IndyCars - Sonoma: It's down to this event, once more

The Sports Roundtable and Bar
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For the 13th year in a row, the IndyCar Championship will be decided by this final race of the season, as the IndyCars do the IndyCar Grand Prix of Sonoma.

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The track in Northern California, once known as Sears Point, has been the site of the IndyCar finale for many years now, but this will be the last one, as when IndyCar took on WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca for 2019 the series decided to make that the finale for next year and Sonoma declined to stay on the IndyCar schedule in any other capacity, believing that 2 NoCal races are one too many.

The track is a 2.385-mile, 12-turn natural-terrain road course that includes elevation changes, a hairpin turn and a carousel turn, but no really long straight, the longest being between Turns 6 and 7 and that has made for a hard track to pass on. No one is really sure how the 2018 Universal Aero Kit will perform, there.

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Sonoma Raceway

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The championship is down to four guys - Will Power and Josef Newgarden are tied for 3rd place, as both Teram Penske drivers have 511 points and 3 WINS. In 2nd place is Alexander Rossi for Andretti Autosport, with 569 points, while leading is Scott Dixon for Chip Ganassi with 598 points. Sonoma will award 100 points for the WIN - double the series usual - and that is why the two Penske guys stand a chance, if the racing gods play along. Rossi is going for his first title, Power and Newgarden are going for their 2nd titles and Dixon is going for his 5th title.

Will Power (left) amd Josef Newgarden

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…and Alexander Rossi (left) and Scott Dixon

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Race fans who attend the event will be treated to no less than 7 races, as Sonoma has loaded the event with a lot of support racing. That includes:

  • Historic Trans Am, with 3 racers on Friday, Saturday and Sunday
  • Formula Car Challenge series, with 2 races on Saturday and Sunday
  • IMSA Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA, with 2 races on Saturday and Sunday

…and, of course, the IndyCars will race on Sunday…

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Let’s take a look at that support racing…

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Historic Trans Am - As the name implies, these are cars from the heyday of the Trans Am series in the late '60s and early '70s. - powerful American iron, like Mustangs, Camaros, Javelins, Firebirds, Cougars, and more - and they put on a great show, but no one is just dancing around. These guys love to race their muscle cars to the same level as their historic brethren did. As no IndyCar drivers compete, we will wish these guys safe and happy racing and follow elsewhere.

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Support Racing (continued)…

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Formula Car Challenge - This is a junior open wheel series that incorporates 3 classes in one series, all racing on track at the same time. There is Formula Mazda, a purpose-built car powered by a 13B rotary engine paired with a 5-speed H-pattern tranny. In the middle is the Gen 2 Formula Speed car that incorporates all the most modern technology. Then there is Pro Formula Mazda which is essentially the same Elan chassis car that Pro Mazda used until this year, powered by the 250 hp Renesis rotary race engine paired to a 6-speed sequential gearbox. Formula Car Challenge is a feeder series for the Mazda Road to Indy Shoot-out and a champion from any one of the three classes is an at-large possibility to be in the Shoot-out in 2018. As such, we will keep an eye on these kids.

A Gen 2 Formula Speed car

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IMSA Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA - This IMSA one-make series has produced some of the finest young talents in SportsCar racing, utilizing the Porsche 991 Cup car - a race version of the 911 street car. We are following GT3 Cup Challenge USA because the current points leader - American Trenton Estep from San Antonio, Texas - is also one of 6 Mazda Road to Indy Shootout finalists from 2016, with a championship-WINNING open wheel background in Formula Fords.

Points-leader Trenton Estep in his JDX Racing 991

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Friday will be a day of practice for all series racing this weekend, including 2 practice sessions for the IndyCars. Let’s DO THIS!

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Thursday at Sonoma - Prior to the event, IndyCar held a final test…

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On Thursday a number of IndyCars showed up for the final test opportunity of the season and Racer magazine’s Marshall Pruett was there to watch the proceedings. Afterwards, he spoke with Sebastien Bourdais for Dale Coyne Racing with Vasser / Sullivan:

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Friday at Sonoma - IMSA’s Porsche boys hold first practice…

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Practice is that time when the driver and engineer work together early in the weekend to adjust and maximize the car for the particular track configuration, the condition that the track is in and the weather that the race will be held in. Practice is essential for getting the most out of the car on any given race weekend.

