A Homegrown Race Returns
Canada's only IndyCar race is coming back to Ontario, and it's happening right in our backyard. The Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham will roar to life from Friday, Aug. 14 through Sunday, Aug. 16, with the city of Markham gearing up to host drivers and what organizers expect to be tens of thousands of race fans over the weekend.
Markham, located just northeast of Toronto, sits roughly four to four-and-a-half hours down the 416 and 401 from Ottawa — close enough that plenty of local motorsport fans have already made the trip in past years, and close enough that a long weekend road trip is well within reach for anyone itching to see IndyCar machines hit triple-digit speeds in person.
Why It Matters for Ontario
With no other IndyCar stop anywhere else in the country, Markham's race has become something of a pilgrimage for Canadian racing fans. That includes a solid contingent from the Ottawa area, where local car clubs and motorsport meetups have been known to organize group trips to the event in recent years. For a province that doesn't get an F1 or major open-wheel race any closer to home, this is the one weekend a year when the sport comes to Ontario's doorstep rather than the other way around.
The race also brings a meaningful economic boost to the Greater Toronto Area, with hotels, restaurants, and local businesses in Markham typically seeing a surge in visitors during race weekend. City officials have said they're prepared for the influx, with road closures, shuttle services, and expanded parking arrangements expected to be finalized in the coming weeks.
What to Expect on Race Weekend
While full event details — including the exact street circuit layout, ticket tiers, and the support race schedule — are still being finalized, IndyCar weekends typically include practice and qualifying sessions on Friday and Saturday, with the marquee race taking the green flag on Sunday afternoon. Past editions of the Markham event have also featured fan zones, driver autograph sessions, and food vendor areas, making it as much a family outing as a hardcore racing event.
For Ottawa-area fans who've never made the trip, this year could be a good excuse to finally go. The drive down the 401 corridor is straightforward, and with race weekend falling in mid-August, it lines up nicely with peak road-trip season across Ontario.
Planning Ahead
Ticket information and full event schedules are expected to be released by organizers in the weeks leading up to the race. Given that this is Canada's only stop on the IndyCar calendar, tickets for prime viewing areas along the street circuit have historically sold out well in advance, so anyone considering the trip from Ottawa or elsewhere in the province should keep an eye on official channels for on-sale dates.
Whether you're a die-hard open-wheel racing fan or just looking for a unique weekend getaway within Ontario, the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham offers a rare chance to see world-class motorsport without leaving the province.
Source: CBC News
