Verizon IndyCar Series Championship Battle Heads to Sonoma Raceway

Begin forwarded message:

From: Diana Brennan <DBrennan>

Subject: Verizon IndyCar Series Championship Battle Heads to Sonoma Raceway

Date: August 18, 2014 at 2:42:56 PM EDT

To: Diana Brennan <DBrennan>

Cc: Jessica Schaffer <JSchaffer>, Laurence Lea <LLea>

Verizon IndyCar Series Championship Battle Heads to Sonoma Raceway GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma This Weekend SONOMA, Calif. (Aug. 18, 2014) – The Verizon IndyCar® Series returns to Sonoma Raceway for the 10thconsecutive year this weekend for the GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma, Aug. 22-24. The event marks the penultimate race on the series’ 2014 schedule, and will play a key role in the championship battle. Six drivers remain mathematically eligible to win the 2014 Verizon IndyCar Series title, as the series heads to its final road-course event of the year. Team Penske’s Will Power claimed a dominating win at the Milwaukee Mile last weekend and heads to Sonoma Raceway with a 39-point lead over teammate Helio Castroneves in the point standings (602 to 563). Power earned the points lead by virtue of three race wins, three poles and eight top-five finishes, while Castroneves has one win (Detroit) and two pole positions. Simon Pagenaud (Schmidt Peterson Motorsports) sits third with two victories. Andretti Autosport’s Ryan Hunter-Reay, currently fourth in points, has three wins so far this season. Juan Pablo Montoya (Team Penske) and Scott Dixon (Target Chip Ganassi Racing) have earned one victory apiece and sit fifth and sixth in points, respectively. Power, Castroneves and Dixon have each tasted victory at Sonoma Raceway, with Team Penske posting five of the last six race wins in wine country. Power has the most wins of any driver in Sonoma with three (2013, ’11 and ’10), while Montoya took the checkers in Sonoma during his rookie year in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 2007. “I think you have to turn up to every track, doesn’t matter what it is, and know that you have a chance to win,” said Power after his Milwaukee victory. “I just think that’s how you become a champion. I’m very determined for that to happen this year.” Team Penske has won 12 Indy car championships, but the last was in 2006 with Sam Hornish Jr. Power was the championship runner-up in 2010, ’11 and 12. Castroneves finished second in 2013. “The ultimate goal is for (team owner) Roger (Penske) to win one,” Power said. “We’ve just let too many get away. Too many times second, so we’ve got to keep that in mind.” With only two races left in the battle for the Verizon IndyCar Series championship, every lap on the 12-turn, 2.38-mile Sonoma Raceway road course is sure to impact the points chance. For more information or to purchase tickets for this weekend’s GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma, visitwww.racesonoma.com/indycar or call 800-870-RACE. ### GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma WHEN: Aug. 22-24 CIRCUIT: 12-turn, 2.38-mile road course 2013 POLE WINNER: Dario Franchitti (Target Chip Ganassi Racing) 2013 WINNER: Will Power (Team Penske) INFORMATION: 800-870-RACE (7223),racesonoma.com/indycar, ticketmaster.com

2014 Major Events Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival May 17-18 Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Weekend June 20-22 NHRA Division 7 drag races, presented by Korbel July 18-20 NHRA Sonoma Nationals July 25-27 GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma Aug. 22-24 Classic Sports Racing Group Charity Challenge Oct. 4-5