Will Power's Rally In The Valley - IZOD IndyCar Series Race 14 of 18

Penske Racing teammates (Power, Castroneves, and Briscoe) hold the line against the rest of the field during the double-file start of the Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma. Image Credit: Richard Dowdy via IZOD IndyCar Series


Will Power's Rally In The Valley - IZOD IndyCar Series Race 14 of 18

From the command of "Drivers, start your engines" and the audio of "Row 1, Hot" - "Row 2, Hot" - "Row 3, Hot" - and etc. one felt that this was the race that would keep the 2011 points race alive as the sound of the Honda engines echoed throughout the Sonoma valley. Power, at 46 points down to Dario Franchitti, had to win and keep the Target Chip Ganassi drivers (Franchitti and Dixon) as far down in the order that was legally possible. Qualifications gave a blessing to Will and the rest of the Penske Racing team with a 1-2-3 starting position with Helio Castroneves, and Ryan Briscoe acting as protection to any erosion to the running order from the starting grid of the race.

From the very drop of the Green Flag starting the race, Ryan Briscoe kept the Red Target team cars behind both Will Power and Helio Castroneves which allowed Power to pull comfortably away.

All went smoothly through to the first round of pitstops by the leaders with eight cars opting to come in earlier for a change of sequence. On lap 5 of 75, Tony Kanaan running back at P25, was the first to opt for a change to Red tires and a change in pit sequence followed by Takuma Sato, JR Hildebrand, Simon Pagenaud, Charlie Kimball Danica Patrick, and Vitor Meira.

First, Mike Conway from P7 on Lap 22 of 75 began the process with Tagliani, who had just been passed by Graham Rahal due to poor handling in on Lap 23. Hinchcliff, Ryan Hunter-Raey, Helio Castroneves on LAP 25.

Lap 26 has Dixon taking on primary Black tires. Next on Lap 26 Power comes into the pits, leaving Briscoe leading until Lap 28.

Briscoe comes out in sequence with all three Penske Racing cars holding station at 1-2-3 keeping Dario Franchitti and Scott Dixon behind. This may seem boreing to some, but clean and precise racing to a strategy toward a championship is just that ... predictable and boreing. Gotta' love it if ya' like a tight season points race.

Top 10 after 32 laps of 75 sees Power, Castroneves, Briscoe, Franchitti, Dixon, Pantano, Hinchcliffe, Viso, Bourdais, and Rahal.

On TV, Robin Miller reports that there are about 130,000 people in attendance as opposed to about 30,000 sitting in the stands at the last race (oval) in Loudon, New Hampshire.

Fan stands are full of people who traveled to the middle of nowhere to see a premiere open-wheel race for season championship points. Image Credit: Shawn Gritzmacher via IZOD IndyCar Series

Robin asked Randy Bernard, CEO of IZOD IndyCar Series, if Sonoma was on the schedule for next year and Randy reported that the schedule has not been finalized and that the people who run Infineon Raceway have not committed to the race fee as yet.

Lap 39, Tony Kanaan stalls out on pit lane and appears to have an engine stuck at full throttle. KV Racing Technology's Kanaan retires from the race.

TWEET - Fieldof33 Paul Dalbey
Thank God for side-by-side. If hate to miss watching the sand grow.

TWEET - pressdog Bill Zahren
Nailed it. "@spikerogan: @99forever You could make nachos from scratch and not miss a thing. By scratch I mean from growing the corn. lol"

Lap 45 of 75 has Will Power on the radio complaining about lapped traffic not clearing out of the way. It has him braking at odd times and kicking up some blue tire smoke.

All of the drivers are looking to get back on REDS again on the next pit sequence. Oriol Servia takes on a set and fuel on lap 47 - good to go all the way to the end.

Before this next round of stops, P1 Power leads P4 Franchitti by about 32 seconds. Castroneves pits on Lap 49 ... Dixon in for REDS ... 25 laps to go and more stops with side-by-side passing in the pits.

Lap 50 Will Power comes in with little traffic to contend with ... comes out ahead of Castroneves and all is right in the Penske world with Briscoe leading.

All top 10 drivers complete pit stops and are good to the end - Lap 53 P1 to P10 are Power, Castroneves, Briscoe, Franchitti, Dixon, Pantano, Hinchcliffe, Bourdais, Viso and Rahal.

TWEET - SBPopOffValve Mr. Pop Off Valve
Wally Dallenbach says (correctly) that Sonoma is a blast to drive. Doesn't make it any easier on the spectators.

TWEET - Fieldof33 Paul Dalbey
@SBPopOffValve I believe the Sr Official has discretion to mandate Power pull over, let Castroneves by, and drive rest of race 1 handed.

