IRL Grand Marshall's Banquet Benefits Sonoma Teen Center

SONOMA, Calif. - Infineon Raceway will host the 1st
Indy Racing League Grand Marshall's Banquet on Friday, Aug. 26, at the
Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn, and the El Nido Teen Center in Sonoma
couldn't be happier.

 

All proceeds from the event will benefit the El Nido Teen Center through
Speedway Children's Charities, the charitable arm of Infineon Raceway.
The center offers teens in the Sonoma Valley a variety of programs
designed to enrich their lives.

 

The fund-raiser is part of the Argent Mortgage Indy Grand Prix weekend
(Aug. 26-28) at Infineon Raceway, which will mark the first-ever event
on a permanent road course in the 10-year history of the IRL. It will
also mark the first major open-wheel race in the Sonoma Valley since
1970.

 

The gala will honor Grand Marshall Al Unser, who participated in the
first - and only - open-wheel race at then-Sears Point Raceway in 1970.
Unser placed third behind winner Dan Gurney and second-place Mario
Andretti in the USAC IndyCar 150. Unser is a four-time winner of the
legendary Indianapolis 500.

 

"I'm honored to serve as grand marshall for this great event, and I'm
pleased we're going to be able to help the good people at the El Nido
Teen Center in Sonoma," Unser said. "I am really looking forward to
this."

 

Buddy Rice, 2004 winner of the Indianapolis 500 and driver of the Argent
Mortgage/Pioneer Honda for Rahal Letterman Racing, has also confirmed
that he will be in attendance.

 

"We are ecstatic to be part of this event and know that this money will
not only enhance the programs that we have, but it will also enable us
to develop new programs," said Stefanie Shackelford, board president of
the El Nido Teen Center.

 

Cost to attend the banquet is $200 per person, or $2,000 for a table of
10. Please contact Denise Silver at 707-933-3950 or
dsilver@infineonraceway.com.