IndyCar Series Title Up for Grabs in Sonoma
IndyCar(r) Series Championship Up for Grabs
at Infineon Raceway, Aug 25-27
SONOMA, Calif. The twists and turns of Infineon
Raceway's road course will play a major role in the chase for the 2006
IRL IndyCar(r) Series championship.
The Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma, Aug. 25-27, is the penultimate race of
the season, and five drivers are within 79 points of series leader Sam
Hornish Jr. (Marlboro Team Penske), setting the stage for fireworks over
the 12-turn, 2.26-mile road course. The season concludes Sept. 10 at
Chicagoland Speedway.
"I just need to go out there and make sure I keep (teammate) Helio
(Castroneves) in my mirrors and hopefully we'll be able to get out of
there at least seven points up," said Hornish, who placed 17th last year
in Sonoma and is a two-time IRL champion. "I think that going into
Chicago, a place that I love to race at, I feel that we've got a great
opportunity to win this championship."
Hornish leads second-place Castroneves by seven points
(418-411). Dan Wheldon (394), Scott Dixon (385), Vitor Meira (348) and
Tony Kanaan (339) are the other drivers within striking range. Wheldon
and Dixon are teammates for Target Chip Ganassi Racing and former IRL
champions, Wheldon in 2005 and Dixon in 2003.
"The Penske cars are very fast every weekend," Wheldon said.
"We're up against a team that is obviously one of the best in America.
Roger (Penske) is hungry to win championships. That guy has won a lot
before. He can smell another one."
It's almost ironic that prior to the 2005 race season road
courses were not part of the equation in the IRL, and now one will play
a factor in the championship. Though 79 points behind, Kanaan (Andretti
Green Racing) is the defending race champion in Sonoma, while
Castroneves qualified second but was forced from the race early in a
three-car accident with pole-sitter Ryan Briscoe (Dreyer & Reinbold
Racing) and Danica Patrick (Rahal Letterman Racing).
Meira (Lincoln Tech Panther Racing), meanwhile, is not only
seeking his first-ever championship, but also his first IRL victory. He
placed ninth in Sonoma in 2005 and has 10 top-10 efforts this year.
"We come here to win, and we always give it 110-percent," Meira said.
"The rest takes care of itself. Everybody, every champion like Tony
(Kanaan), Scott (Dixon) know that all you can do is 110-percent. The
rest works out by itself."
The race weekend begins with practice on Friday, Aug. 25, followed by
qualifying on Saturday and the feature race on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. The
weekend will also feature the debut of the Grand American Rolex Sports
Car Series, the Indy Pro Series(tm) and the Historic Grand Prix. For
ticket information, call 800-870-RACE or visit www.infineonraceway.com
<http://www.infineonraceway.com/> .
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
