Round 17: GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma. Sonoma, CA. 23rd - 24th August, 2014.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally known as Sears Point Raceway, the track was built in 1968, holding its first race on Dec. 1, that year. In 1970, Dan Gurney won the 2nd round of the USAC Championship Car season, the Golden Gate 150, in his AAR Eagle-Ford. However, AOWR/IndyCar would not return for 35 years, with Tony Kanaan wining the IRL's inaugural race at the venue in 2005, for Andretti Green Racing. The venue also hosts rounds for AMA Superbikes, NASCAR Sprint Cup, NHRA Championship Drag Racing, SCCA and WTCC.

The track was originally owned by attorney Robert Marshall Jr. and land developer Jim Coleman, who sold it in 1969 to Filmways Corp., a Los Angeles based entertainment company, who closed the venue in May 1970 using it as a tax shelter. In 1974, it was leased to Bob Bondurant, owner and operator of the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving and was bought by the group Black Mountain Inc., which included Bondurant. It was bought back by Filmways Corp., in 1981 and subsequently auctioned off and run by Brenda Raceway Corp., until 1996, when it was bought by current owners Speedway Motorsports, Inc.

Sonoma Raceway is another track with various layouts and which has also undergone various changes. The full length road course is a 2.52 miles (4.06 km), with 12-turns and 160 feet change in elevation. It also has a quarter mile (400 m) dragstrip used for NHRA drag racing events, wich was originally part of the start/finish line straight. Track changes in 2002 separated the race track from the drag strip.

In 1998, the Chute Was added, A 890-foot (270 m) high-speed stretch, bypassing turns 5 and 6, the Carousel and creating a new 1.95 mile (3.14 km) long layout. It is only used for NASCAR events and was criticized by many drivers, who prefered the full layout. In 2001, a 70° turn was added to the Chute.

Up until and including 2011, IndyCar raced on a 2.303 mile (3.706 km) version of the track but in 2012 notable changes were made to the layout. The section of track from Turn 10 to Turn 11 was extended by 200 feet before going into the hairpin, giving drivers more space to out-brake each other and set up a passing opportunity before going into Turn 12. The exit of Turn 9, the Bus Stop, was widened by 10 feet on the driver’s left, giving additional width to what was already a passing zone. The exit out of the turn is now 50 feet wide. At Turn 7, instead of the looping right-hander, there is now a u-turn, which will force drivers to out-brake each other, similar to Turn 11 and creating a passing zone.

Track Layout:
Complete track, with variations.


2012 IndyCar track.


Length: 2.31 mi - 3.71 km
Turns: 12

Lap record:
August 25th, 2012. Will Power, Team Penske, Dallara DW12-Chevrolet. 1:17.2709, 111.116 mph - 178.824 km/h

Last year's winner:
Will Power
Team Penske
Dallara DW12-Chevrolet

Laps: 85
Distance: 195.755 mi - 315.010 km
Race Time: 2:20:47
Average Speed: 86.401

TV Coverage:
NBCSN
Green flag for both races, 4:00pm ET.

[Purist]

BJS, good intro, on the whole. There's a bit more to the track configurations though.

The IRL used a 2.320-mile layout for 2005-07 (the Motorcycle Circuit), which had the wider, looping hairpin entry at Turn 7.

For 2008-11, they just ran the cars straight down the dragstrip to Turn 7, and used the "Budweiser Bottleneck" exit to have a more open corner that way. This gave a lap of 2.303 miles.

For 2012 onward, they have run the cars down the dragstrip to Turn 7, and then have them run the original, tighter exit of the hairpin. In addition, they gave them the extra length down toward the Turn 11 hairpin, though they are still about 350ft short of the full corner. This latest configuration is 2.385 miles to the lap.

The straight run at the end of the Esses, leading to the Bike Chicane before Turn 10, has been a part of all three, recent Indy Car layouts.

Lap Records:
2.320 miles- 1:17.368 (107.952-mph), 2007
2.303 miles- 1:16.528 (108.337-mph), 2010
2.385 miles- 1:17.271 (111.115-mph), 2012

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Purist

BJS, good intro, on the whole. There's a bit more to the track configurations though.

The IRL used a 2.320-mile layout for 2005-07 (the Motorcycle Circuit), which had the wider, looping hairpin entry at Turn 7.

For 2008-11, they just ran the cars straight down the dragstrip to Turn 7, and used the "Budweiser Bottleneck" exit to have a more open corner that way. This gave a lap of 2.303 miles.

For 2012 onward, they have run the cars down the dragstrip to Turn 7, and then have them run the original, tighter exit of the hairpin. In addition, they gave them the extra length down toward the Turn 11 hairpin, though they are still about 350ft short of the full corner. This latest configuration is 2.385 miles to the lap.

