TORONTO – It was 1986 and Charlie Johnstone crisscrossed Ontario in the Molson Export Racing Caravan promoting the first Indy car race at Exhibition Place.

Bobby Rahal won the 103-lap Molson Indy Toronto on the 1.784-mile street circuit – less than two months after claiming the Indianapolis 500 and three months ahead of wrapping up the first of his three Indy car titles.

It seems like yesterday, Johnstone says, but standing next to Bob’s 26-year-old son Graham is a stark reminder that time passes quickly.

Johnstone, a Toronto native who has been a part of the Indy car event since its inception as an intern with Molson, became president of the operation a decade ago.

“It’s a thrill and a privilege to be sitting in the control seat, if you will, of the largest sporting event in Ontario,” he said. “For a kid growing up here who was into sports marketing and the business side of sports, it’s something that I take a lot of pride in and put a lot of effort into.”

The Verizon IndyCar Series race June 14 headlines the weekend at Exhibition Place, which is accommodating facilities for the upcoming Pan American Games along with a massive hotel being constructed on the site and an expansion of BMO Field.

“The infield has changed over the years and pit out has changed for this year due to the construction of the hotel, but Turn 11 has changed about a tenth of a degree and that’s it,” Johnstone said. “It’s part of the Honda philosophy of reflection: what do we do to get ready and let’s analyze what we’ve done to get better for next year.”

Continuity is reflected in the annual event, too, despite economic ebbs and flows through the years and the inherent challenges street closures and physical alterations.

“It’s a testament to the community embracing it,” Johnstone said. “It shows the support we get from INDYCAR and everyone involved that there is a street circuit in the fifth-biggest market in North America.

“It’s the fact that ‘Oh, you’ve done this for so long it must be the same thing every year.’ It’s not, with 2015 being even more of an anomaly where we have even more factors out of our control. When you’re working with the city and province to shut down major roads, it takes a lot of time to try to do that and it’s a testament to our team that we do what we say and it’s really quite the accomplishment that we can pull this off."

Hinchcliffe will be grand marshal

Verizon IndyCar Series driver James Hinchcliffe, who is recovering from surgery for injuries suffered in a practice crash May 18 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, has been cleared to travel and will be the grand marshal of the Honda Indy Toronto.

Hinchcliffe, 28, is a native of Oakville, Ontario.

“Although he is unable to race, it is important to us, and to him, that he is involved in the race in some capacity, being as this is his hometown event,” Johnstone said.

Daly to honor Hinchcliffe with helmet design

Conor Daly, filling in for Hinchcliffe in the No. 5 Arrow/Lucas Oil Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Honda in the Honda Indy Toronto, has a special helmet design for the race weekend to honor his Canadian friend.

His helmet is dotted with red maple leaves and a large section is filled with the colors of the Canadian flag.

Of note