Paul Tracy Inducted into Ontario Sports Hall of Fame
Paul Tracy, the 2003 Champ Car Champion, has been inducted into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame, highlighting his significant contributions to motorsports alongside notable figures such as swimmer Summer McIntosh and the 2019 NBA champion Toronto Raptors. Tracy is the sole motorsports representative among this year’s class.
“I am honored to be inducted into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame,” stated Tracy. “Growing up in Toronto, I never would have imagined the career and success I’ve had. To be acknowledged with all these great Canadian athletes is a pretty cool deal.”
The Ontario Sports Hall of Fame recognizes athletes who have distinguished themselves in their sports, whether as amateurs or professionals, provided they have lived, been born in, or enhanced sport in Ontario.
Tracy’s aggressive driving style and distinctive persona made him a standout figure in the CART/Champ Car era, where he achieved 31 career wins driving for prominent teams including Team KOOL Green, Forsythe, Penske, and Newman/Haas. His full-time open-wheel career concluded with the unification of the Champ Car and IndyCar Series in 2008, although he made sporadic appearances in IndyCar events until 2011.
In addition to his open-wheel accolades, Tracy has a strong sports car background, recording five appearances at the Rolex 24 at Daytona from 2005 to 2013, as well as starts in NASCAR’s then-Busch and Craftsman Truck Series. He also participated in the inaugural seasons of the Superstar Racing Experience (SRX) in 2021 and 2022.
Post-retirement, Tracy transitioned into media, contributing to NBC’s IndyCar coverage from 2014 to 2021 and currently hosting the “Racers Unchained” podcast for RACER. This latest honor solidifies his status as a key figure in Canadian sports history.
