INDYCAR (SONOMA) - PRE-RACE ADVANCE

WHAT: IndyCar® Series: Motorola Indy 300 presented by Jackson Rancheria, 15th race in 17-race 2007 season Indy Pro Series™: Carneros 100, 14th race in 16-race 2007 season Valley of the Moon 100, 15th race in 16-race 2007 season

WHERE: Infineon Raceway, 12-turn, 2.26-mile permanent road course

WHEN: IndyCar Series: 3:30 p.m. (ET), Sunday, Aug. 26 Indy Pro Series: Carneros 100: 2:45 p.m. (ET), Saturday, Aug. 25 Valley of the Moon 100: 1:20 p.m. (ET) Sunday, Aug. 26

DISTANCE: IndyCar Series: 80 laps/180.8 miles Indy Pro Series: Both races: 30 laps/69 miles

POSTED AWARDS: IndyCar Series: More than $1 million Indy Pro Series: More than $375,000 (combined)

CARS: IndyCar Series: Dallara chassis; Honda Indy V-8; Firestone tires; 100 percent fuel-grade ethanol Indy Pro Series: Dallara chassis; Firestone tires

PREVIOUS RACE WINNERS: IndyCar Series: Tony Kanaan (2005), Marco Andretti (2006) Indy Pro Series: Marco Andretti (2005), Wade Cunningham (2006 – Race 1), Alex Lloyd (2006 – Race 2)

2006 SERIES CHAMPIONS: IndyCar Series: Sam Hornish Jr. Indy Pro Series: Jay Howard

TV: IndyCar Series: Race: ESPN (live), 3:30 p.m. (EDT), Aug. 26 Talent: Marty Reid, Scott Goodyear, (announcers); Jack Arute, Brienne Pedigo, Vince Welch (pit reporters) Note: Live streaming video coverage of practice and AAMCO Transmissions Pole Qualifying (4 p.m., (ET) Aug. 25) is available at www.indycar.com and www.espn360.com.

Indy Pro Series: Race: ESPN2 (tape-delay), 5:30 p.m. (EDT), Aug. 31 Talent: Bob Jenkins, Robbie Buhl (announcers); Mike King (pit reporter) Note: Live streaming video coverage of the Carneros 100 (2:45 p.m. (ET) Aug. 25) and Valley of the Moon 100 (1:20 p.m., Aug. 26) is available at www.indycar.com and www.espn360.com.

RADIO: IndyCar Series: Qualifying: IMS Radio Network, live web-cast, 3:45 p.m. (ET) Aug. 25 Qualifying wrapup: IMS Radio Network, 5:30 p.m. (ET), Aug. 25 Race: IMS Radio Network (live), 3 p.m. (ET), Aug. 26 Talent: Mike King (host); Davey Hamilton (analyst); Dave Wilson (color commentary); Mark Jaynes, Bob Jenkins, Kevin Lee (turns); Jake Query (pit reporters); Kevin Olson (special assignments) The race broadcast is also available on XM Satellite Radio channel 145 “IndyCar Racing.”

SCHEDULE (all times local; subject to change):

Friday, Aug. 24 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. IndyCar Series and Indy Pro Series garages open 10 a.m. – Noon IndyCar Series practice #1 (all cars) 12:15 – 1 p.m. Indy Pro Series practice #1 (all cars) 2 – 3 p.m. IndyCar Series practice (two groups) 3:15 – 4 p.m. Indy Pro Series SWE Race Car Parts Qualifying (all cars)

Saturday, Aug. 25 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. IndyCar Series and Indy Pro Series garages open 9 -9L15 p.m. Indy Pro Series warmup 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. IndyCar Series practice (two groups) 11:45 a.m. Carneros 100 (30 laps/69 miles/1 hour time limit) ESPN2 (taped, 5:30 p.m., Aug. 31) 1 p.m. IndyCar Series AAMCO Transmissions Pole Qualifying, including Firestone Fast Six session (90 minutes total)