Lap 56 Marco Andretti brushes JR Hildebrand's rear tire causing a rear flat for the driver from the Sonoma area.

TWEET - AllenWedge Allen Wedge
Can't wait for the eventual Panther Racing press release saying JR got Marco'd

TWEET - PantherRacing Panther Racing
Marco & Hildebrand make contact for the second consecutive year @InfineonRaceway .... looked like that was on Marco to me. But I'm biased.

TWEET - toomuchracing Pat W
They want to bring Belle Isle back... that's even worse for IndyCar. I liked the ALMS there though

TWEET - 99forever Steph@MoreFrontWing
Interesting. TK refutes Cavin's story and says he's not signed at KV. #indycar

Ten laps remain and it is still Power, Castroneves, Briscoe, Franchitti, Dixon, Pantano, Hinchcliffe, Bourdais, Rahal, and Viso.

YELLOW Flag - Ho-Pin Tung slides out of control and into a tire wall - look out for a crazy restart as the cars get bunched up. Power looses about a 20 second cushion to the YELLOW Flag full course caution.

TWEET - IndyCar IZOD IndyCar Series
Full course Yellow for incident in Turn 9 involving #88 Ho-Pin Tung cot.ag/d3QLxP

Restart cones are clearly defined and Power looses an advantage as to surprising the rest of the drivers as to when he will apply the fuel peddle to take off on the GREEN Flag.

Penske is sitting at 1-2-3 so, to be frank, who knows what Will Power is talking about.

TWEET - IndyCar IZOD IndyCar Series
Back to Green @InfineonRaceway. cot.ag/d3QLxP

GREEN, GREEN, GREEN LAP 70 - Will Power gets the advantage and everyone comes back into station. Franchitti baubles and Dixon holds everyone else off.

TWEET - shagers Shane Rogers
Double file restarts are the best thing for these mickey mouse road courses. Drivers hate them, but they are awesome.

TWEET - SBPopOffValve Mr. Pop Off Valve
SATO DOES NOT RESPECT HIS BRAKES.

Saavedra and Conway get together and up the dirt bank on the last lap pushing hard for position.

Top 10 with four laps to go - Power, Castroneves, Briscoe, Franchitti, Dixon, Pantano, Bourdais, Hinchcliffe, Rahal, and Viso.

Verizon Penske Racing's Will Power takes the Checkered Flag at Infineon Raceway, Sears Point, in the Sonoma Valley. Image Credit: Chris Jones via IZOD IndyCar Series

Will Power gets maximum points and wins the race. This will be his 5th win of the season and the most by any driver this season. Gains 20 points on the event and moves from being 46 points to 26 points down with only four races to go in the season.

TWEET - toomuchracing Pat W
Chequered. Snoozefest. Power and his teammates held station for the duration, followed by Dario and Dixon.

TWEET - racintoday Jim Pedley
Power Cruises At Infineon bit.ly/rhPlBs #indycar

TWEET - toomuchracing Pat W
Great drive by Pantano to take 6th in Wilson's car after not racing these cars for 6 years (and only then he did two starts).

TWEET - FollowAndretti Andretti Autosport
Checkered flag at @InfineonRaceway. Ryan 11, Mike 17, Danica 21, Marco 24.

TWEET -in dy44 Matt Archuleta
Ckrd Power Helio Briscoe Dario Dixon Pantano Bourdais Hinch Rahal Viso RHR Servia Plowman Ana Saavedra Pagenaud Conway Sato Jakes Tagliani

Will Power jumps once again into the wall of confetti at the winner's podium. Image Credit: Chris Jones via IZOD IndyCar Series

TWEET - JamieLittleESPN Jamie Little
Penske sweeps the podium at Sonoma and Sweeps the @NASCAR and @IndyCar this weekend!

Post race interview has Power saying, "It was just a perfect race. This one is pretty important. I have been unbelievably motivated after a few bad races this season. I knew that Verizon Team Penske was better than this as a team and we came here with a good set-up, finished strong and we are on the right track now ... Verizon baby, we are back on top now!"

Fingers Up - Will Power was fined $30,000 for a gesture not too dis-similar to this gesture. That's right, Will was fined about $15,000 a finger when he showed his initial displeasure toward Brian Barnhart and the folks at Race Control at the decision to restart the race at Loudon, New Hampshire. At least Power has the sense of humor to mimic his fine-able action of a couple of weeks ago. Image Credit: Chris Jones via IZOD IndyCar Series

Next up, a shiny, brand new temporary street course in Baltimore will have all teams searching for what will work. Penske had the "special sauce" here at Infineon Raceway but will they be able to maintain the edge and keep Dario and the Target Chip Ganassi racing team at bay. Thank God that hurricane Irene decided to show up on the East coast this week so everything remains on track for the season.