The first guys on track for the race weekend are the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA bunch and here were the TOP THREE following their P-1 session:

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The rabbit in the P-1 session was series Platinum class points-leader Trenton Estep - the IndyCar guy in this group. Trenton put in the time of 01:36.435 seconds for a speed of 89.033mph in the # 3 JDX Racing Porsche. Trenten bested his nearest points rival, Roman de Angelis, in the # 1 for Kelly-Moss Road and Race by a healthy 0.524 seconds. P3 on the session was Canadian Zacharie Robichon in the # 19 for Moorespeed. Zacharie is subbing for Will Hardeman who has been absent for a number of races for a family crisis. Robichon has already earned the 2018 Championship for the Canada version of GT3 Cup Challange. He cannot possibly acquire enough points to challenge for the title in GT3 Cup Challenge USA, however.

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Trenton Estep

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Roman de Angelis (left) and Zacharie Robichon

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The Porsche boys will hold another practice just after Noon. Next, the IndyCars hold their first practice…

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Friday morning at Sonoma - the IndyCars hold their P-1 practice session…

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The IndyCars came out in good weather for their first practice. A few cars found a way to leave the island, at times, but no one hit anything or damaged anything in the process.

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Here was the order of speed for the IndyCars P-1 session, with times for the TOP FIVE: [R] denotes rookie

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1 - Ryan Hunter-Reay, Andretti Autosport - time of 01:17.5742s for a speed of 110.681mph

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2 - Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing - time of 01:17.8268s for a speed of 110.322mph

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3 - Will Power, Team Penske - time of 01:17.8818s for a speed of 110.244mph

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4 - Simon Pagenaud, Team Penske - time of 01:17.9586s for a speed of 110.135mph

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5 - Marco Andretti, Andretti Autosport - time of 01:18.0878s for a speed of 109.953mph

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6 - Ed Jones, Chip Ganassi Racing
7 - Graham Rahal, Rahal Letterman Lanigan
8 - Alexander Rossi, Andretti Autosport
9 - Zach Veach [R], Andretti Autosport
10 - Sebastien Bourdais, Dale Coyne Racing w/ Vasser/Sullivan

11 - Pietro Fittipaldi [R], Dale Coyne Racing
12 - Santino Ferrucci [R], Dale Coyne Racing
13 - Spencer Pigot, Ed Carpenter Racing
14 - Takuma Sato, Rahal Letterman Lanigan
15 - James Hinchcliffe, Schmidt Peterson Motorsports
16 - Colton Herta [R], Harding Racing
17 - Jack Harvey [R], Meyer Shank Racing with SPM
18 - Charlie Kimball, Carlin
19 - Tony Kanaan, A.J. Foyt Enterprises
20 - Matheus Leist [R], A.J. Foyt Enterprises

21 - Carlos Munoz, Schmidt Peterson Motorsports
22 - Jordan King [R], Ed Carpenter Racing
23 - Max Chilton, Carlin
24 - Pato O’Ward [R], Harding Racing

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Notable:

  • There are 25 cars in the race but Josef Newgarden was unable to practice in P-1 due to a fuel pressure problem in his # 1 Chevy for Team Penske.

  • Ten of the TOP TWELVE cars are Hondas. Only the two Penske cars of Power and Pagenaud intrude for Chevrolet, though it is likely that Newgarden would also be there, were he able to run.

  • There are no less than 8 rookies in the field for this race and five of them are almost straight out of Indy Lights - Zach Veach, Matheus Leist, Jack Harvey and two making their IndyCar debuts, Pato O’Ward and Colton Herta, both driving for Harding Racing.

Ryan Hunter-Reay (left) and newbies Colton Herta and Pato O’Ward (right)

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The IndyCars will have another practice this afternoon, when the temperatures will be different and the wind will be less. Next, the Porsche Cup guys hold their 2nd practice of the day…

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Friday afternoon at Sonoma - The Porsche GT3 Cup guys hold their P-2 session…

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…and this time a few other Platinum class guys get their chance to shine, showing just how close and good the compatition is in Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge.

