Drivers will encounter a slightly modified road course designed to create another passing zone when the IndyCar Series visits Infineon Raceway for the PEAK Antifreeze & Motor Oil Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma County, Aug. 22-24.
Drivers will now exit Turn 6 (Carousel) and go directly up the track's drag strip, as opposed to veering left before the right-hander at Turn 7. The course will continue to include the outside loop at Turn 7.
The modification, which will shorten the 12-turn circuit from 2.26 miles to 2.245 miles, will only be used by the IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights over race weekend.
"By staying on the drag strip and then heading back into the esses (Turn 8), we create a harder braking area and thus a better passing zone going into Turn 7," said Brian Barnhart, president of the competition and operations division for the Indy Racing League.
The new configuration was evaluated by IndyCar Series drivers Scott Dixon and Ryan Hunter-Reay during a test last December in Sonoma.
"I think it's going to make an improvement for the race," said Dixon, the defending champion at Infineon Raceway and current Indianapolis 500 champion. "Hopefully, it's going to create a passing opportunity for some people. I think it's a good choice and will make a great addition to the weekend."
"Eliminating the bend to the left and now going up the drag strip makes for a wider passing opportunity, and I think that's good," said Hunter-Reay. "Any passing opportunity is great for the series and good for the fans who come out and watch."
Several teams will get a first-hand look at the modified portion of track during a two-day test session Aug. 13-14. Some of the drivers scheduled to test include 2006 race-winner Marco Andretti, Dixon, Will Power, Oriol Servia and Vitor Meira. In all, more than 15 drivers are expected in Sonoma for the session.
The PEAK Antifreeze & Motor Oil Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma County, Aug. 22-24, will mark the debut of the unified open-wheel series in the Sonoma Valley, and the first visit for many of the former-Champ Car Series drivers to the challenging road course. Infineon Raceway has seen three different winners since the IndyCar Series began competing at the facility in 2005: Dixon (2007), Andretti (2006) and Tony Kanaan (2005).
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
