OF NOTE:

• Yesterday’s practice session marked Ryan Hunter-Reay’s first laps on the streets of the Toronto since 2019 and first-ever street course laps with Ed Carpenter Racing. After second practice this morning, he was assigned to Round 1, Group 1 of qualifying. He was on his second set of Firestone’s alternate green-walled Firehawks when rain began to fall across the track. As conditions deteriorated, Hunter-Reay was unable to set a quick time on the fresh set of tires. He will start 21st in tomorrow’s Honda Indy Toronto. 

• Hunter-Reay is one of the most experienced drivers in the field this weekend with 16 Indy car starts on the Toronto street circuit, dating back to 2003. He scored a podium finish for three consecutive years, culminating with a victory in 2012.The Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based driver is an NTT INDYCAR SERIES Champion (2012) with 18 career wins, including the 2014 Indianapolis 500.

• Hunter-Reay, recognized as one of the most successful American open wheel racing drivers, has brought a wealth of experience to Ed Carpenter Racing with an INDYCAR career that spans two decades. Hunter-Reay joined ECR as driver of the No. 20 BITNILE.COM Chevrolet prior to the Road America weekend last month. In his first event with the team, he gained 10 positions over the course of the race.

Of Note:

• Rinus VeeKay was set to make his first NTT INDYCAR SERIES start in the Streets of Toronto in 2020, but it was pushed to last year when the event made a return to the calendar. In 2022, he was relegated to 20th on the starting grid after not being able to set a fast lap in qualifying. Even with starting so far back, VeeKay paced the field for 18 laps. Prior to his first Indy car race in Toronto, he raced the street circuit six times in the Road to Indy and earned five podium finishes.
• VeeKay has spent his entire NTT INDYCAR SERIES career with Ed Carpenter Racing and is the team’s longest-tenured full-time driver, now in his fourth season behind the wheel the No. 21 Chevrolet. Earlier this year, the 22-year-old made his 50th career start and qualified on the front row of the Indianapolis 500 for the third consecutive time.
• Born in Hoofddorp, Netherlands, Rinus van Kalmthout began karting in 2009 at the age of 8. With sights set firmly on the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, he transitioned to the Road to Indy in 2017 and launched his U.S. career driving as Rinus VeeKay. Just four years into his time in the United States, he not only reached the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, but earned 2020 Rookie of the Year honors. He became an NTT INDYCAR SERIES race winner in May of 2021 with a victory at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.