... notes from The EDJE


[Article first published as Will Power's Rally In The Valley - IZOD IndyCar Series Race 14 of 18 on Technorati]

Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma Qualifications - Penske's Day At Sears Point

Penske Racing's Will Power as he navigates his way around the corners of Infineon Raceway while achieving his sixth PEAK Performance Pole Award of the season. Image Credit: Chris Jones via IZOD IndyCar Series

Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma Qualifications - Penske's Day At Sears Point

Qualifications for Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma by Team Penske, and in particular - Will Power, the session result could not have been planned any better. If Power has any hope of gaining points back on series points leader, Dario Franchitti, he needed to get the pole position and get as many places between himself and Dario to give any cushion at all.

Well, Team Penske came through with superior car preparation and an amazing performance put in by Helio Castroneves and Ryan Briscoe to capture P2 and P3 on the grid in front of Franchitti for the race. For Dario's part, he did the best he could to maintain the first starting position behind Team Penske, leading Will Power going into this weekend by 46 points with only five races remaining (Road/Street cources at Sonoma, Baltimore, and Twin Ring Motegi followed by two oval courses in Kentucky and Las Vegas).

In earning his sixth PEAK Performance Pole Award of the season, combined with Franchitti starting fourth in the No. 10 Target Chip Ganassi Racing car, Power gains one point in the season championship to bring the pre-race season points deficit to 45.

Will Power smokes 'em up in capturing the pole position in qualifying at Sonoma. Image Credit: Chris Jones via IZOD IndyCar Series

"Qualifying is very important here," said Power, who recorded a quick lap of 1 minute, 18.6017 seconds on the 2.303-mile, 12-turn road course in the Firestone Fast Six. "A Penske 1-2-3 is good, and we have two guys between the Target cars. This qualifying session was as perfect as it could go. We were able to put a perfect lap together that was mistake-free and hit all of the sectors and that was the key to posting the quickest lap.

"[The championship] is going to come down to who is going to make the least amount of mistakes," continued Power, driver of the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske car. "Dario still has a reasonable lead, but that could turn around in one weekend. Obviously, if we have a bad weekend and he is 70 points ahead with four weekends to go it will be tough ... near impossible.

"We need to execute this weekend and just keep finishing ahead of Dario. It's as simple as that."
(quotes ht: indycar.com)

Will Power accepts the Peak Pole Award for the second time in as many years. Image Credit: Chris Jones via IZOD IndyCar Series

Fact remains, if Will Power believes he has any chance at all, he needs to be the best at Road/Street courses and the Oval courses the balance of the season to prove he deserves to become a first time champion.

With the top 10 cars covered by only a half of a second on a 2.52 mile 12 turn road course in qualifications, the proving begins here at Infineon Raceway, Sears Point in Sonoma, California.

Pos -- Driver -- Team -- Time -- Gap
1. Will Power Penske 1m18.602s (Q4)
2. Helio Castroneves Penske 1m19.092s (Q4) + 0.490s
3. Ryan Briscoe Penske 1m19.111s (Q4) + 0.505s
4. Dario Franchitti Ganassi 1m19.164s (Q4) + 0.545s
5. Scott Dixon Ganassi 1m19.389s (Q4) + 0.788s
6. James Hinchcliffe Newman/Haas 1m19.545s (Q4) + 0.853s

7. Mike Conway Andretti 1m18.939s (Q3) + 0.337s
8. Sebastien Bourdais Dale Coyne 1m18.971s (Q3) + 0.370s
9. Ernesto Viso KV 1m19.072s (Q3) + 0.471s
10. Ana Beatriz Dreyer & Reinbold 1m19.110s (Q3) + 0.508s
11. Giorgio Pantano Dreyer & Reinbold 1m19.241s (Q3) + 0.640s
12. Alex Tagliani Sam Schmidt 1m19.803s (Q3) + 1.202s

13. Graham Rahal Ganassi 1m19.331s (Q2) + 0.729s
14. Marco Andretti Andretti 1m19.378s (Q2) + 0.770s
15. Martin Plowman AFS/Sam Schmidt 1m19.379s (Q1) + 0.776s
16. Takuma Sato KV 1m19.384s (Q1) + 0.719s
17. James Jakes (Dale Coyne) 1m19.474s (Q1) + 0.873s
18. Oriol Servia Newman/Haas 1m19.396s (Q1) + 0.739s
19. Ryan Hunter-Reay Andretti 1m19.640s (Q1) + 1.039s
20. JR Hildebrand Panther 1m19.465s (Q1) + 0.864s
21. Tony Kanaan KV 1m19.727s (Q1) + 1.125s
22. Simon Pagenaud Dreyer & Reinbold 1m19.564s (Q1) + 0.962s
23. Sebastian Saavedra Conquest 1m19.752s (Q1) + 1.150s
24. Ho-Pin Tung Sam Schmidt Dragon 1m19.589s (Q1) + 0.988s
25. Danica Patrick Andretti 1m19.785s (Q1) + 1.184s
26. Charlie Kimball Ganassi 1m19.835s (Q1) + 1.233s
27. Ed Carpenter Sarah Fisher 1m20.627s (Q1) + 2.713s
28. Vitor Meira Foyt 1m20.121s (Q1) + 1.837s
(chart ht: autosport.com)

The race will be broadcast Sunday Aug. 28 on VERSUS at 4 pm ET and IMS Radio.

