IndyCar Grand Prix of Sonoma explained

Race Title:Indycar Grand Prix of Sonoma
Series Long:IndyCar Series
Series Short:ICS
Venue:Sonoma Raceway
First Race:1970
First Series Race:2005
Last Race:2018
Distance:202.725 miles (326.254 km)
Laps:85
Previous Names:Golden State 150 (1970)
Argent Mortgage Indy Grand Prix (2005)
Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma (2006, 2010–2011)
Motorola Indy 300 Pres. by Jackson Rancheria Casino & Hotel (2007)
Peak Antifreeze & Motor Oil Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma County (2008)
Peak Antifreeze Grand Prix of Sonoma County (2009)
GoPro Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma (2012–2014)
GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma (2015–2017)
INDYCAR Grand Prix of Sonoma (2018)
Most Wins Driver:Will Power, Scott Dixon (3)
Most Wins Team:Team Penske (7)
Most Wins Manufacturer:Chassis: Dallara (14)
Engine: Honda (8)

The IndyCar Grand Prix of Sonoma was an IndyCar Series race held at Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, California. The USAC Championship Car circuit raced at the circuit in 1970. In 2005, American open wheel racing returned to the circuit with an IndyCar Series event. The 2006 event saw rookie Marco Andretti win his first career race. It marked the record youngest winner (19 years, 5 months, 14 days) of a major open-wheel racing event at the time.

The IndyCar Series race utilizes a modified 2.2miles version of the road course, the same used by AMA Superbike. The circuit includes the carousel, making it longer than the NASCAR layout, but shorter than the full 2.52miles course. This course uses turn 7a of the NASCAR course, but skips the hairpin prior to the front straight. The dragstrip is used instead of the keyhole, adding a high speed section immediately following the exit of the carousel.

For 2012, the course was altered. The back hairpin used the inner loop instead of the outer loop used by NASCAR. Turn nine was widened by ten feet while turn eleven at the hairpin was extended by 200 feet.

From 2015 to 2018, the race had served as the IndyCar season finale.

It was announced on July 13, 2018, that the Monterey Grand Prix at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca would replace Sonoma for the 2019 IndyCar Series season.[1]

Past winners

SeasonDateDriverTeamChassisEngineRace DistanceRace TimeAverage Speed
(mph)
Report
LapsMiles (km)
USAC Championship Car history
1970April 4 Dan GurneyAll American RacersEagleFord60151.2 (243.332)1:44:2687.009Report
1971

2004
Not held
IRL IndyCar Series history
2005August 28 Tony KanaanAndretti Green RacingDallaraHonda80159.2 (256.207)2:01:1691.04Report
2006August 27 Marco AndrettiAndretti Green RacingDallaraHonda80159.2 (256.207)1:58:06 93.486 Report
2007August 26 Scott DixonChip Ganassi RacingDallaraHonda80159.2 (256.207)1:51:5998.593Report
2008August 24 Hélio CastronevesPenske RacingDallaraHonda80159.2 (256.207)1:50:16 100.254 Report
2009August 23 Dario FranchittiChip Ganassi RacingDallaraHonda75166.5 (267.955)1:49:2394.745Report
2010August 22 Will PowerTeam PenskeDallaraHonda75166.5 (267.955)1:52:3492.063Report
2011August 28 Will PowerTeam PenskeDallaraHonda75166.5 (267.955)1:47:3096.408Report
2012August 26 Ryan BriscoeTeam PenskeDallaraChevrolet85195.755 (315.037)2:07:0395.74Report
2013August 25 Will PowerTeam PenskeDallaraChevrolet85195.755 (315.037)2:20:4786.401Report
2014August 24 Scott DixonChip Ganassi RacingDallaraChevrolet85195.755 (315.037)2:09:2194.026Report
2015August 30 Scott DixonChip Ganassi RacingDallaraChevrolet85195.755 (315.037)2:09:1494.117Report
2016September 18 Simon PagenaudTeam PenskeDallaraChevrolet85195.755 (315.037)2:00:13101.181Report
2017September 17 Simon PagenaudTeam PenskeDallaraChevrolet85202.725 (326.254)1:55:53104.968Report
2018September 16 Ryan Hunter-ReayAndretti AutosportDallaraHonda85202.725 (326.254)2:02:1999.44Report
[2]

Support Race History

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: IndyCar swapping Sonoma Raceway for Laguna Seca in 2019. 14 July 2018.
  2. Web site: Infineon Raceway . Champ Car Stats . 1 August 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121004235730/http://www.champcarstats.com/tracks/searspoint.htm . 4 October 2012 . live .
  3. Web site: Infineon Raceway . Champ Car Stats . 1 August 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120610060138/http://www.champcarstats.com/ips/tracks/searspoint.htm . 10 June 2012 . live .
  4. Web site: Formula Atlantic Series (1974-1990). Champ Car Stats. 1 August 2011.