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The fastest guy in the P-2 session was 2018 Cup Challenge Canada Champion Zacharie Robichon in the # 19 car for Moorespeed with a time of 01:36.972s for a speed of 88.540mph, besting German driver David Kolkmann in the # 71 for Park Place Motorsports by 0.468 seconds. 3rd fastest in the session was Maxwell Root in the # 7 for Wright Motorsports.

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Zacharie Robichon for Moorespeed

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David Kolkmann (left) and Maxwell Root

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Notable:

  • Trenton Estep’s P-1 session time was the tops of the day, followed by Roman de Angelis, also from P-1 and Zacharie Robichin from P-2.

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The Porsche boys will return to the track on Saturday morning to qualify for their Saturday afternoon race. Next, the IndyCars hold their 2nd practice of the day…

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Saturday afternoon at Sonoma - The IndyCar come out for their P-2 practice session…

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A P-2 session is usually designed to get the cars ready for qualifying, based on the data acquired in the P-1 session, but each team has its own program - it’s own goals for a particular session. Nevertheless, the red sidewall "sticky’ tires will find more use in the P-2 session than in P-1, as they are typical for the best qualifying performance.

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Here was the order of speed for the IndyCar P-2 session, with times for the TOP FIVE: [R] denotes rookie

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1 - Josef Newgarden, Team Penske - time of 01:17.8156s for a speed of 110.338mph

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2 - Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing - time of 01:17.8992s for a speed of 110.219mph

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3 - Pato O’Ward [R], Harding Racing - time of 01:18.0073s for a speed of 110.067mph

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4 - Will Power, Team Penske - time of 01:18, 0284s for a speed of 110.037mph

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5 - James Hinchcliffe, Schmidt Peterson Motorsports - time of 01:18.2356s for a speed of 109.745mph

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6 - Alexander Rossi, Andretti Autosport
7 - Ed Jones, Chip Ganassi Racing
8 - Santino Ferrucci [R], Dale Coyne Racing
9 - Pietro Fittipaldi [R], Dale Coyne Racing
10 - Ryan Hunter-Reay, Andretti Autosport

11 - Zach Veach [R], Andretti Autosport
12 - Jordan King [R], Ed Carpenter Racing
13 - Takuma Sato, Rahal Letterman Lanigan
14 - Graham Rahal, Rahal Letterman Lanigan
15 - Carlos Munoz, Schmidt Peterson Motorsports
16 - Marco Andretti, Andretti Autosport
17 - Simon Pagenaud, Team Penske
18 - Sebastien Bourdais, Dale Coyne Racing w/ Vasser/Sullivan
19 - Spencer Pigot, Ed Carpenter Racing
20 - Jack Harvey [R], Meyer Shank Racing with SPM

21 - Colton Herta [R], Harding Racing
22 - Charlie Kimball, Carlin
23 - Tony Kanaan, A.J. Foyt Enterprises
24 - Max Chilton, Carlin
25 - Matheus Leist [R], A.J. Foyt Enterprises

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Notable:

  • Once he was able to run, Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden went to the top for this session and 2nd-fastest for the day. Ryan Hunter-Reay remains the fastest guy for the day. Falling on his face a bit was Team Penske’s Simon Pagenaud.

  • Pato O’Ward put down the best practice lap a Harding Racing car has ever done. He pulled in his spectacular time on the primary black tires rather than the sticky reds and having done so, Scott Dixon and Will Power then also went out on primaries and also ran fast.

  • This was a good mix of Hondas and Chevys, primary blacks and sticky red tires. It is going to be a very interesting qualifying session.

  • Rookies Santino Ferrucci and Pietro Fittipaldi both bested their superb veteran teammate at Dale Coyne, Sebastien Bourdais, by a good margin. Also in the TOP TWELVE are rookies Zach Veach and Jordan King. Most of the rookies are cookin’ at Sonoma.