... notes from The EDJE


[Article first published as Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma Qualifications - Penske's Day at Sears Point on Technorati]

2010 Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma - Play By Play | Tweet By Tweet

Infineon Raceway "Tweet Up" just after Knockout Qualifications at the "Wine Country Winner's Circle" in Sonoma. Discussions included Reds? or Blacks? ... from the looks of things in pit lane, 15 of 16 Dallaras have Reds to start the race. Only EJ Viso is on Blacks. Image Credit: FollowAndretti via TweetPhoto

(A Special thanks to Steve Page, President, John and Diana in the Media Center for all their help this weekend.)

2010 Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma - Play By Play | Tweet By Tweet

Qualifications for this last Road/Street circuit of the 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series season had one surprise and the Knockout qualifying structure netted its desired results.

With the top 16 positions having lap times within one-second of each other, the best road drivers in the best equipment ended up at the top ... with ChampCar World Series transition driver standout Will Power setting an IZOD IndyCar Series record of capturing eight poles in one season. Defending Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma champion Dario Franchitti, Power's nearest title rival and last year's ICS season champion, was nearly half a second behind in third.

Will Power as he is presented with the Mario Andretti Road Championship Trophy by Mario Andretti with Jack Arute of Versus officiating. Image Credit: Dicken Wear (2010)

The rest of the Firestone Fast Six in the Knockout qualifying session which is usually dominated by Team Penske and Target Chip Ganassi was broken up by a new team with a longtime CCWS transition driver/owner Alex Tagliani of FAZZT Racing qualifying at P4 ... .6786 seconds off of Will Powers' pace which was the fastest lap set by any driver all weekend.

Will Power as he is presented with the Mario Andretti Road Championship Trophy winnings ($50,000) by Mario Andretti with Jack Arute of Versus officiating. Image Credit: Dicken Wear (2010)Image Credit: Dicken Wear (2010)

How the field qualified (** denotes a driver or team that transitioned from the ChampCar World Series)

Pos Driver Team Time Session
1. Will Power** Penske 1m16.5282s Fast six
2. Helio Castroneves Penske 1m16.5652s Fast six
3. Dario Franchitti Ganassi 1m16.9437s Fast six
4. Alex Tagliani** Fazzt 1m17.2068s Fast six
5. Ryan Briscoe Penske 1m17.2108s Fast six
6. Scott Dixon Ganassi 1m17.3469s Fast six
----
7. Justin Wilson** Dreyer & Reinbold 1m16.9447s Round 2
8. Ryan Hunter-Reay Andretti 1m17.1317s Round 2
9. Tony Kanaan Andretti 1m17.3181s Round 2
10. Raphael Matos** De Ferran Dragon 1m17.3710s Round 2
11. Simona de Silvestro** HVM** 1m17.7429s Round 2
12. Dan Wheldon Panther 1m17.8280s Round 2
----
13. Bertrand Baguette Conquest** 1m17.5238s Group 1
14. Hideki Mutoh Newman/Haas** 1m17.5186s Group 2
15. EJ Viso** KV** 1m17.6825s Group 1
16. Graham Rahal** Newman/Haas** 1m17.5284s Group 2
17. Takuma Sato KV** 1m17.7112s Group 1
18. Marco Andretti Andretti 1m17.6216s Group 2
19. JR Hildebrand Dreyer & Reinbold 1m17.7659s Group 1
20. Mario Moraes** KV** 1m17.7532s Group 2
21. Vitor Meira Foyt 1m17.9149s Group 1
22. Alex Lloyd Dale Coyne** 1m18.0422s Group 2
23. Danica Patrick Andretti 1m18.3995s Group 1
24. Milka Duno Dale Coyne** 1m22.2980s Group 2
25. Francesco Dracone Conquest** 1m21.2262s Group 1
(ht: autosport.com)

The track at Sonoma ... Infineon Raceway in the morning. Image Credit: FollowAndretti via TweetPhoto

The following are Twitter entries (140 characters or less) excerpted and possibly edited submitted by people who are following the 2010 Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma. A play by play via "Tweet" by "Tweet"!

