The pit lane at the street course in Toronto is one of the tightest and most unique on IndyCar’s schedule, and it could prove to be problematic for some drivers during Sunday’s race.
There are pit boxes stacked the entire length of pit road, which winds through three 90-degree turns as it follows along the final few corners of the track.
Higher car counts this year, three more than the last time the series visited in 2019, has compressed the oddly-shaped pit boxes to the point that both drivers and crews have had trouble setting up properly.
Pato O’Ward was the pole-sitter for IndyCar’s most recent race at Mid-Ohio, and as such he and his team were given the opportunity to be the first to choose their pit box for this weekend’s race.
They chose the final box before pit out as that has traditionally been an advantageous location, but that spot sits very close to an angled wall this year which will make it very tight as he attempts to leave his pit box.
“I didn’t want to complain about it in the driver’s meeting,” said O’Ward. “I realize the car count is great and whatever… I thought pole would actually give you an advantage. The one time I’ve been on pole this year!
“It looks like we just squeezed too many cars into a place that can’t fit them. I think that’s going to be an issue, and on track is going to be an issue.
“We were not expecting that [to be so tight], I can tell you that. They just ask where in the line you want to go. In the past years, the pole has been good here. So obviously, we’re like ‘yeah, we want the first box.’
“It’s a sketch out, and it’s a tight in. It’s just another challenge we have to work around, because it ain’t going to change. No point in me complaining about it. Make sure I don’t spin the tires, and make sure I don’t pancake the wall or something.”
Other drivers also voiced their concerns over pit lane, going so far as to say that they would prefer the pit layout to be reverted to an older configuration which placed the pit lane on the right side of the main straight.
Graham Rahal also weighed in on the situation, and explained that he hopes series officials will work with the promotor for future events to make changes that will better accommodate the growing IndyCar field.
“I can’t even see my timing stand it’s pushed back so far,” said Rahal, describing how the setup behind the pit wall has had to be modified. I hope for next year there’s a bit of a rethink about the way that we do this.
“I would just say the growth trajectory of the series for next year, too, I hope they’re getting ahead of it now because this isn’t acceptable really. It’s okay. We’ll get through [this year], but it’s pretty dangerous with the guys and the pit stops and things like that.”
