Funny Picture

The @HondaIndy race track is ringed by snow right now but in a few short months the double header IZOD IndyCar race will fill Exhibition Place with the roar of finely tuned racing machines. I love the way it starts with construction crews bringing the tonnes of concrete barriers and kilometres of safety fence and setting them in place along the track. Off track will have stacks of steel piping and wooden sheets that go into building the many viewing stands. Getting the cars ready to race with warm-ups and qualification runs will be compressed as headline races will take place on both Saturday and Sunday. That means there will be a lot less prep time and more pressure as the starting flag drops twice on the course in the July 12-14, 2013 weekend. The Dr Pepper crew take their time with a tire change during practice in the photo at top.
Qualifications start on Free Friday with three rounds of eliminations which will produce the Firestone Fast Six drivers for the standing start Saturday race. New qualifications on Saturday will then be used for placement during Sunday's rolling start race.

@MazdaCanada's Public Relations Manager Sandra Lemaitre joins rep Jim Bowie on the Mazdaspeed Stage to discuss increased support in Canadian Motorsports during the Canadian Motorsports Expo. Besides helping to sponsor the show they also presented a marketing seminar on 'How to build a winning sponsorship proposal', something dear to every racer's heart.

"Jim will take you through the process from where to prospect, how to prepare for the meeting and how to build a winning proposal. Jim has created and will present a sponsorship proposal and highlight the strategies behind winning proposals. All attendees will be offered a copy of the proposal, and on behalf of Mazda Canada - it's all free with your paid admission to the Canadian Motorsports Expo."

@CME_racing powered by @Inside_Track starts tomorrow and even though it is time for snowmobiles, really fast cars will soon return to the warm and sunny climes of Ontario. Summertime will mean super powered drag cars, gleaming stock cars with the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series and the pearl of big city racing - the Honda Indy Toronto, will crank out some major horsepower and lay down some rubber on a track near you. Here are some photos from a past Indy - this year's race is from July 12-14, 2013.
The Toronto International Centre will be home of fast cars from Friday February 8 to Sunday February 10, 2013. "Known as Canada's ultimate racing show, the 7th annual Canadian Motorsports Expo (CME) takes over the International Centre for the three-day racing extravaganza. The CME features major stars and racing vehicles from the world of motorsports, including NASCAR stars Kyle Busch and Michael Waltrip plus Canadian racing legend and CTMP owner Ron Fellows. It will also include motorsports equipment manufacturers and suppliers, retailers and collectibles as well as representation from the major tracks and series. The Canadian Motorsports Expo is well known for its interactive seminars and forums, offering something of interest to seasoned racers and those looking to get involved in the sport. We are happy to share with you, our customers, a special offer for admittance to the CME this weekend. Click here to print off a coupon which will get you $6 off at gate admission. See you at the show!"
Also coming up soon will be the Canadian International Autoshow February 15-24 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

@HondaIndy #Toronto race owners and management company GSRP promoted some of their own promotions people - it was a clear case of promotion squared. The growing firm from Indianapolis, led by Kim Green and Kevin Savoree, own and operate not only the Honda Indy Toronto but also the Honda Grand Prix of St Petersburg, Mid-Ohio Sports car Course and the Mid-Ohio School. The company appointed Terry Angstadt as President who will continue to grow and look after the performance of the racing properties which feature such motorsports series as the IZOD IndyCAr, Firestone Indy Lights, NASCAR Nationwide Series, AMA Superbike, GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car series, Pirelli World Challenge.

As a serious, new media photoblogger I resolve to enjoy the doubleheader at the @HondaIndy, see more motorcycle and auto shows, have fun in the city and take more photos of friendly Torontonians, (photo by Fresh Joe, above, with me wearing my viking helmet).  Even as the big newspapers go behind pay walls (and probably back to free again in the near future - I will be here with my coverage of the GTA). I really look forward to the NASCAR and IndyCar racing season and the World Naked Bike Ride.

Speed freaks can quench their appetite with a @HondaIndy Boxing Week sale - it ends Jan 2, 2013, or when the ticket limit has been reached.
IZOD IndyCar races will return to the race track in Exhibition Place during the July 12-14, 2013 weekend doubleheader on the Streets of Toronto.
There is only a few days left to take advantage of the offer: "SELECT 2-DAY START/FINISH GRANDSTAND TICKETS FOR THE PRICE OF A SINGLE DAY, OVER 30% OFF - $85 per ticket (SAVE $40!) BUY TICKETS Offer valid Friday December 21 at Noon through Wednesday January 2, 2012 at midnight. * Limit of 150 2-day Start/Finish Grandstand tickets available for purchase."
See more racing after the jump.

Sleek Ferrari cars don't shout muscle, they scream power and they were beautiful as they practiced and raced around the road track during the Honda Indy #Toronto.
The 2012 Ferrari World Finals were won by Damon Ockey from Calgary, Canada taking the Coppa Shell class and Alex Popow from Venezuela winning the Trofeo class.