Sunday, Aug. 26 6:30 a.m. IndyCar Series and Indy Pro Series garages open 8:30 – 9 a.m. IndyCar Series warmup 10:20 a.m. Valley of the Moon 100 (30 laps/69 miles1 hour time limit) ESPN2 (taped, 2 p.m., Aug. 31) 12:30 p.m. Motorola Indy 300 presented by Jackson Rancheria (80 laps/180.8 miles) ESPN & IMS Radio Network (live)

THE TRACK: 2.26-mile road course; 40 feet wide • Infineon Raceway is located 30 minutes north of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and serves as the gateway to Sonoma Wine Country. The track is owned and operated by Speedway Motorsports, Inc., and hosts several nationally televised events, including NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) drag racing, the American Motorcycle Association (AMA) Superbike tour and the IndyCar Series.

INDY-STYLE RACING IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA: Since opening in 1968, Infineon Raceway, formerly known as Sears Point Raceway, has been the home to motorsports action for much of Northern California, The track first hosted Indy-style racing with two USAC Indy Car races in 1969 and 1970. Dan Gurney took the checkered flag in the USAC IndyCar 150 over drivers such as Mario Andretti, Mark Donahue and Al Unser. But the track closed shortly after that race, and open-wheel cars were replaced by sports cars and later NASCAR stock cars. On Aug. 3, 2004, the Indy Racing League announced that the IndyCar Series would race on an IndyCar Series-modified 12-turn, 2.26-mile course at Infineon Raceway. The first Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma was won by Tony Kanaan on Aug. 28, 2005.

INDYCAR SERIES NOTES: •Five Indianapolis 500 champions are expected to participate in the Motorola Indy 300 presented by Jackson Rancheria: Helio Castroneves (2001, 2002), Buddy Rice (2004), Dan Wheldon (2005), Sam Hornish Jr. (2006) and Dario Franchitti (2007).

•Five IndyCar Series champions are scheduled to participate in the Motorola Indy 300 presented by Jackson Rancheria: Scott Sharp (1996 co-champion), Sam Hornish Jr. (2001, 2002), Scott Dixon (2003), Tony Kanaan (2004) and Dan Wheldon (2005).

•The Indy 300 presented by Jackson Rancheria will be the fourth of five events in 2007 contested on street or road courses: Helio Castroneves (St. Petersburg) and Scott Dixon (Watkins Glen International and Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course) won the previous events. The final event, the Detroit Indy Grand Prix presented by Firestone, is scheduled for Sept. 2

•Drivers entered in the Motorola Indy 300 presented by Jackson Rancheria have combined for 86 IndyCar Series victories, 82 IndyCar Series pole positions and 1,282 IndyCar Series starts.

•In 14 races thus far in 2007, there have been six winners. Dario Franchitti, Scott Dixon, Tony Kanaan, Dan Wheldon are multiple winners. Franchitti won at Indianapolis, Iowa and Richmond. Wheldon won at Homestead-Miami and Kansas, Dixon won at Watkins Glen, Nashville and Mid-Ohio and Kanaan won at Twin Ring Motegi, Milwaukee, Michigan and Kentucky. Other winners in 2007: Helio Castroneves at St. Petersburg, Sam Hornish Jr. at Texas. In those 14 races, 16 drivers have finished in the top five in at least one event.

INDY PRO SERIES NOTES: • Unique procedures in place for doubleheader: The Indy Pro Series employs some unique procedures for doubleheader weekends. After a single practice session, all cars will participate in a European-style qualifying session to determine the starting order for Race 1. Any car that causes a full-course caution during the qualifying session is penalized 10 positions. Following Race 1, the race winner participates in a blind draw to determine how many starters will invert positions for Race 2. The possibilities are 0, 4, 6 and 8. The remainder of the field starts where they finished.

