July 12, 2023
Toronto, Ontario - William Ashley is back as an official partner and the trophy provider of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES race this Sunday at Exhibition Place, headlining the 35th edition of the Honda Indy Toronto weekend, set for July 14-16.
The 2023 versions of the crystal trophies will be revealed tomorrow (July 13) at 10:30 a.m. ET inside William Ashley’s downtown Toronto flagship located at 131 Bloor St. West with help from six-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion driver Scott Dixon. Dixon won last year’s Honda Indy Toronto adding to previous wins in 2018 and 2013 (twice).
The celebrated retailer for Tableware, Home Décor and Kitchenware has provided the spectacular William Ashley Waterford trophies to the Honda Indy Toronto winner at every race since 2011. These custom-made masterpieces are crafted by Waterford and hand blown at their factory in Waterford, Ireland. The first-place trophy takes an artisan 48 hours to make and is etched by hand with a remarkable rendering of the Toronto skyline.
Dixon took control of the 2022 edition of the race after passing pole-sitter Colton Herta on Lap 18. The veteran pilot led 40 of the 85 laps, including the final 25 laps, en route to his 52nd career win, tying him with fellow legend Mario Andretti for No. 2 on the all-time INDYCAR SERIES wins list. Dixon will look to repeat his success from last year and win his fifth Honda Indy Toronto in the No. 9 PNC Bank Honda for Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR).
"It’s been a pretty fun track for us in the past. We've definitely had some great results as a team and obviously going back to where we won last year. I love the crowd here and wish we had more Canadian races,” said Dixon. “The one goal is to try to win it and to try and keep this championship headed in the right direction. All of CGR is looking really strong right now and Honda, as well. We'll keep working, keep our heads down and we'll see what it brings."
Media members are invited to attend the event at the William Ashley store at 131 Boor St. West. The trophy will be revealed, and then both Jeff Atkinson, Honda Indy Toronto president, and Scott Dixon will be available for interviews.
Your Ontario Honda Dealers Present Honda Fan Friday returns this year for the 12th time at the Honda Indy Toronto, offering complimentary general admission on Friday, July 14, with a voluntary contribution to Make-A-Wish® Canada. Make-A-Wish fundraising activities have been an integral part of Toronto’s marquee racing event for more than a decade. To date, a cumulative total of $905,000 has been raised and each dollar will go toward granting wishes for children living with critical illnesses.
General Admission tickets for the weekend are still available with 2-Day Weekend General Admission tickets priced at $75. Single Day General Admission is $50 for Saturday and $60 for Sunday. Children 12 and under are admitted free (general admission) with a ticketed adult providing an exceptional family value.
About Honda Indy Toronto
Honda Indy Toronto is a world-class motorsports festival which takes place annually on a 2.874-kilometre (1.786-mile), 11-turn temporary circuit using the streets surrounding Exhibition Place near Lake Ontario in downtown Toronto. The event features many attractions, food trucks, interactive displays and activities, and supports local charities. Honda Fan Friday offers general admission courtesy of the Ontario Honda Dealers Association through a voluntary donation. To date, $905,000 has been raised for Make-A-Wish® Canada.
As one of Ontario's largest annual sporting events with the first race held in 1986 first known as the Molson Indy, it has become a prestigious meeting place for some of the world’s fastest race car drivers including past NTT INDYCAR SERIES champions like Scott Dixon, Josef Newgarden, Simon Pagenaud and Will Power as well as Canadian racing greats Scott Goodyear, James Hinchcliffe, Greg Moore, Alex Tagliani, Paul Tracy, Jacques Villeneuve, Robert Wickens, and more. Canadian Devlin DeFrancesco is planned to be in the 2023 starting field.
Honda Indy Toronto is owned and operated by Green Savoree Toronto, ULC, whose affiliates also promote three additional INDYCAR SERIES races: Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding (March 3-5, 2023), The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Presented by the 2023 Accord Hybrid (June 30-July 2, 2023) and Grand Prix of Portland (Sept. 1-3, 2023).
For more information, visit hondaindy.com, ‘like’ its Facebook page @HondaIndyToronto or follow the event on Twitter @HondaIndy and Instagram @HondaIndy using #indyTO.