SONOMA, Calif. (Aug. 31, 2016) - Race fans are invited to enjoy a taste of Verizon IndyCar® Series action at a free test session at Sonoma Raceway on Thursday, Sept. 8.
Twenty-one drivers from eight Verizon IndyCar Series teams will take part in a one-day test session at Sonoma Raceway on Thursday, Sept. 8. This marks the teams' final chance to prepare for the series season finale at the GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma, Sept. 16-18. The list of Verizon IndyCar Series drivers testing on Sept. 8 includes all eight drivers mathematically eligible for the title. Three Indy Lights drivers will share the test day in Verizon IndyCar Series cars.
The lineup includes many of the series' top teams and drivers, with Indy Lights drivers in parentheses:
- AJ Foyt Racing: Jack Hawksworth, Takuma Sato
- Andretti Autosport: Marco Andretti, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Carlos Munoz, Alexander Rossi
- Chip Ganassi Racing Teams: Max Chilton, Scott Dixon, Tony Kanaan, Charlie Kimball
- Dale Coyne Racing: Conor Daly, Driver TBD
- Ed Carpenter Racing: Spencer Pigot (Rookie Test), Josef Newgarden, (Zach Veach)
- Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing: Graham Rahal
- Schmidt Peterson Motorsports: Mikhail Aleshin, (Andre Negrao), James Hinchcliffe, (Santiago Urrutia)
- Team Penske: Helio Castroneves, Juan Pablo Montoya, Simon Pagenaud, Will Power
Testing will span from approximately 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Fans who purchase a ticket to the upcoming GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma that day, or have already purchased tickets, will be given a FREE pit tour for an up-close look at the racecars and drivers. The Raceway Café will also be open for lunch. A press conference will be held during the lunch break and fans are invited to attend, pending space.
For the second consecutive year, the Verizon IndyCar® Series championship will be decided on a road course, as the 2016 season comes to a close at Sonoma Raceway, Sept. 16-18. The 85-lap, high-stakes race carries double points, with 100 awarded to the winner, 80 for second, 70 for third, etc., along with the regular four bonus points over three categories (Verizon P1 Award winner, leading a lap, leading the most laps). Despite a 47-point deficit heading into the season finale in 2015, Scott Dixon held off season-long points leader Juan Pablo Montoya for the victory in Sonoma and series championship. The win was Dixon's second consecutive and third overall in Sonoma (2007, '14, '15) and the 38th of his IndyCar career, putting him fifth on the all-time IndyCar victory list.
For tickets to the GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma, call 800-870-RACE (7223) or visit sonomaraceway.com/indycar. Tickets can also be purchased on-site at the test session. Great packages are available, including the popular Total Access pass, which gets you a race-day reserved-seat ticket in any section and a Garage/Pit/Pre-race pass for just $99.
