TORONTO – Race fans at the Honda Indy Toronto enjoyed a dazzling display of northern lights—not in the sky, but on the track, where Canadian stars shimmered like heat on pavement throughout the weekend.

Sunday’s race marked Montreal native Vanessa Grimaldi’s first Indy car experience. Grimaldi, who claimed the final rose and an engagement ring from Nick Viall in Season 21 of “The Bachelor” (the two later split), served as the event’s grand marshal. She spent much of race day with INDYCAR rookie and fellow Montrealer Zachary Claman De Melo in the Dale Coyne Racing compound in the paddock area.

“I love the fact that fans can actually see behind the scenes!” Grimaldi gushed.

Grimaldi also met another “Bachelor,” former Indy car driver Arie Luyendyk Jr., from the most recent season of the ABC dating reality show. From there, things moved as fast as an Indy car. Luyendyk Jr. took Grimaldi for a ride in the Honda Fastest Seat in Sports to lead the Verizon IndyCar Series field before the race. Before they took off on their hot laps, Grimaldi also issued the command for drivers to start their engines from the passenger seat of the two-seat Indy car.

“I’m a little nervous,” she admitted beforehand. But as she was piloted around the 1.786-mile street circuit – hitting speeds as high as 160 mph – Grimaldi’s nervousness quickly gave way to exhilaration.

“Oh my God, that was so much fun!” she exclaimed afterward.

Luyendyk Jr. wasn’t the only “Bachelor” in the paddock. Also present was Chris Leroux, who, in addition to pitching for the Florida Marlins, Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Yankees, starred in Season 3 of “The Bachelor Canada.”

HGTV host Scott McGillivray – not a “Bachelor” but recently named one of “Hello! Canada’s” 50 Most Beautiful Canadians – also put in an appearance. Like Grimaldi, McGillivray enjoyed a turn in the two-seater earlier in the race weekend.

“What a rush!” McGillivray posted to his Instagram account.

And in a homecoming of sorts, “Beverly Hills, 90210” star Jason Priestley – a past competitor in Indy Lights – surfaced on site before the green flag.

The turnout again showed that celebrities go with INDYCAR like French fries go with gravy and cheese curds (also called "poutine"), which is to say really well, especially in Canada.The Canadian contingent in Toronto joined the likes of such stars as Rob Riggle, Channing Tatum, Chris Hemsworth, Kelly Clarkson, Nick Cannon and more who have been a part of Verizon IndyCar Series races as well this season.