Watch some of the world’s best racecar drivers push it to the limit while enjoying a festival that offers fun for the entire family. The Rexall Edmonton Indy mixes pure adrenaline with laid-back summer leisure.
Explore Travel Alberta driving holidays, and read on to learn how to get the best of both worlds as Indy insider Darren Krill of Northlands provides a sneak peek at this July 24-26, 2009 event.
Q: What’s new for the Indy this year?
A: We’ve got several great new things this year at The Rexall Edmonton Indy. For those people who are on scenic drives in Alberta and want to stop for a few days, we’ve got new RV parking right by the track, which you’ll find at many U.S. racing events. With 50 trackside spots, you can fire up your hibachi and sit up on the roof and spend three days watching the racing.
The event will feature the Canadian Forces Snowbirds flying overhead this year. The Snowbirds are Canada’s top acrobatic jet team and fit right into the racing. We will also have a Friday night concert featuring the Sam Roberts Band, a six-times Juno Award winning group.
One of the things people have always wanted to see at the Indy was more merchandise. If you go to any of the races in the U.S., they have tonnes of merchandise trailers. This year, you’ll see a lot of drivers with their own trucks featuring merchandise that fans clamor for, including t-shirts, hats, you name it.
We did introduce single day tickets last year which we will have again this year. Don’t forget that Indy tickets also get you into the nearby Capital EX festival (July 17-26), Edmonton’s biggest summer event.
Q: How have the races been improved?
A: We will have a number of races to mix it up for the fans. On Saturday, we have the Canadian Tire NASCAR series and the training league for the Indy, which features the next wave of up-and-coming drivers. We have a mix of Canadian and U.S. drivers in each of the races, as well as racecar drivers from around the world.
Q: Why is this a must-see event, especially for people who love driving?
A: My background is pro sports, and this is unlike any sporting event you’ve ever seen. You are watching male and female drivers driving 300 kph/186 mph. We have one of the most challenging tracks in the league and the drivers look forward to racing in Edmonton, because it puts them thorough the gears.
There are numerous corners and great straight-aways, so they can’t just get behind the wheel and get comfortable. Anything can happen at any minute.
Q: What are some can’t-miss moments for fans?
A: On track it’s all about the racing, and a lot of people love the qualifying event to see how drivers jockey for position. The cool thing about the Indy is that you can have the entire day in the sun, hit the midway and look at classic cars, and maybe hit a beer garden and hear some live music.
With thousands and thousands of people walking around and visiting the paddock areas, you’ll find the drivers and the teams are very accessible to fans. In the Indy car league you see guys minutes away from racing, yet they are still meeting the fans, talking with them.
There is even a corporate championship program that allows you to spend a day in a driver’s school, where an Indy expert teaches you how to drive an Indy car. You go through the class and then you get to drive an Indy car on our track, and experience what these racers do behind the wheel.
Q: Why is Edmonton such a great city to host the Indy?
A: Edmonton has built a reputation as a great city for hosting international sporting events. We have a solid volunteer base and really put out the welcome mat. Calgary is similar, so it is an Alberta thing, we know how to do these big events and we do them well. Edmonton is also known as festival city, and there are festivals running throughout the summer.
Q: How does an Indy work, if I’ve never been?
A: Part of the fun of going to the Indy is going in a bit blind. You can spend the day moving around the site, taking in the features and all the attractions. Just put on some comfortable walking shoes, and make sure you have sunscreen.
Q: If I take my family, what can we do?
A: Kids always have a blast at the Indy and they really get into it. There are many attractions to see, including the classic car display in Adrenaline Alley. There are only two Indys in Canada this year. The other one is in Toronto, which runs two weeks before us. You’ll find something at the Indy for everyone in the family.