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Indy on Sonoma Raceway horizon

New IndyCar tests today; Grand Prix of Sonoma, World Challenge Series set

One week from today, Friday, Aug. 24, the IZOD IndyCar Series weekend begins at the Sonoma Raceway, runs through Saturday, Aug. 25, and ends with the featured GoPro Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma on Sunday, Aug. 26.

On Saturday, the World Challenge Series returns to the Valley

for its season finale, as GT, GTS, Touring Car and Touring Car B-Spec teams and competitors close out 2012 and make a final push for the championships.

There will be multiple races held – round 12 of the GT and GTS season, Touring Car rounds 12, 13 and 14, and Touring Car B-Spec rounds seven, eight and nine – with Johnny O’Connell and Andy Pilgrim heading into the final race weekend first and second, respectively, in points piloting Cadillac Racing CTS-V Coupes.

O’Connell leads Pilgrim by 176 points (1259, 1083), and the pair have combined for four victories and nine podium finishes through 11 races. 

 

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Today at Sonoma Raceway’s newly modified road course – featuring changes to Turns 7, 9 and 11 designed to enhance passing – the IZOD IndyCar Series will hold its final test session for its new IndyCar from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Teams and drivers slated for the test include Team Penske – Ryan Briscoe, Helio Castroneves and Will Power; Andretti Autosport – Marco Andretti, James Hinchcliffe Ryan Hunter-Reay and Sebastian Saavedra; Target Chip Ganassi Racing – Scott Dixon and Dario Franchitti; Chip Ganassi Racing – Charlie Kimball and Graham Rahal; A.J. Foyt Racing – Mike Conway; Dragon Racing – Sebastien Bourdais and Katherine Legge; Ed Carpenter Racing – Ed Carpenter; Panther Racing – JR Hildebrand; Panther/Dreyer & Reinbold Racing – Oriol Servia; Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing – Takuma Sato; Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing – Josef Newgarden; and Schmidt Hamilton Motorsports – Simon Pagenaud.

Also on tap, race fans can watch the test session, visit the open paddock, and attend a press conference with the drivers during the lunch break. The Raceway Café will also be open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. for breakfast and lunch. 

 

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Sonoma Raceway is offering a number of ticket packages at the test session, including the Brasil IT+ Total Access package, which includes race-day reserved ticket, garage pass, pre-race pit and track pass, plus race-day question-and-answer session with star drivers Tony Kanaan and Rubens Barrichello for $99.

The Valley raceway will also offer guided pit tours for fans who purchase race tickets at the test or have already purchased a race-weekend ticket. For more information, visit racesonoma.com/indycar or call 800-870-7223.

 

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Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson, the first African-American and native Sacramentan to hold the position, will be the grand marshal of the GoPro Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma race on Sunday, Aug. 26, at the Sonoma Raceway.

Before being mayor, Johnson was a Sacramento high-school basketball legend, who became a collegiate (University of California, Berkeley) and NBA (Phoenix Suns) great,.

 

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The final major racing event at Sonoma Raceway will be the new FIA World Touring Car Championship, with its first-ever race on American soil slated for Sept. 21 through 23, and will be highlighted by two 30-minute sprint races on Sunday, Sept. 23. Manufacturers include BMW, Chevrolet, SEAT and Volvo.

 

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The 24th season of Wednesday Night Drags on Sonoma Raceway’s world-famous drag strip will run every Wednesday evening through Nov. 14, along with the motorsport of drifting, and the equally popular “Top the Cops” program.

“Top the Cops” is designed to help take illegal racing off the streets and bring it to a safe, legal and controlled environment, allowing high school students the opportunity to drag race against law enforcement officers, who will be driving their squad cars.

 

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To purchase special ticket packages and individual or weekend tickets for the Indy Grand Prix weekend, for Wednesday Night Drags details, or for general Sonoma Raceway information, call 800-870-RACE (7223), or visit www.infineonraceway.com/tickets, or www.ticketmaster.com. Camping is also available for all major events.

 

INDYCAR SCHEDULE

Friday, Aug. 24: Formula Car Challenge practice, 11:30 a.m. to noon; World Challenge Touring Car (TC) and Touring Car B Spec qualifying, 12:15 to 12:45 p.m.; World Challenge GT/GTS qualifying, 1 to 1:45 p.m.; Formula Car Challenge practice, 2 to 2:30 p.m.; GoPro Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma practice, 2:50 to 4:05 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 25: Brasil IT and Pole Day – Formula Car Challenge qualifying, 10 to 10:30 a.m.; GoPro Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma practice, 10:50 to 11:50 a.m.; Cadillac Grand Prix of Sonoma World Challenge GT/GTS Race, noon to 1:15 p.m.; Formula Car Challenge Race 1, 1:30 to 2 p.m.; IZOD IndyCar Series Brasil IT and Pole Day qualifying, 2:30 to 3:50 p.m.; World Challenge TC and B Spec Race 1 and 2, 4:10 to 5:30 p.m.         

Sunday, Aug. 26: GoPro Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma warm-up, 9 to 9:30 a.m.; World Challenge TC and B Spec Race 3, 9:50 to 10:30 a.m.; World Challenge Marque Race, noon to 12:20 p.m.; Patriot Jet Team Air Show, 12:25 to 12:50 p.m.; GoPro Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma pre-race ceremonies, 12:50 to 1:45 p.m.; GoPro Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma Race (85 Laps), 1:45 p.m.; Formula Car Challenge Race 2.      

 

TELEVISION

Qualifying: Saturday, Aug. 25, 3 p.m., NBC Sports Network.

Race: Sunday, Aug. 26, 1 p.m., NBC Sports Network.