BIG WEEKEND AHEAD GRAND AMS, IRL COMING TO FONTANA.Byline: Louis Brewster Staff Writer FONTANA - Sports car road racing Road racing can be a term involving road running, road bicycle races, or automobile races. As contemplated in this article, the term will be treated as it relates to motorsport, specifically, automobile racing and motorcycle racing. returns to Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, for the first time in 16 years and the Indy Racing League The Indy Racing League, better known as IRL, is the sanctioning body of a predominantly American based open-wheel racing series. The League consists of two series, the premiere IndyCar Series makes its local debut this weekend at California Speedway The California Speedway is a two-mile, low-banked, D-shaped oval superspeedway in Fontana, California, similar to that of "sister track" Michigan International Speedway. It is located approximately 40 miles east of Los Angeles on the site of the former Kaiser Steel mill. . The first new weekend of racing in four years will feature the versatility of the facility. The Grand American Road Racing Association The Grand American Road Racing Association or Grand-Am is an auto racing sanctioning body that was established in 1999 to organize road racing competitions in North America. It currently sanctions five series. will break in the new 2.8-mile, 21-turn road course that was completed in nine months after several years of planning. The Yamaha Indy 400 will be the first West Coast appearance by the open-wheel series created by Tony George
Tony George, born Anton Hulman George on December 30, 1959, is the owner of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He is also the president of Hulman & Co. in 1996. Not since Riverside International Raceway closed in 1986 has there been a road-course race in the area. The Long Beach Grand Prix
The Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach is the premier circuit in the Champ Car World Series. It is an open-wheel race held on a temporary road course in Long Beach, California. is conducted on a temporary street course and the Willow Springs road course has been bypassed by major sanctioning bodies. The long absence will end Saturday with the Grand Am Rolex Series 400, a four-hour timed event. On Sunday, the three-hour Grand American Cup will begin at 8 a.m. and precede the IRL 1. (jargon, chat) IRL - In real life. Generally synonymous with f2f. 2. (language, robotics) IRL - Industrial Robot Language. feature, a 200-lap race set to begin at 12:30 p.m. There will be many challenges to running races on the road course and oval in the same day. But the biggest hurdle of all might be trying to draw fans to the track, which will also hold a AMA Superbike event and the NASCAR NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing), organization that sanctions American stock-car races, est. 1948. It held its first race in Daytona Beach, Fla. Winston Cup NAPA California 500 within a five-week period. ``For the past four years, it's been April and November,`` said track president Bill Miller, referring to the speedway's traditional stock car and CART FedEx Championship Series races. ``We have always sought to add events and grow them into our schedule.'' Only a handful of those entered in the Yamaha Indy 400 have previously competed at Fontana. That short list includes 1998 Marlboro 500 winner Jimmy Vasser, Alex Barron, Al Unser Jr. and Marlboro Team Penske drivers Gil de Ferran Gil de Ferran (born November 11, 1967) in Paris, France to Brazilian parents, is a former racing driver. De Ferran was the 2000 and 2001 Champ Car champion driving for the Penske Honda Team and the winner of the 2003 Indianapolis 500. and Helio Castroneves. Arton Dare and Felipe Giaffone each raced Indy Lights, and Anthony Lazzaro once raced in the NASCAR Busch Grand National race. De Ferran set the world's closed-course speed record in 2000 with a lap of 241.428 mph. However, engine and aerodynamic differences will keep IRL speeds around the 224 mph range. IRL regulars such as defending champion Sam Hornish Jr., Scott Sharp, Buddy and Jacques Lazier, Jeff Ward, Billy Boat and Eddie Cheever Jr. will make their competitive debuts at Fontana. But there are local ties to some, including Rancho Cucamonga resident Jacques Lazier; Ward, who competed at Glen Helen Raceway Park in motocross motocross Form of motorcycle racing in which cyclists compete on a closed course marked out over natural or simulated rough terrain. Courses vary widely but must be 1.5–5 km (1–3 mi) in length, with steep inclines, hairpin turns, and mud. , and Boat, who has also raced at Perris Auto Speedway in midgets. Sunday's IRL debut isn't all about the points, especially for Vasser. A regular in the CART Series, Vasser will use the 400-mile race as preparation for the Indianapolis 500 in his first IRL race of the season. ``We are trying to get our Indy program off the ground,'' said Vasser, who will drive the Bobby Rahal-owned Miller Lite entry. ``We are making strides. We are really trying to get our engine program sorted out and get in as many miles as possible before Indy. ``The opportunity to run a race will help better our Indy 500-based program.'' While most IRL drivers participated in the Test in the West at the speedway or conducted private tests, few of the sports car drivers have seen the road course, let alone driven on it. Lazzaro will have a slight edge on Grand American competitors. In addition to running Sam Schmidt's IRL car, Lazzaro will try to repeat his win in the Rolex Series SportsRacing prototype II class. ``It will be two different experiences,'' Lazzaro said. ``The IRL race will be much more mentally tiring while the road race will be more physically demanding. Seat time is important in racing and I'll get plenty of it.'' Five classes will compete in Saturday's feature race, expected to turn 142 laps within the time limit. In SportsRacing prototype, the premier class, two-seat cars such as Ferrari, Lola, Kuduz, Reynard and Scott & Riley will be powered by Ford, Chevrolet, Ferrari, Porsche, Mazda and BMW engines. In SportsRacing prototype II, non-turbocharged cars powered by Nissan, Mazda and BMW BMW in full Bayerische Motoren Werke AG German automaker. Founded as an aircraft engine manufacturer in 1916, the company assumed the name Bayerische Motoren Werke and became known for its high-speed motorcycles in the 1920s. are featured. Other classes include Grand Touring Super (GTS GTS abbr. gas turbine ship ), American Grand Touring, U.S. muscle cars and Grand Touring. Sunday's Grand-Am Cup is strictly production cars in four categories. AT A GLANCE (CALIFORNIA SPEEDWAY) This week's racing schedule in Fontana Friday 7 a.m.: Gates open 9 a.m.: IRL practice 1:30 p.m.: Grand American Cup practice 2:15 p.m.: Rolex Series practice 3:15 p.m.: Ferrari Challenge Race 4 p.m.: Rolex Series qualifying 5:35 p.m.: Grand American Cup qualifying Saturday 7 a.m.: Gates open 9 a.m.: IRL practice 10:15 a.m.: Ferrari Challenge Race 11 a.m.: IRL qualifying 12:30 p.m.: Rolex Series (four hours) 4:30 p.m.: IRL practice Sunday 7 a.m.: Gates open 8 a.m.: Grand American Cup (three hours) 12:30 p.m.: Yamaha Indy 400 After race: Musical performance by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Big Bad Voodoo Daddy is a contemporary swing band from southern California. Their notable singles include "Go Daddy-O" and "You and Me and the Bottle Makes Three Tonight". The band went from a regular Wednesday night gig at the Derby in Hollywood, playing for a few hundred people, TICKETS Friday: Reserved $15, General admission $10 Saturday: Reserved $40, General admission $30 Sunday: Reserved $40, General admission $30 CAPTION(S): photo, box Photo: Sam Hornish Jr., front, will be among the IRL drivers making their competitive debut at Fontana. Paul Connors/Associated Press Box: AT A GLANCE (see text) |
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