IndyCarNation Mario Andretti leads the field in the IndyCar two-seater with Stan, the Honda Sweepstakes winner.

TheEDJE Reds? or Blacks? ... from the looks of things in pit lane, 15 of 16 Dallaras have Reds to start the race #indycar

kvracing Moraes in car ready for the race http://flic.kr/p/8uwaf6

GREEN! GREEN! GREEN! The 2010 Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma starts!

toomuchracing Green - immediate yellow, Wheldon is upside down

Fieldof33 What a ridiculously shitty start.

kvracing On start of race, Wheldon gets turned upside down before start finish line, he is out of car and walks to safety

99forever Thank God for roll bars

TheEDJE Danica Patrick dives into the pits to top off

pressdog Possibly the fugliest start to a race I have ever seen (link to post-race story).

GREEN! GREEN! GREEN! The 2010 Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma - RESTART LAP 4!

TheEDJE Milka Duno shown the BLACK Flag LAP 5

kvracing On the restart Viso remain 12th, Sato moves to 15th and Moraes 18th. Viso pitting next lap for alternate (red) tires

TheEDJE EJ Viso in the pits to change from scuff Blacks to Reds ... wing adjustment - LAP 6

InfineonRaceway @DanWheldon is OK after accident to start race #indycar

SarahFisher67 Watching Sonoma. Hearing Power say qualifying was the toughest lap of his career reminds me how challenging/intense driving these cars are!

InfineonRaceway Working lap 10: Power, Helio, Franchitti, Tagliani, Briscoe. #indycar

IndyCarNation Hildebrand pits.

indy44 Single file hold your line.

TheEDJE EJ Viso ticks off quickest lap of the race after pitting off sequence

TheEDJE Marco Andretti pits off sequence - LAP 14

Andretti Autosport garage after Knockout qualifications. Image Credit: FollowAndretti via TweetPhoto

Newman_Haas Tough to pass here so people are trying to save fuel big time and hoping to go farther than others on their stints.

deferrandragon Jay: "how's the car?" Rafa: "good." Short and sweet

Several "Off Track" excursions shuffle the order - #77 of Alex Tagliani has flat tire possibly from contact with Ryan Hunter Raey

IndyCarNation Milka Duno #18 was black flagged (by request of the team) due to radio issues

indy44 LAP 20 - P1 12 P2 10 P3 3 P4 6 P5 9 P6 22 P7 37 P8 11 P9 2 P10 78

99forever IMS Radio says the reds are starting to go off for everyone.

paultracy3 Ohhh tag Ohhh tag

99forever LAP 22 - Wilson gets by Briscoe and puts a non Penske/Ganassi car in the top 5.

MikeM_PR @justinwilson22 nice pass for position on Briscoe for P5 now

kvracing Sato just pitted for fuel and black tires

TheEDJE Dixon and Wilson both place Helio Castroneves behind them - LAP 24

IndyCarNation Matos #2 has an on and off after contact with Simona de Silvestro #78, both continued

tomasscheckter @paultracy3 lol

99forever Justin apparently not at all concerned with the tires going off!

curtcavin Power is 10 seconds clear of Dario. #indycar

indy44 EJ and Simona make contact

InfineonRaceway Simona spins, Power in pits on lap 28 #indycar

99forever That spin as Will came in was almost interesting

curtcavin Will's lead was 17 seconds at the pit stop for both drivers (he and Dario)

InfineonRaceway Both Franchitti, Dixon in pits on lap 29 #indycar

FollowAndretti On lap 29... Marco P2, Ryan P9, Tony P11, Danica P18

deferrandragon Impressive to go that fast and save that kind of fuel

SPEED LAST LAP: ALMS Road America http://bit.ly/922f4g

YELLOW Flag - Duno off course on LAP 33 - Full Course CAUTION

IndyCarNation Full course caution for a spin and stall by Milka Duno #18 in turn 7

BeccyGordon Imagine that... #parkmilka spun!!!

deferrandragon That yellow helps us a bit.

IndyCarNation Pits are open with only Viso and Andretti making stops among the leaders

GREEN! GREEN! GREEN! The 2010 Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma - RESTART LAP 35!

IndyCarNation GREEN! Power, Briscoe, Franchitti, Dixon, Castroneves are top 5 after Viso and Andretti pit

AllenWedge RT: @deferrandragon: What that yellow did was allow the others to see what the back of power's car looks like again His lead was significant

pressdog @indy44 don't worry. It will be back.