The straight run at the end of the Esses, leading to the Bike Chicane before Turn 10, has been a part of all three, recent Indy Car layouts.

Lap Records:
2.320 miles- 1:17.368 (107.952-mph), 2007
2.303 miles- 1:16.528 (108.337-mph), 2010
2.385 miles- 1:17.271 (111.115-mph), 2012

I found a lot of conflicting info regarding the various track layouts and lengths, so Cheers.

Just one thing though, looking at the track layout, if they run the cars down the drag strip to turn 7, wouldn't that mean they miss out turns 2 thru 6?

[Purist]

No, what I meant is that they don't use that loop of the original course that goes off of the dragstrip to the left a bit, which provides that more open entry to the Turn 7 hairpin. (It would be a REALLY short lap (too short) if they omitted Turns 2-6.)

After I've gone through the print records, and if I'm still not certain about some things, I'll go find video clips to see what, if anything, actually changed in the layouts of various circuits. Fortunately, that's becoming an increasingly easy task to accomplish.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Purist

No, what I meant is that they don't use that loop of the original course that goes off of the dragstrip to the left a bit, which provides that more open entry to the Turn 7 hairpin. (It would be a REALLY short lap (too short) if they omitted Turns 2-6.)

After I've gone through the print records, and if I'm still not certain about some things, I'll go find video clips to see what, if anything, actually changed in the layouts of various circuits. Fortunately, that's becoming an increasingly easy task to accomplish.

Well yes that would be a very short lap. So, the current lap distance is 2.385 miles and not 2.31 miles, which is what I got from the Sonoma website. http://www.racesonoma.com/media/news...car-event.html, 8 prargraphs down, beginning, ''With the modifications...''.

I also came across this website, http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/08/...pro-grand.html, when I was writing the intro and it said the track was 2.385 miles long but I thought they'd got it wrong, so I used the info from the Sonoma website, thinking they would have the correct distance. It can get a tad confusing.

[codename_47]

I just wish they'd get rid of that ridiculous chicane at turn 9 that ruins all flow of the track and seems to prevent passing at the hairpin afterwards instead of create an overtaking opportunity of it's own

[Purist]

Well, I've said it before, but this seems to be the one track where the new car has NOT "fixed" the racing.

They ought to use the original layout of the Turn 7 hairpin, which is more open, but would still provide a generous braking/overtaking zone. It also eliminates that absurdly acute apex radius on entry, which leads to so many cars getting turned around. It is also so tight that the guy on the inside gets bogged down to the point of not being able to get the launch off to complete the pass.

Yes, that straight into the bike chicane hasn't helped overtaking, and the run out of it, to Turn 11, is still too short for much overtaking to be set up. Of course, not using the full run into and out of Turn 11 also shortens the run up to Turn 2, which doesn't help things happen along that stretch.

If they need to add an extra layer of tires, and the restraining banding around them, at Turns 10 and 11, do it. Just run the original, 2.520-mile configuration.

Considering that the LMP900s were going into Turn 10 at ~180-mph, and Turn 11 at ~190-mph in 1999-2000, they should be able to properly absorb the impacts from cars going 15-25-mph slower on top-end, and that are ~500lb lighter.

[Purist]

Stream is going nicely for Practice 1.

[Purist]

Practice 2 is streaming.

The way they have Turn 11 set up isn't helpful, either. Like Turn 7, they have an extremely acute, almost angular, inner radius with that apex curbing the way it is. With it like that, making the inside, overtaking line so tight, and squeezing things so much compared to a nice, semi-circular profile, it's no wonder they have difficulty passing at this track in this configuration.

[Purist]

Power is on pole, and has a new Qualifying Record lap of 1:17.239 (111.161-mph). Helio will start 6th.

RHR and Pagenaud are farther down the field, so not expected to play a role up front.

[D.R.T.]

Full results

http://www.imscdn.com/indycar_media/...%20Results.pdf

[Salamus]

This is definitely Power's championship to lose.
Newgarden is impressing week after week.
Montoya in 19th is a surprise, didn't think he would struggle that much.

[bjohnsonsmith]

For the record:

