IndyCar Grand Prix of Sonoma

Last updated
Indycar Grand Prix of Sonoma
IndyCar Grand Prix of Sonoma logo.png
Sonoma Raceway Indy-2012.svg
IndyCar Series
Venue Sonoma Raceway
First race1970
First ICS race2005
Last race2018
Distance202.725 miles (326.254 km)
Laps85
Previous namesGolden 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.

Contents

The IndyCar Series race utilizes a modified 2.2-mile (3.5 km) 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 2.52-mile (4.06 km) 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
1970 April 4 Flag of the United States.svg Dan Gurney All American Racers Eagle Ford 60151.2 (243.332)1:44:2687.009 Report
1971

2004
Not held
IRL IndyCar Series history
2005 August 28 Flag of Brazil.svg Tony Kanaan Andretti Green Racing Dallara Honda 80159.2 (256.207)2:01:1691.04 Report
2006 August 27 Flag of the United States.svg Marco Andretti Andretti Green Racing Dallara Honda 80159.2 (256.207)1:58:0693.486 Report
2007 August 26 Flag of New Zealand.svg Scott Dixon Chip Ganassi Racing Dallara Honda 80159.2 (256.207)1:51:5998.593 Report
2008 August 24 Flag of Brazil.svg Hélio Castroneves Penske Racing Dallara Honda 80159.2 (256.207)1:50:16100.254 Report
2009 August 23 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dario Franchitti Chip Ganassi Racing Dallara Honda 75166.5 (267.955)1:49:2394.745 Report
2010 August 22 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Will Power Team Penske Dallara Honda 75166.5 (267.955)1:52:3492.063 Report
2011 August 28 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Will Power Team Penske Dallara Honda 75166.5 (267.955)1:47:3096.408 Report
2012 August 26 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ryan Briscoe Team Penske Dallara Chevrolet 85195.755 (315.037)2:07:0395.74 Report
2013 August 25 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Will Power Team Penske Dallara Chevrolet 85195.755 (315.037)2:20:4786.401 Report
2014 August 24 Flag of New Zealand.svg Scott Dixon Chip Ganassi Racing Dallara Chevrolet 85195.755 (315.037)2:09:2194.026 Report
2015 August 30 Flag of New Zealand.svg Scott Dixon Chip Ganassi Racing Dallara Chevrolet 85195.755 (315.037)2:09:1494.117 Report
2016 September 18 Flag of France.svg Simon Pagenaud Team Penske Dallara Chevrolet 85195.755 (315.037)2:00:13101.181 Report
2017 September 17 Flag of France.svg Simon Pagenaud Team Penske Dallara Chevrolet 85202.725 (326.254)1:55:53104.968 Report
2018 September 16 Flag of the United States.svg Ryan Hunter-Reay Andretti Autosport Dallara Honda 85202.725 (326.254)2:02:1999.44 Report
[2]

Support Race History

Indy LightsAtlantic Championship
SeasonDateWinning driver
2005 August 28 Flag of the United States.svg Marco Andretti
2006 August 26 Flag of New Zealand.svg Wade Cunningham
August 27 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alex Lloyd
2007 August 25 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alex Lloyd
August 26 Flag of the United States.svg Richard Antinucci
2008 August 23 Flag of France.svg Franck Perera
August 24 Flag of Chile.svg Pablo Donoso
2009 August 23 Flag of the United States.svg J. R. Hildebrand
2010 August 22 Flag of France.svg J. K. Vernay
2014 August 23 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jack Harvey
August 24 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jack Harvey
[3]
SeasonDateWinning driver
1980 May 25 Flag of the United States.svg Tom Gloy
1983 May 8 Flag of the United States.svg Michael Andretti
1984 June 3 Flag of the United States.svg Dan Marvin
September 30 Flag of the United States.svg Dan Marvin
1985 June 2 Flag of the United States.svg Jeff Wood
September 29 Flag of the United States.svg Jeff Wood
1986 June 1 Flag of the United States.svg Rod Bennett
September 28 Flag of Mexico.svg Roberto Quintanilla
1987 May 31 Flag of the United States.svg Dean Hall
August 2 Flag of the United States.svg Dean Hall
1988 May 29 Flag of the United States.svg Dean Hall
August 14 Flag of the United States.svg Dean Hall
1989 May 7 Flag of the United States.svg R.K. Smith
September 10 Flag of the United States.svg Joe Sposato
1990 May 6 Flag of the United States.svg Mark Dismore
[4]

References

  1. "IndyCar swapping Sonoma Raceway for Laguna Seca in 2019". 14 July 2018.
  2. "Infineon Raceway". Champ Car Stats. Archived from the original on 4 October 2012. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  3. "Infineon Raceway". Champ Car Stats. Archived from the original on 10 June 2012. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  4. "Formula Atlantic Series (1974-1990)". Champ Car Stats. Retrieved 1 August 2011.