• Camara holds ‘Iron man’ title: Jaime Camara established the Indy Pro Series’ all-time mark for consecutive starts at the Liberty Challenge at Indianapolis on June 16 with his 32nd consecutive start. He extended the streak to 39 at Kentucky on Aug. 11. Camara competed for Sam Schmidt Motorsports in 2005 and for Andretti Green Racing in 2006. He returns in the AGR entry in 2007.

• Cunningham can extend record: Wade Cunningham has started in the top 10 in the past 22 consecutive races, which is the Indy Pro Series record.

• Six race winners in ’07: Six drivers have won races in the Indy Pro Series in 2007 – one short of the record established last season. Winners this season include: Richard Antinucci, Wade Cunningham, Alex Lloyd, Hideki Mutoh, Robbie Pecorari and Bobby Wilson.

INDYCAR SERIES STORY IDEAS: •Championship Contenders Take the Battle to Infineon: As the IndyCar Series championship point standings currently sit, three of the five contenders –Scott Dixon, Tony Kanaan and Dan Wheldon – have been victorious on road courses in their IndyCar Series careers. Points leader Dario Franchitti and Sam Hornish Jr. have yet to win on a road course since their addition to the IndyCar Series schedule in 2005. With just three races left in the battle, find out how the race at Infineon Raceway will factor into the championship hunt for these drivers.

• Marco Andretti Looks to Defend Undefeated Record at Infineon: Marco Andretti returns to Infineon Raceway in search of his third-consecutive victory at the famed road course. Andretti won the Indy Pro Series event at the track in 2005 and won his first IndyCar Series race on the track last year. Can he make it three in a row in Sonoma?

• Road Course Fitness: Infineon Raceway is one of the most physically challenging races on the IndyCar Series circuit, with lots of shifting, sharp turns and changes in elevation. To prepare for the demands of this road course drivers must prepare, both physically and mentally, different than they would for an oval. Find out how drivers get their bodies and minds ready to tackle the challenges of Infineon Raceway.

• Unique Qualifying Format Returns To Infineon: In 2005, the IndyCar Series introduced a unique road/street course qualifying procedure in which the race for the pole begins when the cars hit the track. All cars participate in the initial practice session of race weekend, with the times determining the two groups that will be used in the remaining pre-qualifying practice session. Friday's combined practice times determine the qualifying order, with the driver posting the fastest time having the option of driving first or last in single-lap qualifying. At the conclusion of single-lap qualifying the fastest six cars will participate in a 10-minute, European-style session to determine the first three rows.

• Ethanol Power: The 2007 IndyCar Series season marks the first year where the full field is fueled by ethanol. All IndyCar Series competitors employ the 3.5-liter Honda Indy V-8 engine fueled by 100 percent fuel-grade ethanol. The IndyCar Series is the first in motorsports to embrace a renewable fuel source. Ethanol is an environmentally-friendly fuel, distilled from high-starch crops (primarily corn) grown in the United States.

INDY PRO SERIES STORY IDEAS: • Lloyd on verge of championship: Alex Lloyd could become the first Indy Pro Series driver to clinch the championship in the third-to-last race. If Lloyd can add six points to his 98-point lead over Hideki Mutoh in the Carneros 100, he will win the Firestone Firehawk Cup. If that doesn’t happen, Lloyd could clinch by holding a 52-point lead after the Valley of the Moon 100.

• Lloyd re-writing record book: Alex Lloyd is re-writing the Indy Pro Series record book by recording seven wins in the first 13 races. Below is a look at some of his milestones: • 9 career victories: Lloyd became the winningest driver in Indy Pro Series history with his victory at Iowa Speedway on June 23. Lloyd has won nine times in 22 starts. He won two of nine last year with AFS Racing and is seven for 13 this season with Sam Schmidt Motorsports. Thiago Medeiros, Jeff Simmons and Mark Taylor each won seven Indy Pro Series races. Dominant streaks Lloyd: Won 9 of 22 starts, including 7 of 13 to start the 2007 season. Medeiros: Won 4 consecutive races in 2004 and 5 of 6 from the final race of 2003 through the first five races of 2004. Simmons: Won 5 of 8 races from Milwaukee 2005 through Homestead 2006. Taylor: Won 7 of 11 careers starts in 2003.

