Photo Credit: evolvingblue

Update
Here is the official IndyCar schedule of race related activities for the Rexall Edmonton Indy (PDF).
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As promised, here’s a preliminary look at the on-track and off-track schedule of events for the Rexall Edmonton Indy. For other information and some facts on the event have a look at our previous post, Construction Underway at Rexall Edmonton Indy.

Rexall Edmonton Indy On-Track Events
Friday, July 24, 2009
11:30 Gates Open to Public
11:45-12:30 IndyCar Practice
12:30-1:15 IndyCar Practice
1:30-2:15 FIL Qualifying
2:30-3:30 Corporate Race
3:45-4:45 IndyCar Practice
5:00-5:45 Canadian Tire NASCAR Series Qualifying
5:45-5:55 James Van Domselaar, Lukemia & Lymphoma Society, Racing for a Cure Lap-A-Thon
6:00-7:00 Pace Car / 2 Seater Program
7:00-8:30 Concert Turn 1 Stage

Saturday, July 25
9:30 Gates Open to Public
9:45-10:45 IndyCar Practice
11:00-12:15 Canadian Tire NASCAR Series Race
12:30-1:15 NASCC Eurasia Cup GT Invitational Qualifying Race
1:30-2:00 FIL Pre Race
2:00-3:00 FIL Race
3:20-4:50 IndyCar Qualifying Race – Live Versus
5:00-6:00 Pace Car / 2 Seater Program

Sunday, July 26
9:30 Gates Open To Public

2008 Rexall Edmonton Indy (Photo Credit: Adam Jevne)

The 2009 Rexall Edmonton Indy will be the year that tells all. 2008 end as a year of questions for the organizing committees in Edmonton. The merger left the Edmonton venue as a large question mark on the schedule and as a result, the organizers scrabbling. Hard work, much determination and frequent meetings with IRL finally net a confirmation that Edmonton would be on the schedule for three more years. Good news, except the late round of negotiations left the event in a state of flux because they were now very late in the planning process. 11th hour marketing activities, unconfirmed supporting events and last minute commitments from sponsors left the event in the red by $5.3 million. Local media blasted the organizers over tab left for taxpayers. Now that there are no excuses this year, I know the event will be a huge success.

Tickets
Tickets for the Rexall Edmonton Indy can be purchased at Ticketmaster. This includes: single day passes, three day passes, RV parking passes and pit-lane passes.

Edmonton is experiencing warm temperatures, potential attendance records and some serious racing on the temporary airport street circuit.

Both Penske cars (Ryan Briscoe at 1:00.7311 and Helio Castroneves at 1:00.8360) are on the front row and there were great showings from Edmonton favourites Justin Wilson and Graham Rahal in rows three and four respectively. In row eight next to Danica Patrick is Paul Tracy who had a exciting fastest lap, only to learn later that it was after the checkered flag pushing him back to his next closest time of 1:02.2387. Tony Kanaan set great times on the track and demonstrated his experience, but will be moved to the back of the pack because of a required engine change.

Here’s your Edmonton Indy starting grid.

Photo Credit: bodethepoet

The rumours have been rampant and today Rexall and Newman / Haas / Lanigan Racing have made their intentions public. Rexall will be title sponsor for the number 06 Graham Rahal in the 2008 Rexall Edmonton Indy. Rahal, the youngest winner in IndyCar Series history, will also be seen sporting sponsorship from Kimberley Clark, Mars, BMO, McDonalds, Dasani and Bosch.

Photo Credit: Dan Riedlhuber / CNW Group / Rexall

Daryl Katz, Rexall’s founder and chairman and new owner of the Edmonton Oilers, indicated that they will be providing a portion of the space on the car for the Oilers logo. He continued to express his excitement by saying, “We’re looking forward to seeing an Indy car sporting the Oilers’ copper and blue on the track on Saturday, hopefully taking the checkered flag first.”

Race fans, get ready to start your engines! Edmonton is preparing for the Rexall Edmonton Indy (July 24 - 26) and the city is heating up. This is the only Canadian venue for the Indy this year, so it's Edmonton's time to shine, baby! I’m totally stoked for the on-track activities (starting next Thursday), but there’s so much stuff going on already off the track.

photo credit: ph-stop

Capital Ex Parade and pancake breakfast (July 17)
This day also marks the kick-off of the Capital Ex festival (as many rides, carnies, corn dogs and cotton candy as you can handle). The festival goes on until the Sunday after the race.

Continental Cartage pancake breakfast (July 18)
I know these guys, so I’m really looking forward to this one. Continental Cartage is a major race enthusiast and they have sponsored a car in the Atlantic series for the past two years. The breakfast is sponsored by a local radio station (Sonic FM), and they’ll be broadcasting live from Continental’s parking lot.

Taste of Edmonton festival (July 18 - 27)
Local food vendors set up food tents at Churchill square--walk around outside, eat some good food and watch some people.

Tent party! Yah!