INDYCAR: Daunting start looms at Toronto

The most exciting part of a street race is usually the start and it's expected to be extra challenging Sunday in the Honda Indy Toronto. Because Turn 11 is so tight, some drivers have questioned whether lining up for a side-by-side start is even feasible.

"I don't think there's room to go two abreast in Turn 11, so we'll have to go single file and then line up side by side," said Helio Castroneves, who goes from the outside of Row 1 in his Penske Chevy.

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"It's comparable to Long Beach, where we come out of the hairpin single file and then start forming up, so I think we'll be fine," said James Hinchcliffe, who starts sixth in the Arrow Honda.

"My vote is a single-file start," cracked Scott Dixon, who captured the pole position in his Target Chevy. "Naw, seriously, it's tight but we'll get lined up and have a few rows get two abreast unless they move the starting line down."

The 14 Indy Lights cars made it through Turn 11 in seven rows because they greatly reduced their speed and that could be a suggestion in Sunday morning's driver's meeting.

"Do you want everybody on the straightaway?" asked Sebastien Bourdais, who starts fifth in the Hydroxycut Chevy. "Well, if you do it's simple. Reduce the speed, move the starting line and everyone will be going into Turn 1 at less speed so we might all make it through there."

Will Power, starting fourth in his Verizon Chevy, liked the slower speed idea. "I'd vote for a first-gear start," he said.

There had been talk of possibly moving the start to the Lake Shore straightaway (above, IMS Photo), where the cars reach 185mph before braking hard into the best passing zone of the track in Turn 3.

"Oh yeah, let's have a crack at it on the backstretch and see how many cars we can wreck," said Bourdais.

"That would be insane, starting back there," said Castroneves. "We'd be five wide going into Turn 3."

"There aren't fans fans back there and it would probably get pretty crazy so I vote stay where we usually start," said Hinch. "Street course starts are always hairy, everyone just needs to be smart."

Good luck on that one.