Even the most spontaneous summer road trips usually have some kind of loose itinerary, whether it’s visiting vintage ballparks, exploring historic cities and heritage sites, or a Rain Man-style raid on Vegas. But most road-trippers will tell you that the allure of the open road has less to do with where you’re going than with the potential for adventure along the way: more often than not, the journey turns out to be more memorable than the eventual destination. And though the same is probably also true in the grand scheme of things, when you’re hitting the road to cover the Honda Indy 200, an open-wheel race on a natural-terrain road course in Lexington, Ohio, that draws many of the finest drivers in the world, it’s hard to keep that old Taoist principle in mind.

Given that Honda is the race’s main sponsor, I thought it was only right to show up in a Honda vehicle, so I arranged for a 2011 Accord Sedan SE. Granted, a family-oriented car like the Accord might not seem like an obvious first choice when you’re heading to an IndyCar event, but since I myself was not participating in the race, I thought it would be equal to the task. The 2011 Accord Sedan has benefited from various design tweaks and recently underwent a model change. Under the hood is a 2.4-litre, 177-horsepower four-cylinder engine with a five-speed automatic transmission. There weren’t many gadgets (including a navigation system or a sunroof), but it did come equipped with a much-needed XM Satellite Radio for the long drive. Most of the Accord’s refinements have improved fuel economy, but the leather-trimmed seats and steering wheel, 16-inch alloy wheels, and 8-way adjustable electric driver’s seat with power lumbar support have also introduced a more luxurious quality.

After securing my luggage in the spacious trunk and making a patriotic final pit-stop at Timmy’s, I crossed the border and headed for my first waypoint: the Steel City, Pittsburgh, PA. I cruised along the I-90 West and then took the I-79 South to the Burgh, which despite its gritty industrial reputation is a beautiful city with a striking downtown skyline. Not only is Pittsburgh a great sports town, but it is also studded with interesting cultural sites (notably the Andy Warhol museum) and great restaurants, including the famous Primanti Bros. Sandwich chain.

After watching the hapless Pirates at PNC Park and then checking out a poker tournament at the Rivers Casino, it was off to the races in Ohio. While en route to Lexington I stopped at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, where several NFL greats, notably Deion Sanders, Marshall Faulk, and Shannon Sharpe, were being enshrined. This little detour also allowed me to take the winding US-30 Highway, which the SE negotiated expertly. The Honda Indy 200 was the second of three IndyCar races that I plan to attend this year, but I never get tired of being in the pits and around the cars and teams. In past years, the Indy 200 hasn’t exactly been a barn-burner: passing was almost unheard of, so qualifying was a top priority for all drivers. Scott Dixon of Target Chip Ganassi not only won the pole – his first in a few years at an IndyCar race – but also topped the morning practice session. Dixon, who trailed teammate Dario Franchitti by 106 points in the drivers’ standings coming into the race, looked primed for his third win at this course. The two drivers who are challenging for the Driver’s Championship, Franchitti and Verizon Team Penske’s Will Power, started side-by-side in the third and fourth spots.

In the end, Dixon prevailed, winning his first race of the 2011 campaign and third career Mid-Ohio by passing Franchitti on a re-start with 24 laps to go. Franchitti and Power battled for position early on, but an unlucky caution spoiled Power’s pit strategy and cost him valuable positions. Franchitti ultimately finished second and Power fourteenth. Canada’s own James Hinchcliffe of Newman/Haas, who was competing in just his 12th IndyCar event, led the pack for 26 laps before going off course after a pit-stop, a critical error that left him bringing up the rear.

After watching the trophy presentation, I struck out for my last stop in the neighbouring city of Columbus to recharge my batteries for the long drive home. After putting some 2,000 klicks on my faithful Accord, I had come to feel like it was my own. Despite having spent eight hours behind the wheel, I experienced no discomfort (except for an ill-advised midnight run to White Castle for which the Accord cannot be blamed). Granted, driving the Accord Sedan is not going to get your heart rate jacked, but its balance of comfort, reliability, luxury, and fuel economy make it a strong contender in the full-size family-sedan market. The car didn’t turn any heads, but it proved to be a reliable road-trip companion.