No practice, only a few short qualifying laps, and ultimately an ill-handling race car made for a tough day for Cole Powell and team EHR at the Pinty’s Grand Prix at the Honda Indy Toronto. Powell managed to scrape together a twelfth-place finish for the Copp’s Buildall / Kubota Chevrolet at the difficult event.
Troubles began for the team almost as soon as the car was off the trailer. Ignition difficulties and rear-end issues kept the team from participating in practice sessions. Powell would later field the car in qualifying on Friday, spinning but still able to put together a tenth-place qualifying run.
Green green green!! @hondaindy @NASCARPintys @NASCARonTSN pic.twitter.com/AIEOEsafN8
— Cole Powell (@ColePowell) July 14, 2018
Major adjustments were made to the vehicle prior to Saturday’s main event. While the crew worked hard, the adjustments did not net the handling improvements that had been hoped for. As soon as the race began, optimism gave way to frustration as it became clear the result of the day was not going to match the capability of the team or the driver.
“With the broken rear end, we didn’t get the chance to adjust the car,” said Powell after the event. “The car’s still in one piece. It’s a long day and I’m happy to be out of this car.”
In spite of the challenging day, there is certainly hope on the horizon. The team sits in fourth in the overall standings and the next two races on the circuit are ovals: part of the NASCAR Pinty’s Series western swing. On July 25 the series will run a double-header at Wyant Group Raceway in Saskatoon then move on to Edmonton International Raceway in Alberta on July 28.
“We’ll get them on the oval’s, that’s our bread and butter,” Powell added. “It is what it is today.”
Results:
1 27 Andrew Ranger
2 18 Alex Tagliani
3 4 J.F. Dumoulin
4 59 Gary Klutt
5 47 L.P. Dumoulin
6 22 Marc-Antoine Camirand
7 1 James Vance *
8 17 D.J. Kennington
9 24 Donald Theetge
10 79 Peter Shepherd III
11 19 Adam Martin
12 3 Cole Powell
13 42 Peter Klutt
14 46 Brett Taylor *
15 28 Jason White
16 74 Kevin Lacroix
17 2 Kerry Micks
18 25 Larry Jackson
19 95 Anthony Simone