Motor Sports Stars Highlight Speed-Fest at Infineon Raceway

Motor Sports Stars, including IRL's Wheldon, NHRA's McClenathan,

 Highlight Speed-Fest at Infineon Raceway

 

SONOMA, Calif. Race fans were able to rub
shoulders, watch remote control car racing and even take a hot lap
around the world-famous 12-turn, 2.52-mile road course with some of the
biggest names in motor sports at Infineon Raceway's Speed-Fest on Monday
under rainy skies in the Sonoma Valley.

 

Speed-Fest, which is the first of three promotional events designed for
race fans as Infineon Raceway gears up for the upcoming Big O Tires
Racing Season, attracted more than 300 race fans under blustery
conditions, as well as the Indy Racing League's Dan Wheldon, NASCAR
NEXTEL Cup's David Stremme, NHRA's Cory McClenathan, Grand American
Rolex Sports Car Series' Scott Pruett and the AMA Superbike Series' Jake
Zemke.

 

The drivers took part in a formal press conference in advance of the
upcoming motor sports season at Infineon Raceway, but that wasn't all.
They also swapped paint during a remote control car racing stunt, signed
autographs for fans and even gave 75 lucky fans a lap around the world
famous road course. The laps were given in exchange for fans donating
one pint of blood to the American Red Cross, which held a blood drive on
Monday at the raceway. 

 

The festive day was particularly appealing for Stremme, a NASCAR rookie
who had never seen the Sonoma Valley road course prior to Monday. He
enjoyed getting the feel for the course while piloting fans around the
circuit. He'll return for the Dodge/Save Mart 350 weekend, June 23-25.

 

"Scott (Pruett) took me out and gave me a few pointers on the track but
you really don't feel it until you get out there yourself," said
Stremme, driver of the No. 40 Coors Light and Lone Star Steakhouse &
Saloon Dodge. "This place is pretty neat, especially with the tight
corners and elevation changes. It's going to be a challenge (in June)."

 

"The laps were really fun, and not just because of the track but he
(Stremme) made everything comfortable for everyone," said John Seratt, a
race fan from San Rafael who attended the event on Monday. "He made
driving the track look easy; it was a great event."

 

It wasn't a challenge for Pruett, who has raced in Sonoma several times
over the years, but this will be his first time at Infineon Raceway
behind the wheel of the No. 01 CompUSA Lexus for Chip Ganassi Racing in
the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series. This will mark Grand-Am's
first event in Sonoma when they share the weekend with the IRL at the
Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma, Aug. 25-27.

 

"This is a great place and we're real excited to come out here with the
Grand Am Series," said Pruett, a resident of Auburn in the Sacramento
area. "I remember coming out here about 10 years ago and this wasn't the
most desirable place, but so much work has been done here. It's one of
the top facilities in the country and the race fans are going to really
like this series. It's pretty exciting when that many cars (45-60) get
on the track at one time."

 

Wheldon, the defending IRL IndyCar(r) Series champion and defending Indy
500 champion, was the star of the day, among both media and race fans,
who braved rainy conditions. Wheldon, who will drive the No. 10 Target
car for Chip Ganassi Racing in 2006, began his season with a victory in
the Rolex 24 at Daytona (Grand-Am Series) in January. 

 

"This track is a challenge, that's best thing I can say about it, and
drivers like challenges," Wheldon said. "I think I speak for all the
drivers (in the IRL) when I say we can't wait to come out here. It's a
great racetrack and the fans have also been great."

 

Wheldon gave 25 fans the thrill of their lives on Monday, driving them
around the serpentine circuit at speed in a street car.

 

 "He (Wheldon) was very professional.  I really enjoyed driving with
someone who goes left and right," said Bill Shepard, a race fan from
nearby Vallejo. "He answered everyone's questions and seemed very
personable. It was my first time out for this event and I'm looking
forward to next year."

 

McClenathan, who drives the Carrier Boyz FRAM Boost Top Fuel dragster in
the NHRA POWERade circuit, also showed he can do more than drive a
straight quarter-mile. He, too, gave race fans laps around the road
course and even spent a good deal of time riding around Infineon
Raceway's 16-turn, three-quarter mile karting track. McClenathan returns
to Infineon Raceway on Saturday for the 4th annual NHRA Tour de Charity,
which gives fans the chance to compete against NHRA stars like
McClenathan, Ron Capps and Gary Scelzi in a full day of karting. Slots
are still open for race fans and proceeds benefit Speedway Children's
Charities; email dsilver@infineonraceway.com
 .

 

"I always have a ball here, and while I know I can go pretty fast in a
dragster, I can also drive a kart pretty well, too," McClenathan said.
"It was great to hang out with the fans today, and I'm looking forward
to the karting day on Saturday with Ron and Gary."

 

            Zemke, a native of San Francisco, will ride the Honda
CBR1000R when the Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown, presented by
Supercuts, visits Sonoma, May 19-21. Zemke, who placed 11th in the
Superbike points battle in 2005, said the CBR1000R is 14 pounds lighter
this year, which could be helpful.

 

"The bike is definitely improved, but not redesigned,"  he said. "We
struggled a bit last year and were 11th in points but I'm looking for
better things in 2006, and I'm looking forward to coming out here. At a
time when we worry about dangerous tracks, this is one (track) that has
become one of the more safer tracks over the last few years."

 

            Speed-Fest is the first of three events for Ignition Tour
2006, designed to build momentum for race fans entering the upcoming
season at Infineon Raceway, which begins May 12-14 with the Ferrari
Challenge. Other upcoming Ignition Tour events include the NHRA Tour de
Charity (Saturday) and Two-Wheel Thunder (March 17). Two-Wheel Thunder
will be held during AMA motorcycle testing and is FREE to the public.
For more information, visit www.infineonraceway.com
<http://www.infineonraceway.com/> .