Fast rookies Santino Ferrucci (left) and Pietro Fittipaldi

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This was the last on-track activity of the day. Tomorrow, the IndyCars will hold a final practice in the morning and then qualify for the last time in 2018 in the afternoon.

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IndyCar has released a Friday highlights reel…

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Racer magazine’s Marshall Pruett and Robin Miller recap the action at Sonoma on Friday…

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…and bring Sebastien Bourdais in on the conversation:

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Saturday morning at Sonoma - The Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA guys qualify…

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The IMSA Porsche Cup guys were out early in good weather to qualify for their Race 1 of the weekend. Each driver’s 2nd fastest lap from this quallly OR their fastest Race 1 lap - which ever is faster - will also grid Race 2 of the weekend.

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Here are the TOP SIX of the Platinum class for Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA, Race 1, with times for all:

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Row 1

Pole - Zacharie Robichon, Moorespeed - time of 01:36.175s for a speed of 89.274mph

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P2 - Anthony Imperato, Wright Motorsports - time of 01:36.388s for a speed of 89.077mph

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Row 2

P3 - Trenton Estep, JDX Racing - time of 01:36.535s for a speed of 88.941mph

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P4 - David Kolkmann, Park Place Motorsports - time of 01:36.688s for a speed of 88.800mph

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Row 3

P5 - Maxwell Root, Wright Motorsports - time of 01:36.774s for a speed of 88.721mph

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P6 - Roman de Angelis, Kelly-Moss Road & Race - time of 01:36.903s for a speed of 88.603mph

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Notable:

  • Ottawa’s Zacharie Robichon is one of Canada’s finest young racing talents. With a winning background in open wheel, Zach moved to Porsche GT3s in 2016 with Mark Motors Racing. In 2018 he WON 11 out of 12 races in Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada for them and has also driven in place of Will Hardeman for the last four races of Cup Challenge USA for Moorespeed, WINNING all four of them, too. The guy is a BEAST.

  • All six of these Platinum class drivers were 0.728 seconds apart on times. The field has 12 in Platinum class and 7 in Gold class.

  • All that points-leader Trenton Estep has to do today is finish ahead of points-rival Roman de Angelis. but teenager de Angelis will be coming on hard. Roman has competed the full season in BOTH Porsche Cup USA and Porsche Cup Canada this year and ended Porsche Cup Canada as 2018 Vice-Champion…to Zacharie Robichon.

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Race 1 for Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA will be this afternoon. next, the IndyCars hold theoir final practice before qualifying…

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Saturday morning at Sonoma - The IndyCars hold their final practice…

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The last chance to get an IndyCar prepped for either a run at the pole - and the valuable series point that goes with it - or to instead get a car ready to race in traffic happened this morning on track at Sonoma, with little incidence and few surprises.

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Here was the order of speed for the IndyCars P-3 practice session, with times for the TOP FIVE: [R] denotes rookie

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1 - Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing - time of 01:17.9697s for a speed of 110.120mph

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2 - Will Power, Team Penske - time of 01:17.9793s for a speed of 110.106mph

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3 - Ryan Hunter-Reay, Andretti Autosport - time of 01:17.9793s for a speed of 110.106mph

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4 - Alexander Rossi, Andretti Autosport - time of 01:18.1256s for a speed of 109.900mph

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5 - Josef Newgarden, Team Penske - time of 01:18.1269s for a speed of 109.898mph

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6 - Simon Pagenaud, Team Penske
7 - Zach Veach [R], Andretti Autosport
8 - Takuma Sato, Rahal Letterman Lanigan
9 - Santino Ferrucci [R], Dale Coyne Racing
10 - Marco Andretti, Andretti Autosport

11 - Ed Jones, Chip Ganassi Racing
12 - Graham Rahal, Rahal Letterman Lanigan
13 - Charlie Kimball, Carlin
14 - Spencer Pigot, Ed Carpenter Racing
15 - Jack Harvey [R], Meyer Shank Racing with SPM
16 - James Hinchcliffe, Schmidt Peterson Motorsports
17 - Jordan King [R], Ed Carpenter Racing
18 - Pietro Fittipaldi [R], Dale Coyne Racing
19 - Carlos Munoz, Schmidt Peterson Motorsports
20 - Max Chilton, Carlin