YELLOW Flag - Hildebrand off course on LAP 38 - Full Course CAUTION

MikeM_PR Race is halfway @justinwilson22 P6 in fuel saving mode. Full course caution for Hildebrand

GREEN! GREEN! GREEN! The 2010 Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma - RESTART LAP 40!

pressdog Will Briscoe make himself wide to protect Power?

kvracing Back to green flag. Sato is 11th, Moraes is 16th. Viso had to pit again, he has problems with rear

deferrandragon Rafa 10th right where he started

toomuchracing Order LAP 43: Power, Briscoe, Franchitti, Dixon, Helio, Wilson, RHR, Rahal, Kanaan, Sato

indy44 Penske couldn't have planned it any better to have a teammate in 2nd behind Championship contender. Power leads Briscoe by 3,5 seconds

tomasscheckter Will power is probably txting and emailing people now wants to make the most of his weekend minutes. He is in a different world.

IndyCarNation Marco Andretti #26 made contact with J.R. Hildebrand #24 and Mario Moraes #32 in the last few laps.

99forever If we keep it up, we'll have six cars left. LOL RT @formula1blog For crying out loud! #parkMarco

IndyCarNation Lap 45: Power leads Briscoe by 3.2256 with Franchitti, Dixon, Castroneves, Wilson bunched together behind

FollowAndretti Lap 47 or 75... Ryan 7, Tony 9, Danica P1 Marco 18

IndyCarNation Not much separating P2-P7. Could get interesting

BeccyGordon Why did they let her back out??? #parkmilka spun AGAIN... Take a seat my friend. God I wish they'd let @OriolServia drive get car!

kvracing Moraes just pitted for fuel and tires. Rejoins 20th but field still to pit

Power leads the field by 5.1 seconds with 24 laps left

IndyCarNation Briscoe #6 pits from second place | Castroneves in as well

SpeedFreaks So let's be honest. Today's IndyCar race is about as boring as last night's NASCAR race. But why does it appear to be a bit more active?

RaceDrive So the new "stay out of gear until fuel is done" has gone "very" quiet - or did we miss something ? #Indycar

Newman_Haas GR in next time by - Reds out

indy44 Marco and Meira make contact in pit lane.

TheEDJE LAP 55 - All leaders have pitted except for Power and Dixon - RISKY

Newman_Haas Graham is P9 and Hideki is P19

TheEDJE Power in ... Dixon stays out for one more lap

IndyCarNation Power in the pits! http://ow.ly/i/3mpr

BeccyGordon She spins twice then they send her out in front of RHR on pitlane. WTH????? #parkmilka

TheEDJE Scott Dixon in - Scuff Reds laid out - Power back in the lead

IndyCarNation After pit stop exchange: Power #12 leads Franchitti by 5.9482 seconds with Dixon landing in third

Fieldof33 @99forever Unless Power is driving directly on the rims, I don't think the compound is going to make much difference for Power. :-)

indy44 Power +3.6153 - 15 Laps to go

IndyCarNation 15 left: Power, Franchitti, Dixon, Briscoe, Castroneves, Wilson, Kanaan, Hunter-Reay, Rahal, Matos, Sato, Baguette, Patrick, Lloyd, Andretti

toomuchracing Dixon is chasing Dario closely - and he makes the pass! What's he doing? Dario's their only chance in the title fight

TheEDJE Dixon passes teammate Franchitti causing the #2 in IndyCar Season points to loose position

Newman_Haas To Graham: Helio and Briscoe are on blacks up ahead and are backing people up.

YELLOW Flag - Conquest's Bagette damaged as Viso and Sato are involved on LAP 66 - Full Course CAUTION

paultracy3 Ohh viso ohh viso , why do u do him that way

VersusIndyCar Join the IndyCar Sonoma Race Chat with @kevingraham1280 and @royhobbson right now! http://ow.ly/2t85G #indycar

IndyCarNation This late yellow flag could make for an interesting end to the race.

GREEN! GREEN! GREEN! The 2010 Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma Restarts on LAP 69 - 6 LAPS remain

TheEDJE Dixon challenges Power on the restart - pull away from the field

SpeedFreaks Wow, Dixon is giving it all he has for Will Power... this might happen.

TheEDJE Mutoh spins sets up a local YELLOW ... may go Full Course - safety truck on track

tomasscheckter Go dixon go dixon go dixon.

99forever Not the end-of-race battle I was expecting but dang! That's some serious racing we're seeing right there..

