Will Power Wins the GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma
August 26, 2013
THE RACE
GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma (IZOD IndyCar Series) – August 25, 2013
Sonoma Raceway (2.385-mile permanent road course) – Sonoma, Calif.
THE RESULTS
The No. 3 Hitachi Dallara/Chevrolet
Driven By Helio Castroneves
Start Position: 5
Finish Position: 7
Status: Running
Current Driver Points Position: 1
The No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Dallara/Chevrolet
Driven By Will Power
Start Position: 3
Finish Position: 1
Status: Running
Current Driver Points Position: 8
THE RACE REVIEW
The No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Dallara/Chevrolet
Driven By Will Power
· Will Power started Sunday’s race from third on the grid after he earned his fifth top-three starting position in six races at Sonoma Raceway.
· The No. 12 Verizon Team Penske crew gave Power great pit stops all night as Power battled to stay up front throughout the race.
· Running the same pit strategy as Scott Dixon, Power beat Dixon off pit lane in the first two stops of the day.
· As the team prepared for its final stop on Lap 64, Power ran second behind Dixon. The two cars exited the pits and Dixon’s car made contact with the tire being carried by Verizon team crew member Travis Law in the 12 car pit box. The contact knocked Law to the ground and team members Damon Lopez and Jeremy Baker were also injured when an airgun and hose went flying. All three members of Power’s crew were examined on site by medical personnel after the race and were released with only minor injuries.
· Dixon, who was assessed a penalty as a result of the incident, lost the lead as Power took the top position on Lap 70,
· Power led the final 16 laps and held off Justin Wilson on a late restart for his 19th career victory and his third win at Sonoma Raceway.
· With the victory, Power moved up three positions in the point standings as he now is ranked eighth overall.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING
WILL POWER
ON SUNDAY’S WIN
"I’m just really happy for the team and for the Verizon guys. We’ve definitely had some tough breaks this year and it hasn’t been the season we thought it would be, but we’ve kept fighting. Thanks to all our sponsors – Verizon, Quicken Loans, Meijer, Hitachi and everyone. It’s been a long wait to get back to Victory Circle but I’m happy it came here in Sonoma. I like this place.”
ON THE PIT LANE INCIDENT
“The rule is pretty clear – you can’t make contact with anything or anyone in someone else’s pit box. Safety is the most important thing and I’m just glad my guys are alright – that looked pretty bad when I finally saw the replay.”
THE RACE REVIEW
No. 3 Hitachi Dallara/Chevrolet
Helio Castroneves
· Helio Castroneves started from the fifth position on Sunday – his ninth top-five start in nine career races at Sonoma Raceway.
· Castroneves ran inside the top five for the majority of the race in the Hitachi Team Penske Chevrolet.
· In a wild race at the Wine Country road course, Castroneves avoided several incidents and had minor contact with several cars during the race.
· As he took the checkered flag in seventh place, Castroneves extended his top-10 finish streak to 11 consecutive races. He has 14 top-10 finishes in 15 races this season.
· The result marked the seventh top-10 finish for Castroneves in nine races at Sonoma.
· Castroneves remains the only series driver to complete every lap of competitions in 2013. He has now completed 1,928 laps this season.
· After Sunday’s race, Castroneves extended his lead in the championship standings. He now carries a 39-point advantage over Scott Dixon into the season’s final four IZOD IndyCar Series races.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING
HELIO CASTRONEVES
ON AN EVENTFUL DAY IN SONOMA
“We tried to do everything that we could. I’m happy that Will (Power) got his win. He was really aggressive and pushing as hard as he could. He deserved it. I’m happy for him and happy to extend the points lead. I can’t believe it. With all that happened to us in the race, I’m extremely satisfied for the Hitachi Team Penske boys. Four more to go. Let’s keep going.”
ON THE CHAMPIONSHIP BATTLE
“We just keep being consistent and scoring good points and that is what’s most important. Though it was a crazy race today, we were still able to come out with a good result and built the lead a little in the championship. But there is still a lot of racing left and we can’t let up now.”
GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma (IZOD IndyCar Series) – August 25, 2013
Sonoma Raceway (2.385-mile permanent road course) – Sonoma, Calif.
THE RESULTS
The No. 3 Hitachi Dallara/Chevrolet
Driven By Helio Castroneves
Start Position: 5
Finish Position: 7
Status: Running
Current Driver Points Position: 1
The No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Dallara/Chevrolet
Driven By Will Power
Start Position: 3
Finish Position: 1
Status: Running
Current Driver Points Position: 8
THE RACE REVIEW
The No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Dallara/Chevrolet
Driven By Will Power
· Will Power started Sunday’s race from third on the grid after he earned his fifth top-three starting position in six races at Sonoma Raceway.
· The No. 12 Verizon Team Penske crew gave Power great pit stops all night as Power battled to stay up front throughout the race.
· Running the same pit strategy as Scott Dixon, Power beat Dixon off pit lane in the first two stops of the day.
· As the team prepared for its final stop on Lap 64, Power ran second behind Dixon. The two cars exited the pits and Dixon’s car made contact with the tire being carried by Verizon team crew member Travis Law in the 12 car pit box. The contact knocked Law to the ground and team members Damon Lopez and Jeremy Baker were also injured when an airgun and hose went flying. All three members of Power’s crew were examined on site by medical personnel after the race and were released with only minor injuries.
· Dixon, who was assessed a penalty as a result of the incident, lost the lead as Power took the top position on Lap 70,
· Power led the final 16 laps and held off Justin Wilson on a late restart for his 19th career victory and his third win at Sonoma Raceway.
· With the victory, Power moved up three positions in the point standings as he now is ranked eighth overall.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING
WILL POWER
ON SUNDAY’S WIN
"I’m just really happy for the team and for the Verizon guys. We’ve definitely had some tough breaks this year and it hasn’t been the season we thought it would be, but we’ve kept fighting. Thanks to all our sponsors – Verizon, Quicken Loans, Meijer, Hitachi and everyone. It’s been a long wait to get back to Victory Circle but I’m happy it came here in Sonoma. I like this place.”
ON THE PIT LANE INCIDENT
“The rule is pretty clear – you can’t make contact with anything or anyone in someone else’s pit box. Safety is the most important thing and I’m just glad my guys are alright – that looked pretty bad when I finally saw the replay.”
THE RACE REVIEW
No. 3 Hitachi Dallara/Chevrolet
Helio Castroneves
· Helio Castroneves started from the fifth position on Sunday – his ninth top-five start in nine career races at Sonoma Raceway.
· Castroneves ran inside the top five for the majority of the race in the Hitachi Team Penske Chevrolet.
· In a wild race at the Wine Country road course, Castroneves avoided several incidents and had minor contact with several cars during the race.
· As he took the checkered flag in seventh place, Castroneves extended his top-10 finish streak to 11 consecutive races. He has 14 top-10 finishes in 15 races this season.
· The result marked the seventh top-10 finish for Castroneves in nine races at Sonoma.
· Castroneves remains the only series driver to complete every lap of competitions in 2013. He has now completed 1,928 laps this season.
· After Sunday’s race, Castroneves extended his lead in the championship standings. He now carries a 39-point advantage over Scott Dixon into the season’s final four IZOD IndyCar Series races.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING
HELIO CASTRONEVES
ON AN EVENTFUL DAY IN SONOMA
“We tried to do everything that we could. I’m happy that Will (Power) got his win. He was really aggressive and pushing as hard as he could. He deserved it. I’m happy for him and happy to extend the points lead. I can’t believe it. With all that happened to us in the race, I’m extremely satisfied for the Hitachi Team Penske boys. Four more to go. Let’s keep going.”
ON THE CHAMPIONSHIP BATTLE
“We just keep being consistent and scoring good points and that is what’s most important. Though it was a crazy race today, we were still able to come out with a good result and built the lead a little in the championship. But there is still a lot of racing left and we can’t let up now.”