21 - Pato O’Ward [R], Harding Racing
22 - Colton Herta [R], Harding Racing
23 - Tony Kanaan, A.J. Foyt Enterprises
24 - Matheus Leist [R], A.J. Foyt Enterprises
25 - Sebastien Bourdais, Dale Coyne Racing w/ Vasser/Sullivan

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Notable:

  • Remarkably, the TOP FIVE in series points are also the TOP FIVE in the final practice session of the season, though not in the same order. Nevertheless, it has to unsettle his rivals that points-leader Scott Dixon goes into qualifying in P1 in this session. Ryan Hunter-Reay’s TOP TIME in the P-1 session remains the one to beat for the weekend.

  • The fastest rookie was Zach Veach in P7 but Santino Ferrucci continues to impress everyone with his P9 in only his 3rd IndyCar weekend.

  • Carlos Munoz for Schmidt Peterson was the only spinner in this session, with no damage. Sebastien Bourdais for Dale Coyne in P25 only put in 4 laps before retiring from the session, due to a failing clutch. It will be ready for qualifying.

Scott Dixon - worrisome

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The IndyCars will qualify later today. Next, Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA hold their Race 1 of the weekend…

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Saturday afternoon at Sonoma - the Porsche boys race…

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…and getting his 5th WIN in a row for Moorespeed was 2018 Canada Champion Zacharie Robichon in the # 19 car, from pole. P2 at the end was Anthony Imperato for Wright Motorsports and P3 was Trenton Estep for JDX Racing.

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Robichon with his race-winning car

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The podium was set by the qualifying and didn’t change throughout the race, though towards the end Trenton was able to get close to Imperato and threaten him for P2, but Robichon took the WIN by more than 4 seconds. David Kolkmann for Park Place Motorsports lost P4 to 17-year-old rookie Max Root for Wright Motorsports and then lost P5 to the other series teen, Roman de Angelis for Kelly-Moss Road & Race. De Angelis attempted to get by Root to hunt down Trenton Estep but ran out of time.

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Notable:

  • This is Zacharie’s 16th Porsche sprint race victory for the year, when his Cup Challenge Canada WINS are added in.

  • While he was unable to improve his position Trenton added slightly to his points lead over Roman de Angelis and now leads the series by 28 points, with 3 races left to run.

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Here is your happy Platinum-class podium - That’s Trenton Estep in P3 on the left, Zacharie Robichon in P1 in the middle and Anthony Imperato in P2 on the right:

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The Porsche Cup boys will race again on Sunday, just around Noon, local time. Next, the IndyCars qualify…

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Great news for Austin’s Will Hardeman for 2019…

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In the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge reports we have mentioned a few times that Austinite Will Hardeman has been sidelined from driving duties by a family crisis for the end of the 2018 season he has driven for Austin-based Moorespeed, and ably replaced in the # 19 car by Canadian Zacharie Robichon.

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Will Hardeman (center) flanked by David Moore (left) and Dave Modderman of Moorespeed

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It’s just been announce that Moorespeed, which started in endurance racing, is going back to their roots and will field Will in a new IMSA WeatherTech GTD-class Porsche 911 GT3 R for 2019.

The plan is for sure to do the full slate of WeatherTech sprint races and add in the four Tequila Patron North Anerican Endurance Cup races, if possible. The team will also remain in Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA, but with what driver we do not yet know.

Said Will, “I’m looking forward to our 2019 IMSA GTD effort. Through the Moorespeed driver-development program, and the platform that Porsche GT3 cup offers, we are prepared to make a championship run in the GTD field. Right now, my focus is on getting ready for the 2019 IMSA season as we complete our roster and search for potential sponsors. We plan to leverage synergies with the existing Moorespeed Porsche GT3 cup program alongside our GTD effort,"

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Hardeman had a WIN and 2 podiums going for Moorespeed when he had to bow out this season. Good luck in 2019, Will and see you on the grid!

