Hunter-Reay doesn’t expect Toronto heat to be an issue during Indy Toronto

TORONTO — IndyCar driver Ryan Hunter-Reay doesn’t expect the heat to be an issue for this weekend’s Honda Indy Toronto.

Temperatures reached 36 degrees C on Wednesday and neared 30 on Thursday with a humidex approaching 40, which prompted Environment Canada to issue a heat warning.

“For me, heat’s not bad,” Hunter-Reay said Thursday. “It’s when it’s really hot and you have the humidity as well and then you’re not cooling down. That’s the biggest issue.”

Practice sessions for the Verizon IndyCar Series start Friday on the streets surrounding Exhibition Place with qualifying taking place Saturday before the race on Sunday.

Environment Canada said in Thursday’s heat warning that Friday’s conditions will improve, with a chance of showers expected. The forecast is calling for sun on both Saturday and Sunday with temperatures reaching 25 C on Saturday and 27 C for race day.

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Hunter-Reay says that with the temperatures expected to dip slightly, he thinks it will make it tolerable for both himself and fellow drivers.

“Most of us are used to it. Through the years you become used to it and you train for circumstances like that,” he said. “I remember one year where we raced in Baltimore and it was like 90 degrees (F) and the humidity was through the roof.” 

“I don’t think Toronto has come near that yet.”

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Ryan McKenna, The Canadian Press