AllenWedge wow, commercial with 5 laps to go, thats an epic fail of ESPN type proportions there Versus

TheEDJE Sato takes out Danica Patrick

TheEDJE WHITE Flag - Power out in front of Dixon by six carlengths - Sato holds up Dixon

indy44 Versus camera crew head to Danica's area immediately

MikeM_PR Checkered flag @justinwilson22 takes it home in P6

TheEDJE Penske's Will Power wins fifth race of the 2010 season - Leads 73 of 75 laps

Will Power as he pulls into the Infineon Raceway Wine Country Winner's Circle. Image Credit: Dicken Wear (2010)

Team Penske team members greet the 2010 Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma race winner, Will Power in the Infineon Raceway Wine Country Winner's Circle. Image Credit: Dicken Wear (2010)

FollowAndretti Checkered flag @InfineonRaceway... Tony 7th, Ryan 8th, Marco 12th, Danica 16th. #IZODIndyCar

indy44 Fact RT @paultracy3: The kv team has hit everything but the helicopter today

IndyCarNation Will Power #12 wins the Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma, Dixon, Franchitti, Briscoe, Castroneves are top 5

IndyCarNation 6-15: Wilson, Kanaan, Hunter-Reay, Rahal, Lloyd, Moraes, Andretti, de Silvestro, Tagliani, Meira

IndyCarNation 16-22: Patrick, Mutoh, Sato, Viso, Dracone, Matos, Duno

Will Power being interviewed while the IZOD IndyCar Chick and the Firestone Firehawk mascot look on at the Infineon Raceway Wine Country Winner's Circle. Image Credit: Dicken Wear (2010)

Will Power being interviewed in the Infineon Raceway Wine Country Winner's Circle. Image Credit: Dicken Wear (2010) Now you know how Dicken Wear as on TV after the Race.

Will Power's winning Penske Racing Verizon Dallara and helmet in the Infineon Raceway Wine Country Winner's Circle. Image Credit: Dicken Wear (2010)

A proud Roger Penske (right) greets his driver Will Power (left) after winning the 2010 Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma in the Infineon Raceway Wine Country Winner's Circle. Image Credit: Dicken Wear (2010)

Mario Andretti shares a congratulatory moment (and a laugh) with Will Power in the Infineon Raceway Wine Country Winner's Circle. Image Credit: Dicken Wear (2010)

Will Power being congratulated by his crew chief, Tim Cindric, in the Infineon Raceway Wine Country Winner's Circle. Image Credit: Dicken Wear (2010)

Penske Racing Team as it celebrates Will Power's win at Infineon Raceway. Image Credit: Dicken Wear (2010)

toomuchracing Congrats to Will Power for a dominant win!

Fieldof33 Awwww, Hell Naw!!!! The IZOD Trophy Chick just stood right in front of @speedfreakbash. Kick 'er ass, Bash!!!! :-)

IZOD Trophy Chick with the Firestone Firehawk in the Infineon Raceway Wine Country Winner's Circle. Image Credit: Dicken Wear (2010)

Note: The Firehawk Drives a Mini IRL Kart at most Races, built by Dicken Wear & Competition Engineering.

JSummerton Had a great day! Been fun! Great @IndyCarnation race. Congrats to Will Power. Hopefully will be in there fighting for the wins next year;)

IndyCarNation Power's Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma win is his third win from the pole this season.

IndyCarNation This is Will Power’s fifth victory of the 2010 season. He previously won at Sao Paulo, St. Petersburg, Watkins Glen and Toronto.

IndyCarNation Power is the sixth different winner of an IZOD IndyCar Series race @InfineonRaceway, have been no repeat series winners at @InfineonRaceway

indy44 Good finish, nice fight at the end between Power and Dixon. Will Power is definitely the King of the Road. Now bring on the ovals!

SFRacing Bring on the ovals @IndyCarNation! We'll see all of you @ChicagolndSpdwy next weekend!

... notes from The EDJE

The Bigger ... And Better 2010 Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival

John Morton driving 1958 Scarab SR. On Sunday Morton drove the beautiful 1958 Scarab SR that John saw Lance Reventlow and Chuck Day race that year and is now entered by Miles C. Collier for John to drive. Image Credit Mike Finnegan (2010)

The Bigger ... And Better 2010 Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival

California’s serene Sonoma Valley, typically reserved for sip-and-savor winery tours, came alive this weekend with the roar of vintage race cars. On Friday, the 375 entries officially registered and then practiced and prepared for this weekend’s racing at Infineon Raceway, to the delight of connoisseurs of everything sophisticated and fine.

“We have hosted an historic event in the wine country for 24 years,” said Steve Earle of General Racing, which organizes the historic races, “but this is a new event. It’s bigger and better.”

Bigger means an increase in number of cars by more than 30%, which in and of itself took the Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival to a whole new level, adding more color, more excitement as 13 competition groups--identified by era dating from pre-World War I to the 1990s--took to the Infineon Raceway’s 2.52 mile winding, hillside road course.