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It’s time for the IndyCars to qualify…

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…and that means it’s time for the IndyCar qualifying explanation page. We offer this for newbies who look at what is going on during qualifying and find it more difficult to understand than the rules for a game of three-toed Pete…and that’s difficult!! This is THANKFULLY the last time we will need to do this in 2018. Yes, we know…you’re just as happy as we are. Now, if you already KNOW this stuff…MOVE ON! But, if not…

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So, how does this work? Around ovals qualifying is simple: One car at a time runs the fastest they can for 2 hot laps (after a warm-up lap) and the fastest average speed is the pole sitter, but…

On road and street courses it gets complicated - The Firestone Fast Six
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Qualifying is done in three segments of TEN MINUTES for the first two and SIX MINUTES for the last. Today, there are 25 cars attempting to qualify. In Segment One, the first 12 cars will be sent out for ten minutes. During that time they will run as fast as they can, being timed. The fastest SIX advance to Segment Two. Then, the 13 remaining cars are sent out for ten minutes to do the same. The fastest SIX from that group also advance to Segment Two. The 13 cars that did NOT advance line up in grid spots P13 through P25, based on their times.

In Segment Two, the 12 that advanced once again run as fast as possible for ten minutes. The fastest 6 of this group advance to Segment Three. The other 6 line up on the grid on spots P7 through P12, based on their times.

Segment Three is also known as The Firestone Fast Six. These cars go out and run as fast as they can for only six minutes and then line up P1 through P6 on the grid, based on their times, and that is how pole is set.

Don’t screw it up! - You have to go as fast as you can but you CANNOT afford to over-cook it: If a car causes a red or full course yellow condition in any segment, the car’s best two timed laps of the segment will be disallowed and that car will not be allowed to advance to the next segment. If a car causes two red or full course yellow conditions in any segment, all segment times shall be voided and the car shall not be permitted to participate in the remainder of qualifying.

Qualifying can be very exciting to watch, as it looks like a very fast race going on, but the cars try to stay separated from each other, so as to get the best possible time without someone mucking up their hot laps. You will see the pole switch SEVERAL TIMES from car to car, as the time runs down.

The pole winner not only gets to start on pole but wins the Verizon P1 Award and the valuable series point that goes with it. today, that could be the difference between being Champion and going home sad.

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In 2017 the pole was taken by Josef Newgarden for Team Penske, on his way to finishing P2 and taking the 2017 series title. His time was 01:15.5205 seconds for a speed of 113.691 miles per hour.
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The IndyCars are qualified!..

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…and stealing the pole at the last second was Ryan Hunter-Reay for Andretti Autosport, stealing it from series points-leader Scott Dixon for Chip Ganassi. And once again, in this season of great rookie drivers, a rookie gets into the FAST SIX.

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Here is the way the IndyCars will grid for the season finale on Sunday, with times for the TOP SIX: [R] denotes rookie

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Row 1

Pole - Ryan Hunter-Reay, Andretti Autosport - time of 01:17.6277s for a speed of 110.605mph

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P2 - Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing - time of 01:17.7599s for a speed of 110.417mph

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Row 2

P3 - Josef Newgarden, Team Penske - time of 01:17.7937s for a speed of 110.369mph

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P4 - Marco Andretti, Andretti Autosport - time of 01:17.7999s for a speed of 110.360mph

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Row 3

P5 - Pato O’Ward [R], Harding Racing - time of 01:17.9737s for a speed of 110.114mph

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P6 - Alexander Rossi, Andretti Autosport - time of 01:18.0019s for a speed of 110.074mph

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Row 4

P7 - Will Power, Team Penske
P8 - Simon Pagenaud, Team Penske

Row 5

P9 - Graham Rahal, Rahal Letterman Lanigan
P10 - Zach Veach [R], Andretti Autosport

Row 6

P11 - Sebastien Bourdais, Dale Coyne Racing w/ Vasser/Sullivan
P12 - Takuma Sato, Rahal Letterman Lanigan

Row 7

P13 - Pietro Fittipaldi [R], Dale Coyne Racing
P14 - Ed Jones, Chip Ganassi Racing

