Markham Indy president apologizes after opening day track delays

By Liam Tremblay — 19 August 2026 — 3 min read

The president of the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham has expressed regret after the event’s opening day left many fans disappointed. Jeff Atkinson acknowledged that the setup of the new street circuit in downtown Markham, Ontario, and its approval by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) presented the biggest challenge for the event.

The race organizers were unable to finalize the course until early Saturday morning, which led to the cancellation of all on-track activities scheduled for Friday. Atkinson stated, “We know we disappointed a lot of the people that were here on our Ontario Honda Dealers present Free Fam Friday, and for that we’re sorry. We’re sorry that we weren’t ready to have race cars on the track on Friday.”

Event Relocation and Track Certification

This year marked the first time Markham hosted the event, which previously took place at Toronto’s Exhibition Place since 1986. Markham is under contract to host the event for the next four years. The FIA typically certifies tracks every three years, unless significant changes are made to the course configuration or its location.

The new 12-turn, 3.52-kilometre track in Markham required a full inspection to ensure it met FIA standards, as it was constructed for the first time last week. The temporary course was situated between Kennedy Road, Enterprise Boulevard, the Unionville GO tracks, and Highway 407.

The event features Canada’s only IndyCar Series race, alongside competitions for other vehicle classifications such as the USF2000 Championship, USF Pro 2000, Radical Cup Canada, and NASCAR Canada Series. While on-track activities were cancelled on Friday, off-track attractions like simulators, concessions, and vendors remained open.

Following the Friday cancellation, Saturday’s schedule was extended to include 12 hours of on-track events for all classifications, encompassing both practice sessions and qualifying for IndyCar. Marcus Ericsson of Sweden ultimately won the race on Sunday.

Community Impact and Infrastructure Investment

Atkinson, who works for race promoter Green Savoree Racing Promotions, indicated that the organization plans to engage with fans and festival attendees to gather feedback and improve the event in Markham. He noted that the Markham venue offers easier access for many attendees.

A key advantage of the new location was its accessibility via public transit. Both Atkinson and Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti highlighted the integration of the Unionville GO station into the event’s layout. The station’s parking lot accommodated the double-sided pit lane and a grandstand, providing spectators with convenient access to the site.

Mayor Scarpitti remarked on the ease of access, stating, “I think the sweet jewel on the transportation side for fans was coming into the Unionville GO station by GO train, and really being dropped off at centre ice. It’s one of the reasons Green Savoree chose Markham.” He added that 71 percent of attendees experienced an easier commute to this site.

In February, Scarpitti confirmed that the city’s capital spending for the race surpassed $12 million, primarily allocated to one-time infrastructure upgrades, including road repaving. The high-quality tarmac received positive feedback from several IndyCar drivers.

Romain Grosjean, who finished second, praised the track during his post-race news conference. He said, “Amazing, Markham. Thank you for having us. The pavement was great. The racetrack is great. The organization has been good. The track has been fun to drive. (…) Smooth tarmac like this makes the racing so much nicer for us compared to some other places.”

The Ontario government announced on July 27 an investment of $1.5 million into the event. Additionally, the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario declared on July 31 that it had invested $3.5 million in the Indy. Evan Solomon, the minister responsible for the agency, issued a statement on Wednesday commending the event’s role in showcasing Markham as a destination for major international events and its potential to foster economic growth and attract investment.

Source: sportsnet.ca