IndyCar shifts into gear at Sonoma Raceway

While this weekend marks the last IndyCar event in Sonoma for the foreseeable future, once again the IndyCar series is down to the wire.|

For the fourth consecutive year, the Verizon IndyCar Series will host its season finale on the Sonoma Raceway road course, though the event marks the series’ 14th consecutive year in Sonoma. The Grand Prix of Sonoma is the final race on the Verizon IndyCar Series’ 17-race schedule, which features six races on oval tracks, six on permanent road courses and five on temporary street circuits.

While this weekend marks the last IndyCar event in Sonoma for the foreseeable future, as the series shifts its schedule for the 2019 season, once again the IndyCar series is down to the wire. Four drivers are in contention for the series championship, including Scott Dixon, Alexander Rossi, Will Power and Josef Newgarden, last year’s series champion.

The race is not for the faint-of-heart: The race will span 85 laps, or 202.7 miles, on the 12-turn, 2.385-mile road course. Speeds frequently exceed 110 miles per hour, making for an exciting spectator sport.

The Grand Prix of Sonoma weekend will also include racing from the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA, Formula Car Challenge and Historic Trans Am Series. The three-day schedule of major events follows:

Friday, Sept. 14: Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Practice (9:20-10 a.m.); Formula Car Challenge (FCC) Practice (10:15-10:45 a.m.); Grand Prix of Sonoma Practice (11-11:45 a.m.); Historic Trans Am Practice, (noon-12:20 p.m); Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Practice (12:35-1:15 p.m.); FCC Practice (1:30-2 p.m.); Historic Trans Am Qualifying (2:15-2:45 p.m.); Grand Prix of Sonoma Practice, (3-4 p.m.); Verizon IndyCar Series Pit Stop Practice, (4:05-4:20 p.m.).

Saturday, Sept. 15: FCC Qualifying (9-9:30 a.m.); Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Qualifying (9:45-10:05 a.m.); Historic Trans Am Practice (10:20-10:40 a.m.); Grand Prix of Sonoma Practice (11-11:45 a.m.); FCC Race 1 (12:15-12:45 p.m.); Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Race 1 (1-2 p.m.); Historic Trans Am Race 1 (2:15-2:45 p.m.); Grand Prix of Sonoma Qualifying (3-4:15 p.m.).

Sunday, Sept. 16: Historic Trans Am Warmup (11-11:15 a.m.); FCC Race 2 (11:30 a.m.-noon); Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Race 2 (12:15-1:15 p.m.); Historic Trans Am Race 2 (1:30-2 p.m.); Grand Prix of Sonoma (3:30 p.m.).

The Sunday final will be carried live on NBC Sports Network. All Verizon IndyCar Series on-track sessions not airing live on NBC Sports Network will be livestreamed at IndyCar.com. Tickets can be ordered at www.SonomaRaceway.com/indycar.

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