Gooding & Company's display of the Talbot- Lago T-26 Racing Monoplace which is scheduled to be auctioned to the highest bidder this August at Pebble Beach. Image Ccredit Mike Finnegan (2010)

In addition to watching the cars in motion and getting up-close-and-personal with drivers and their cars in the paddock area, spectators were able to enjoy a rare opportunity to preview three extraordinary cars delivered by the event’s hospitality sponsor Gooding & Company, the internationally celebrated automotive auction house. The cars--a winning 1956 Maserati 200 SI raced by Sir Stirling Moss; an award-winning 1951 Ferrari 340 America from the estate of devoted enthusiast Mr. Gil Nickel; and a stunning 1949 Talbot-Lago T-26 Racing Monoplace that won the 1950 Paris Grand Prix-- will be auctioned at Gooding & Company’s Pebble Beach Auctions in August.

John Morton stands beside a British Rootes Group built 1964 Sunbeam Tiger. Image Credit: Mike Finnegan (2010)

A Gentleman and a Driver

Though the cars are the stars, on many occasions a star arrives in the form of a driver. One such driver at this year’s Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival is John Morton from El Segundo, Calif. Morton’s love for motorsports began as a teen when he and his father attended his first road race at Road America in 1957. His impression from that weekend was such that he resolved to race cars one day. In 1963, he purchased a Lotus Super 7, followed by a Lotus 23SR the following year. He went on to join Peter Brock’s Datsun team, which won the Trans-Am 2.5 liter Championship in 1971 and 1972. His early success in Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) racing led to impressive drives in Formula 5000, Can-Am and IMSA GTP, and after nine attempts at Le Mans, John snagged victory in 1994.

“I have a real affection for the history of racing and at these vintage races,” said Morton when asked what it’s like to get into these old cars after having such a distinguished professional career in motor sports. “I get to participate in history.“

Over the course of this last weekend, he was one busy guy racing not one but three vintage race cars in three different race groups. On Saturday June 5th he drove the 1964 Lotus 23SR now owned by Tom Griffiths. This is the very car John bought in 1964 and raced in SCCA until 1968. On Sunday he drove the beautiful 1958 Scarab SR [pictured at top of post] that John saw Lance Reventlow and Chuck Day race that year and is now entered by Miles C. Collier for John to drive. He then rushed to the next race group to drive the 1964 Sunbeam Tiger entered by Buck Trippel.

Buck Trippel's Tiger on the Grid at Infineon Raceway. Image Credit: Dicken Wear (2010)


John Morton all belted in before start of one of the many races held during the at the Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival. Image Credit: Dicken Wear (2010)

“Racing here at Infineon Raceway with General Racing is always one of our favorite events of the year,” said Morton. “It’s a fun event and always so well organized. I think Infineon Raceway is the most demanding race course in the country. I don’t see how those NASCAR guys can drive on a hot day that long on this track. This is the toughest track for driver fatigue; you are always busy, and there is just no rest.”

Dick DeLuna driving the 1917 Hall-Scott up and down the hillside at Infinion Raceway. Like a fine wine that needs to be aged, the 1917 Hall-Scott was finished in 1999 and took 82 plus years to come of age. Image Credit: Randy Jones (2010)

The Car that Never Was

Sometimes great concepts are conceived but not completed for decades, like Dick DeLuna’s 1917 Hall-Scott, for example. In 1917, a certain Colonel Hall planned to build his Hall-Scott racer for that year’s Vanderbilt Cup Race, but because the United States entered World War I that same year, the factory had to turn all its efforts to building engines for military bi-planes, thus the car was never built.

“This car was created based on original plans and drawings that we were able to get hold of,” said DeLuna, adding that it is based on a 1917 REO frame with an inner frame that drops the engine down so the driver can see. “All the running gear is 1917 REO with a 1 to 1 ratio rear end. With a 125 horsepower engine at 1200 rpm and a three-speed transmission we have had this car up to 89 mph. It has a steel frame and all-aluminum body. The brakes are only at the rear with the emergency brake on the drive shaft, which aids in stopping.”

When asked how his Hall-Scott handled the turns at Infineon Raceway, DeLuna said, “It’s a bit like driving a big truck out there, so when I come in my shoulders hurt. Also, because it operates at such a low rpm it’s hard to hear, and if you don’t watch your rpm gauge and speedometer, it can easily get away from you. It takes a lot to turn this car and after five or six laps the brakes start to go away, so you have to start using the emergency brakes. It’s a real fun car; I have taken it to the Goodwood Festival of Speed in England, and it was a real crowd-pleaser there.”

“I think the Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival is great,” said DeLuna. “Steve (Earle) does a fantastic job and will turn the Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival into one of the premier events of its type in the country.”

California’s serene Sonoma Valley, typically reserved for sip-and-savor winery tours, really did came alive this weekend with the roar of vintage race cars - It was bigger, better, and it was grand.

... notes from The EDJE

(ht: post content excerpted and edited from a General Racing, Ltd. press release issued by MediaProNewport.com)