• 7 victories in a season: Lloyd tied Mark Taylor for the most victories, 7, in a season with a victory in Race 2 at Watkins Glen. Lloyd also set the Indy Pro Series record for most consecutive top-five finishes with 13. The streak ended at Nashville.

• Mutoh will be 11th to graduate: Hideki Mutoh will be the 11th Indy Pro Series driver to graduate to the IndyCar Series when he competes in the season finale at Chicagoland on Sept. 9. Panther Racing announced that Mutoh will drive a third car for the team at the event. He passed his IndyCar Series rookie test Aug. 15 at Chicagoland. Previous graduates to the IndyCar Series include: Marco Andretti, Ed Carpenter and A.J. Foyt IV.

• Local links: Sausalito native J.R. Hildebrand will make his Indy Pro Series debut, driving for RLR/Andersen Racing. Rock ’n roll legend Sammy Hagar, an area resident, is co-owner of the No. 13 Team KMA car driven by Robbie Pecorari. Hagar’s Cabo Wabo Tequila adorns the sidepods.

• Cunningham rides hot streak: 2005 Indy Pro Series champion and 2006 Carneros 100 winner Wade Cunningham has improved from eighth to third in points over the course of the last six races. He’s won two pole positions (Iowa and Watkins Glen) and earned a victory in Race 1 at Watkins Glen. He finished second at Iowa, Race 2 at Watkins Glen and Mid-Ohio, third at Kentucky and fourth at Nashville.

• Stiff competition: For the first time in Indy Pro Series history, eight past race winners are entered in the weekend’s two races. The past winners are: Richard Antinucci, Jaime Camara, Wade Cunningham, Phil Giebler, Alex Lloyd, Hideki Mutoh, Robbie Pecorari and Bobby Wilson. Seven past winners started the race at Kentucky on Aug. 11.

• IndyCar Series influence: Four of the top IndyCar Series teams are fielding cars in the Indy Pro Series this season, including two for the first time. Andretti Green Racing returns for its third season in the series while Panther Racing returns for the first time since its championship-winning campaign in 2003. Target Chip Ganassi Racing and Rahal Letterman Racing enter the Indy Pro Series for the first time.

MILESTONES: • Tony Kanaan won his 11th IndyCar Series race at Kentucky Speedway, fourth on the IndyCar Series all-time victory list. • Tony Kanaan’s win at Kentucky Speedway was Andretti Green Racing's 30th IndyCar Series victory – extending its record as the series’ winningest team. • Tony Kanaan is the 15th IndyCar Series driver to win back-to-back events. He can tie the series record for consecutive wins, shared by Kenny Brack (1998), Dan Wheldon (2005) and Scott Dixon (2007) should he win at Infineon Raceway. • Helio Castroneves failed to qualify in the top-10 at Kentucky Speedway for the first time since Chicagoland in September 2005 – a span of 29 consecutive races, an IndyCar Series record. • Scott Sharp and Scott Dixon need one win to earn their 10th IndyCar Series victory. • Scott Sharp can extend his series record for consecutive starts to 136 straight races at Infineon Raceway • Vitor Meira has gone 73 starts without a victory in the IndyCar Series, the longest drought of any IndyCar Series driver. *** The next IndyCar Series event is the Motorola Indy 300 presented by Jackson Rancheria Casino & Hotel at 3:30 p.m. (ET) on Aug. 26 at Infineon Raceway. The race will be televised live by ESPN and broadcast by the IMS Radio Network. The next Indy Pro Series event is the Carneros 100/Valley of the Moon 100 doubleheader on Aug. 25-26 at Infineon Raceway. The race will be telecast at 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 31 by ESPN2. ESPN2’s coverage of the Kentucky 100 will be telecast at 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 16.