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.