Row 8

P15 - James Hinchcliffe, Schmidt Peterson Motorsports
P16 - Jack Harvey [R], Meyer Shank Racing with SPM

Row 9

P17 - Spencer Pigot, Ed Carpenter Racing
P18 - Tony Kanaan, A.J. Foyt Enterprises

Row 10

P19 - Colton Herta [R], Harding Racing
P20 - Santino Ferrucci [R], Dale Coyne Racing

Row 11

P21 - Max Chilton, Carlin
P22 - Carlos Munoz, Schmidt Peterson Motorsports

Row 12

P23 - Matheus Leist [R], A.J. Foyt Enterprises
P24 - Charlie Kimball, Carlin

Row 13

P25 - Jordan King [R], Ed Carpenter Racing

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Notable:

  • This is Ryan’s first pole of the year and it came at a very good time to help teammate Alexander Rossi, by taking away the one point for pole from title rival Scott Dixon.

  • 2018 Indy Lights Champion Pato O’Ward gets into the Fast Six in his first IndyCar start. Other rookies to do the same this year were Robert Wickens, Matheus Leist and Jordan King (all at St. Pete) and Zach Veach at Portland. This has been a fantastic year for rookies.

  • Pato’s P5 is the best qualifying for a Harding Racing car ever, and it is IN PART due to the fact that Andretti Autosport has given Harding Racing their shock absorbers to use at Sonoma for both O’Ward and Colton Herta, who were both Andretti Indy Lights guys in 2018. Such things can make a huge difference.

  • Tony Kanaan will be making his 300th consecutive start on Sunday. There is a reason his nickname is “the Ironman”.

  • All the title contenders were in the Fast Six except for Will Power and his P7 start is his worst start of the year - think of that!

Will Power (left) and Tony Kanaan - great performers for different reasons.

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The race uis scheduled for broadcast LIVE on NBC-SN on Sunday, starting at 6:30pm EASTERN time and 3:30pm Pacific time.

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Spotter’s guide - Changes in livery since Portland…

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Very few changes will be in evidence at Sonoma. We have a few new drivers in cars and a new car that has never run before.

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Colton Herta is making his IndyCar debut in the # 88 for Harding Racing. The car looks exactly as it has all season, with other drivers in it - Blue and white with gold trim:

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Pato O’Ward is also making his IndyCar debut and also for Harding Racing. This is a new car that has never run before, the # 8. It is the same basic scheme as Colton’s # 88 but while it also has some gold trim on the wings, it is not vbisible from the side:

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Graham Rahal was in the One Cure car at Portland, with colors of black and white but jumps back into the Total car for Sonoma - Red and black and white:

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Simon Pagenaud drove the screaming yellow Menard’s car at Portland but jumps into the black and white DXC Technology car for California:

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Sebastien Bourdais did a one-time run for Gorilla Automotive Products at Portland in a great looking fading pink and white car but gets back in his bread & butter SealMaster car of yellow and black for the season finale:

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Marco Andretti was in the Military to Motorsports car of white and blue at Portland but returns to his most-often ride for Sonoma, the US Concrete car of red and white with black trim

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17

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Racer magazine’s Marshall Pruett does a quick interview with rookie Patricio O’Ward…

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…following his appearance in the Firestone Fast Six in qualifying on the first IndyCar race weekend for the newly-crowned 2018 Indy Lights Champion:

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And that enthusiasm is why we have always had a jones for Pato O’Ward.

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18

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IndyCar has released Day 2 highlights, including qualifying…

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Sunday at Sonoma - Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA hold Race 2 of the weekend…

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The grid for Race 2 was set by the 2nd fastest lap of the drivers during qualifying and the TOP SIX looked like this:

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Row 1

Pole - Zacharie Robichon, Moorespeed

P2 - Anthony Imperato, Wright Motorsports

Row 2

P3 - Maxwell Root, Wright Motorsports

P4 - Trenton Estep, JDX Racing

Row 3

P5 - Roman de Angelis, Kelly-Moss Road & Race

P6 - David Kolkmann, Park Place Motorsports

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When the race was over it was points-leader Trenton Estep in P1, his nearest points rival, Roman de Angelis, in P2 and David Kolkmann bringing home P3.

