Siegel Back On Track, DeFrancesco Back At Home: What To Know For INDYCAR At Toronto

NTT INDYCAR SERIES: Siegel Back On Track, DeFrancesco Back At Home

Updated Jul. 18, 2025, 1:13 p.m. ET

TORONTO — This weekend, the only INDYCAR race of the season across the border kicks off on the streets of Exhibition Place and Lake Ontario. The track stretches 2.874 kilometers (or 1.786 miles) long and features 11 turns. Having been part of a summer festival for 37 years, this tight course demands precision, especially with a pit road that has some curves. This year’s race consists of 90 laps—five more than last year—set for noon ET on FOX. The streets of Toronto will once again play host to an exciting INDYCAR race this Sunday 555bmw casino login.

The 27-driver lineup remains unchanged from most races this season, a fact that was not confirmed until Thursday morning for this final street course of the year. Let’s explore some key details you should know about the upcoming race.

Nolan Siegel Cleared

Nolan Siegel, the Arrow McLaren driver, received medical clearance on Thursday to participate in the race after missing the event at Iowa following a hard crash the previous day. “Missing out on Sunday’s race in Iowa was definitely tough, especially after qualifying fifth,” Siegel remarked. “After a week of rest and recovery, I’m looking forward to being back in the car.” He added that he feels good and has a newfound appreciation for racing.

“It was difficult to watch from the sidelines; I’ve been itching to get back in the car these past few days,” Siegel said. He explained that INDYCAR employs accelerometers to monitor the intensity of impacts during crashes, and if the force exceeds 80Gs in any direction, drivers must undergo further evaluations. The assessments are conducted by INDYCAR’s chief neurologist, Dr. Bert Vargas, and medical director, Dr. Julia Vaizer.

Siegel expressed confidence about racing this weekend, respecting the expertise of the INDYCAR medical team who helped facilitate his return. “I will never take that for granted again,” he said. “I’m really excited to get back in.” In recent years, only two drivers, Dario Franchitti and Simon Pagenaud, have not returned to INDYCAR due to concussions. Should Siegel be unable to race, Linus Lundqvist is on standby.

Robb’s Hauler Incident

Last Sunday, about 150 miles into the journey from Iowa, the transporter carrying Sting Ray Robb’s car experienced a tire blowout, damaging the axle and starting a fire. Fortunately, the fire did not harm the car’s interior thanks to prompt action from local firefighters. The Juncos Hollinger Racing team will have their two cars in Toronto this weekend, utilizing their Indy NXT hauler for Robb.

Comeback For Andretti Drivers

While all Andretti drivers participated last weekend, they are eager for a resurgence, particularly after a disappointing performance at Iowa where all three experienced tire blowouts. Colton Herta, one of the favorites for Toronto, stated, “It sucks… we had issues that other teams didn’t encounter jili50.com. phswerte casino But it’s a different race and setup here.” Herta, who is the defending champion of the Toronto race, emphasized the unique challenges this street circuit presents.

Adjusting Goals

For Kyle Kirkwood, another Andretti driver, bouncing back is crucial after losing ground in the championship standings. “We fell behind Alex Palou from 113 to 180 points after Iowa,” Kirkwood said, acknowledging the difficulty but expressing motivation to achieve victories, despite feeling the championship might be out of reach.

Home-Country Pressure

With the race taking place in Canada, it brings an extra layer of excitement for Devlin DeFrancesco, the only Canadian-born driver in the field. “I feel very relaxed,” he said. “I’m excited to be home jilino1.c. Toronto is one of the biggest turnouts for fans.” DeFrancesco has arranged accommodations for his family and friends this weekend, highlighting the immense local support which adds to the event’s popularity.

Bob Pockrass has covered NASCAR and INDYCAR for FOX Sports for decades, including over 30 Daytona 500s. You can follow him on Twitter @bobpockrass.

What are your thoughts on the upcoming INDYCAR race in Toronto?

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