scheduled for the July 9-11 weekend following a cancellation in 2020 for similar reasons.
"To continue to slow the spread of COVID-19 and help provide predictability to major event organizers, the City of Toronto is extending the cancellation of in-person City-led and City-permitted outdoor events to September 6," city officials said in a news release issued Friday.
- Also: IndyCar penalizes Team Penske for race winning car of Helio Castroneves
- Also: IndyCar's Parity On Display This Season
"The City understands the importance of these events to Toronto's vitality, livability and prosperity. City staff are working in close collaboration with event organizers, who in every instance possible have been consulted on this approach and given advance notice of this decision. The City is committed to working closely with event organizers to help them manage through 2021 and come back stronger in 2022."
The 2021 Honda Indy Toronto cancellation joins the Canadian Formula One Grand Prix Formula in Montreal, as major summer sporting events fall one after the other for a second year in a row.
“To have that void for a second straight year is heartbreaking. We deeply miss our fans there and urge them to remain safe during these unprecedented times. INDYCAR looks forward to a high-powered return in 2022 and for years to come.” Said Penske Entertainment Corp. President and CEO Mark Miles.
“Of course, we are all disappointed in this outcome. Our team greatly appreciates the incredible fans, participants, volunteers, media and dedicated partners who have supported us as we all navigate these unusual and uncertain days,” Honda Indy Toronto organizers said in the release.
The Honda Indy Toronto team also mentioned that ticket purchasers with deferred tickets from the 2020 event will now have those tickets extended to the 2022 event.