Honda Indy Markham track sessions kickoff after Friday cancellation

Markham's first IndyCar race is underway after a shaky start, with practice and qualifying sessions commencing Saturday morning. The event faced an unexpected delay Friday when organizers announced that no cars would hit the newly resurfaced track, citing safety concerns and the need to complete the certification process for the brand-new racetrack.

Organizers issued an apology to fans who attended the "Free Fan Friday" event, a tradition at past races. "We greatly appreciate all the fans who made it out to the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham today and chose to spend the day with us," they stated on their website. "The attendance and support were overwhelming."

Despite the initial hiccup, the weekend's schedule is packed. Following Saturday morning practice runs, the first races kicked off at 1 p.m., including the USF2000 Championship and the NASCAR Canada Series at 4:45 p.m. A concert by The Glorious Sons is slated for after the NTT INDYCAR Series qualifying round at 6:30 p.m. More racing action is planned for Sunday, culminating in the 90-lap Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham race at 12:22 p.m.

This marks the first time Markham has hosted an IndyCar race, which previously held its Canadian spot on the Toronto waterfront for decades. The partnership between the city and IndyCar was finalized last September, with the temporary street circuit constructed this week.

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We greatly appreciate all the fans who made it out to the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham today and chose to spend the day with us. The attendance and support were overwhelming.