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Zacharie Robichon, starting again from pole, led every lap, but post-race technical inspection revealed that the rear camber of the # 19 Moorespeed car exceeded the maximum permitted value. As a result, the car was moved to last in the results and Estep’s # 3 JDX Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup machine was promoted to the victory.

Trenton was in position to inherit the WIN by passing Maxwell Root who then fell through the order behind de Angelis and Kolkmann. On the opening lap P2 Anthony Imperato dropped out, leaving Root in P2 and under attack from Estep, de Angelis and Kolkmann.

left to right, P1 Trenton Estep, P2 Roman de Angelis and P3 David Kolkmann

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Notable:

  • This is Trenton’s 13th podium in 14 races and 4th WIN of his season. He now leads Roman by 31 points, going to the season finales at Road Atlanta, where the title will be decided over two races between Estep, de Angelis or David Kolkmann in a distant 3rd place.

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The final two races for Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA will be October 10-13 at Road Atlanta in support of the Motul Petit Le Mans. Next, the IndyCars race for the last time in 2017. The grid for this race is in post # 15…

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20

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Sunday at Sonoma - The 2018 IndyCar season comes to a close and a champion is crowned…

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The last race of the year was WON in a commanding fashion by Ryan Hunter-Reay for Andretti Autosport - his 2nd WIN of the year - but coming home in P2 - a spot he occupied nearly every lap of the race - was Scott Dixon for Chip Ganassi Racing, and that steady drive and finish ahead of Andretti’s Alexander Rossi gives Dixon his 5th Championship in his brilliant career, putting him behind only AJ Foyt on the all-time Championship list for IndyCars. P3 in the race was Will Power for Team Penske.

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The 2018 IndyCar Champion Scott Dixon with the boss, Chip Ganassi

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The race WINNER, Ryan Hunter-Reay and wife Beccy Gordon - Robby Gordon’s sis

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The championship was effectively over on the first lap, as going up to Turn 2, Dixon’s only real rival for the title, Alexander Rossi, nailed the rear tire of teammate Marco Andretti. That caused a broken front wing and a tire puncture on Rossi’s # 27 Honda, though no damage to Andretti. Rossi would motor back to the pits as fast as his flat tire would allow but he ended up going from his P6 start to P25 and a lap down.

Rossi would valiantly try to recoup his losses over the course of the race and with both a little luck and A LOT of the spirited driving that had him in the title hunt to begin with, he was actually as close as P5 to Dixon’s steady P2 late in the race, but he ran out of fuel and had to back off his charge. He finished the race barely getting over the finish line before running out of fuel, in P7, behind Simon Pagenaud for Team Penske, Marco Andretti and Sebastien Bourdais for Dale Coyne, in P4, P5 and P6, respectively. It sure was a hell of a try!

As if often the case with Sonoma much of the race saw little passing, except by Rossi, but after a late restart for a mechanical failure by Graham Rahal, the track came alive with passing all over it, from front to back, as packs of cars exchanged places. Watching Rossi make his way through that frenetic field was hugely entertaining! At one point he passed 6 cars in as few minutes.

Alexander Rossi - 2018 Vice-Champion

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Notable:

  • With this title, Dixon now trails only AJ Foyt for most IndyCar titles, and is ahead of Mario Andretti, Dario Franchitti and Sebastien Bourdais with 4 titles apiece. Only Bourdais is still active.

  • With the WIN and the P8 finish of Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden, Hunter-Reay moves into 4th in the points over Newgarden to close the season.

  • Rookie Patricio O’Ward finished his first IndyCar race in P9 for Harding Racing - their best finish of the year. He was the highest-finishing rookie, but rookie Santino Ferrucci for Dale Coyne managed a P11.

  • This was the last IndyCar race at Sonoma for the time being, after many, many years at the track. Next year, the season finale will be at another Northern California track, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca - an old CART and Champ Car favorite.

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Thanks, Sonoma, for a fine parting race. History was made!

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