'Marcomania' Ready for Assault on Sonoma Valley

Contact: John Cardinale

(707) 933-3907

 

"Marcomania" Ready for Assault on 

Infineon Raceway During Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma

 

            SONOMA, Calif. (IMMEDIATE RELEASE) - Last year it was
"Danicamania" that struck the IRL IndyCar Series(r) after first-year
driver Danica Patrick became a star following her near-miss in the
Indianapolis 500.

 

            And while Patrick is still going strong, a new type of mania
has come on the scene thanks to 19-year-old rookie sensation Marco
Andretti. With his runner-up finish in one of the most exciting and
competitive Indy 500s ever, Andretti has sparked "Marcomania" and has
become both a star and media darling in his first season of racing in
the IRL.

 

            Fans will get their fill of the young Andretti when he
visits the Sonoma Valley for the Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma, Aug. 25-27.
Competition will take place on the twisting 12-turn, 2.26-mile road
course, one of just two permanent road courses on the IRL schedule for
2006.

 

            Andretti has been tagged for stardom almost since birth.
It's hard not to be when his grandfather is Mario Andretti, believed by
many to be the greatest racing driver of all time. His father, Michael,
kept the family name at the front of the pack for many years of
open-wheel racing success.

 

            The youngster is also driving outstanding equipment,
stepping into the #26 that Dan Wheldon drove last year for Andretti
Green Racing to the Indy 500 win and the IRL title. The team signed a
high-profile sponsorship with NYSE prior to the start of the season.

 

            Andretti drove in six events in the Indy Pro Series in 2005,
and he won three of them, including Infineon Raceway. Following that,
the decision was made to graduate to the IRL, joining AGR in 2006. 

 

            "Needless to say, Andretti Green Racing is where I wanted to
be this year," he said. "Obviously, I knew that if I ran in the
IndyCar(r) Series it would be for my dad's team. But knowing the past
history of this team, and especially the group of guys that I have on
the #26 team, just makes it even more exciting." 

 

            The runner-up finish to Sam Hornish, Jr., at Indianapolis
came in Andretti's first Indy 500. Andretti ran strong all day, seldom
out of the top 10, and with some late-race pit strategy, he found
himself in second place. He passed his father, Michael, for the lead and
appeared on his way to victory, but Hornish made a daring move on the
last turn of the final lap and nipped Andretti at the line. 

            

            Many expected Andretti to be thrilled at finishing second in
his first Indy 500, and he was, but he was far from satisfied. "Second
place is nothing here," he said after the race.

 

            That winning mentality comes with Andretti back to Infineon
Raceway, where he will make his first IRL appearance on a circuit that
he has been successful on in the past.

 

            "I enjoyed the track very much," he said of Infineon. "It's
very challenging with a lot of corners on it that are very different.
It's also very physical with the uphill and downhill, the slow and fast
corners. I really love road racing," he said. "It's the background I
come from. I've only driven a few ovals in my life. I'm glad to still
have the chance to do it in the IRL.

 

###

 

WHAT:  Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma

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

WHEN:  Aug. 25-27

COURSE:  12 turns, 2.26 miles

2005 WINNER: Tony Kanaan

RECORDS: Qualifying - Ryan Briscoe, 2005, 108.25 mph.; Race - Tony
Kanaan, 2005, 105.74 mph 

IN ADDITION: The weekend will also feature the Grand American Rolex
Sports Car Series, Indy Pro Series(tm) and the Historic Grand Prix.   

SCHEDULE (All times Pacific):  

Friday, Aug. 25: Grand-Am Practice 9 a.m.-9:45 a.m.; IndyCar(r)
Practice, 10 a.m.-12:05 p.m.; Indy Pro Series(tm) Qualifying, 12:15
p.m.-1 p.m.; IndyCar(r) Practice, 2 p.m.-3 p.m.; Indy Pro Series(tm)
Qualifying, 3:40 p.m.-4:25 p.m.; Grand-Am Qualifying, 4:45 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 26: IndyCar(r) Practice, 9:30 a.m.-10:35 a.m.; IndyCar(r)
Qualifying, 12:05 p.m.-1:20 p.m.; Indy Pro Series(tm) race, 1:45 p.m.,
Grand-Am main event, 3 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 27: Indy Pro Series(tm) race, 10:20 a.m.; Indy Grand Prix
of Sonoma, 12:30 p.m. (ESPN)

TICKETS:  $10-$85, 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.  

 

            

 

 

---------------------------

John Cardinale

VP of Media/Community Relations

Infineon Raceway

Highways 37 &121, Sonoma, CA 95476

wk: 707-933-3907

cell: 707-334-9805