Edwards, Other NASCAR Drivers Test Infineon Raceway

 

SONOMA, Calif. - Carl Edwards highlighted a group of
four NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series drivers participating in a two-day test
session at Infineon Raceway on Tuesday.

 

The drivers tested the 10-turn, 1.99-mile road course in advance of the
Dodge/Save Mart 350 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup weekend, set for June 23-25 in the
Sonoma Valley.

 

Edwards (No. 99 Office Depot Ford), who placed 38th in his only other
visit to Infineon Raceway in 2005, tested his Busch Series car with
coaching from road-race specialist Boris Said. Said will also compete in
the Sonoma NASCAR weekend as part of a four-race deal behind the wheel
of his No. 60 No Fear Ford. His other races are in Daytona, Indianapolis
and Watkins Glen.

 

Edwards wasn't in race trim and his car featured substantially less
horsepower than his NEXTEL Cup car, as he clocked a top lap of 1 minute,
18 seconds. Clint Bowyer (No. 07 Jack Daniel's Chevrolet), Reed Sorenson
(No. 41 Target Dodge) and Kyle Busch (No. 5 Kellogg's Chevrolet) also
took part in the test, which concludes on Wednesday.

 

            "I just followed Boris' lead out there today; he helped me
out a lot," Edwards said. "I need a top 10 when we come back out here
later this month. This race is of huge importance; I took 38th here last
year and that can't happen again with the Chase (for the NEXTEL Cup)
coming up."

 

"Carl's getting real good out here," commented Said, who has placed
sixth twice in Cup events in Sonoma. "He's about as fast as I am on
three-quarters of the track. There are only a couple of places that he
still needs to figure out."

 

            Sorenson posted a 1:19.79, also in a Busch Series car, while
Bowyer clocked a 1:21.3 in a Grand National Division AutoZone West
Series car, which features even less  horsepower than a Busch Series
car. Busch did not report a time.

 

            "I haven't run a lot of road courses in general so my goal
is to just gain some track experience and learn the corners," Sorenson
said. "I'm hoping I'll learn enough to be better when I come back, but
this is a pretty tough track."

 

            Sorenson is one of six NEXTEL Cup drivers pulling
double-duty the weekend of June 23-25, competing in both the Cup event
in Sonoma and the Busch Series event in Milwaukee. Others drivers
pulling double-duty are Edwards; Bowyer; Kevin Harvick (No. 29 GM
Goodwrench Chevrolet); Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Kinko's Chevrolet);
and J.J. Yeley (No. 18 Interstate Batteries Chevrolet).

 

###

 

WHAT:  Dodge/Save Mart 350 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup weekend

WHERE:  Infineon Raceway, Highways 37 & 121, Sonoma, CA 95476

WHEN:  June 23-25

COURSE:  10 turns, 1.99 miles

2005 WINNER: Tony Stewart

2006 PURSE: Record $5,362,868 in posted awards

RECORDS: Qualifying- Jeff Gordon, 2005, 94.325 mph. Race - Ricky Rudd,
2002, 81.007 mph

 NEXTEL CUP SCHEDULE (All times Pacific):  

Friday - NASCAR NEXTEL Cup practice, noon-2 p.m.; Ravenswood Winery
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Qualifying, 4:05 p.m. (SPEED). Saturday - NASCAR
NEXTEL Cup Series practice, 9:30-10:15 a.m.; Slingbox NASCAR NEXTEL Cup
Series Happy Hour, 11:10-11:55 a.m. (FX). Sunday -  Dodge/Save Mart 350,
12:40 p.m. (FOX).

TICKETS:  $25-$180, parking is free.  800-870-RACE,
www.infineonraceway.com <http://www.infineonraceway.com/>  or
www.ticketmaster.com <http://www.ticketmaster.com/> .  Gates open at 7
a.m. each day.