Pos Driver Team/Engine Time Gap
1. Will Power Penske/Chevy 1m17.4126s
2. Josef Newgarden Fisher/Honda 1m17.7318s +0.3192s
3. Scott Dixon Ganassi/Chevy 1m17.9044s +0.4918s
4. James Hinchcliffe Andretti/Honda 1m17.9565s +0.5439s
5. Ryan Briscoe Ganassi/Chevy 1m18.1217s +0.7091s
6. Helio Castroneves Penske/Chevy 1m18.8771s +1.4645s
7. Sebastien Bourdais KV/Chevy 1m17.7176s Round 2
8. Tony Kanaan Ganassi/Chevy 1m17.7231s Round 2
9. Carlos Munoz Andretti/Honda 1m17.7257s Round 2
10. Ryan Hunter-Reay Andretti/Honda 1m17.7499s Round 2
11. Charlie Kimball Ganassi/Chevy 1m17.7532s Round 2
12. Mikhail Aleshin Schmidt/Honda 1m18.7700s Round 2
13. Marco Andretti Andretti/Honda 1m18.2681s Group 1
14. Graham Rahal Rahal/Honda 1m18.1249s Group 2
15. Simon Pagenaud Schmidt/Honda 1m18.2767s Group 1
16. Justin Wilson Coyne/Honda 1m18.2296s Group 2
17. Mike Conway Carpenter/Chevy 1m18.3518s Group 1
18. Jack Hawksworth Herta/Honda 1m18.2310s Group 2
19. Juan Pablo Montoya Penske/Chevy 1m18.8102s Group 1
20. Takuma Sato Foyt/Honda 1m18.4104s Group 2
21. Carlos Huertas Coyne/Honda 1m18.9603s Group 1
22. Sebastian Saavedra KV/Chevy 1m18.5202s Group 2

[bjohnsonsmith]

The race has been unaffected by the earth quake.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/115552

[bjohnsonsmith]

I've missed just over half of the race, I thought it was going to be on later, should have double checked the time.

Conway's in the lead and Power's in 18th.

[Starfish Primer]

Come on Will Power, you cannot mess it again this year.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Great move by Rahal on Conway.

Power's 13th.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Rahal was forced to pit due to fuel and Dixon takes the lead and RH-R is on his tail..

Power now 12th.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Congrats to Dixon and what a last corner finish with Bourdais, Power and Wilson, with Power finishing 9th. Not that I like them but surely a penalty for someone? However,it looks like they are re-ordering the reults with Power 12th.

[mythoughtsareracing]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Congrats to Dixon and what a finish with Bourdais, Power and Wilson. Not that I like them but surely a penalty for someone?

When Power was getting argy-bargy with Bourdais & Wilson at the finish, there was a yellow flag displayed because Conway was out of gas on the start/finish straight.
If he passed under a local yellow, he has to give the position(s) back, at the very least.

In addition, Power pushed SeaBas into the wall...

[Paradise City]

They've returned Power to 12th. When he made the move, Power had to keep an eye on the two cars so I'm unsurprised he missed the yellow. The yellow seemed tentatively displayed.

I still have to fully digest what happened there.

Well done Dixon. Nice to have seen Rahal win though.

[Paradise City]

Standings now say Power is 10th with Bourdais 11th,

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Paradise City

They've returned Power to 12th. When he made the move, Power had to keep an eye on the two cars so I'm unsurprised he missed the yellow. The yellow seemed tentatively displayed.

I still have to fully digest what happened there.

Well done Dixon. Nice to have seen Rahal win though.

Someone in the commentary team said it looked like the track marshall intially waved the flag but his colleague got him to bring it in very quickly.

[Paradise City]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Someone in the commentary team said it looked like the track marshall intially waved the flag but his colleague got him to bring it in very quickly.

There was two marshals there, the flagman is waving away whilst his colleague seemed reluctant and the flagman seemed to pull in the flag as the trio went by. Could've misread their body language tho.

[bjohnsonsmith]

An excellent report

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/115563

and for the record.

Results - 85 laps:

Pos Driver Team/Engine Time/Gap
1. Scott Dixon Ganassi/Chevy 2h09m21.8064s
2. Ryan Hunter-Reay Andretti/Honda +1.1359s
3. Simon Pagenaud Schmidt/Honda +6.3078s
4. Takuma Sato Foyt/Honda +11.8110s
5. Juan Pablo Montoya Penske/Chevy +12.7305s
6. Josef Newgarden Fisher/Honda +13.5367s
7. Mikhail Aleshin Schmidt/Honda +15.8048s
8. Marco Andretti Andretti/Honda +20.1054s
9. Justin Wilson Coyne/Honda +21.6233s
10. Will Power Penske/Chevy +22.1936s
11. Sebastien Bourdais KV/Chevy +22.4321s
12. James Hinchcliffe Andretti/Honda +23.1572s
13. Tony Kanaan Ganassi/Chevy +23.2277s
14. Mike Conway Carpenter/Chevy +26.9930s
15. Jack Hawksworth Herta/Honda +37.0303s
16. Sebastian Saavedra KV/Chevy +37.7440s
17. Ryan Briscoe Ganassi/Chevy +37.9876s
18. Helio Castroneves Penske/Chevy +39.6511s
19. Carlos Munoz Andretti/Honda +42.4797s
20. Graham Rahal Rahal/Honda +43.5335s
21. Charlie Kimball Ganassi/Chevy -1 lap

Retirements:

Carlos Huertas Coyne/Honda 28 laps