IndyCar: The Five Best International Venues

Montreal

Oh, Canada! They already have one IndyCar race on the streets of Toronto each year. But at one point, there were many more open-wheel races north of the border. Edmonton, Mosport, and Trois-Rivieres have all hosted races in recent times, but could Montreal be the next host of IndyCar?

Montreal and the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve are no strangers to open-wheel racing. The track has hosted the Canadian Grand Prix each year since 2010, and previously hosted Champ Car from 2002 to 2006. Other series to race at the facility include the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Grand-Am, and the NASCAR Pinty’s Canadian Series.

So what makes Montreal attractive for IndyCar? The city is a major market with deep motorsports connections. It can also add an international flare to the summer months of their schedule, potentially in a “Canadian swing” of two weeks with Toronto. This would require a relatively quick turnaround for the track from the Canadian GP to IndyCar, but it is not impossible.

The biggest reason why IndyCar would do well at this track is the competitive racing. Whether in CART, F1, sports cars, or NASCAR, there is a long list of memorable and unique races held at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. With plenty of passing zones, there would likely be many lead changes and one of the more competitive road course races of the year for IndyCar.

Only time will tell if Canada can accommadate two races again for American open-wheel racing.