IndyCar Cancels Honda Indy Toronto Race For 2021

One day after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States recommended the lifting of most mask mandates for persons vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus, the NTT IndyCar Series announced that it is canceling the Honda Indy Toronto event over health and safety concerns in Ontario.

The race in Toronto was scheduled for July 9-11.

In a statement released on Friday, IndyCar said, "Due to ongoing restrictions in Ontario focusing on COVID-19 health-and-safety measures, organizers for the Honda Indy Toronto and the NTT IndyCar Series jointly announce that this year’s event, July 9-11, will no longer be a part of the 2021 schedule."

Penske Entertainment Corporation president and CEO Mark Miles said that the series hopes to return to Toronto in 2022. The race was also canceled in 2020 over COVID-19 concerns and travel restrictions.

“The NTT IndyCar Series race around Exhibition Place and Princes’ Gates is a hallmark of our summer schedule,” Miles said. “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.”

Toronto has been a regular stop on the IndyCar schedule since 1986. IndyCar has not ruled out replacing Toronto on the 2021 schedule.