IPS: Sears Point I/II: Rounds 14, 15 preview

FAST FACTS

WHAT: Carneros 100, 14th race in 16-race 2007 season
Valley of the Moon 100, 15th race in 16-race 2007 season

WHERE: Infineon Raceway, 12-turn, 2.26-mile permanent road course

WHEN: Carneros 100: 2:45 p.m. (ET), Saturday, Aug. 25
Valley of the Moon 100: 1:20 p.m. (ET) Sunday, Aug. 26

DISTANCE: Both races: 30 laps/69 miles

POSTED AWARDS: More than $375,000 (combined)

CARS: Dallara chassis; Firestone tires

PREVIOUS RACE WINNERS: Marco Andretti (2005), Wade Cunningham (2006 -- Race 1), Alex Lloyd (2006 -- Race 2)

2006 SERIES CHAMPIONS: Jay Howard

TV: Race: ESPN2 (tape-delay), 5:30 p.m. (EDT), Aug. 31

SCHEDULE (all times local; subject to change):

Friday, Aug. 24
12:15 -- 1 p.m. Indy Pro Series practice #1 (all cars)
3:15 -- 4 p.m. Indy Pro Series SWE Race Car Parts Qualifying (all cars)

Saturday, Aug. 25
9 -9:15 p.m. Indy Pro Series warmup
11:45 a.m. Carneros 100 (30 laps/69 miles/1 hour time limit) ESPN2 (taped, 5:30 p.m., Aug. 31)

Sunday, Aug. 26
10:20 a.m. Valley of the Moon 100 (30 laps/69 miles1 hour time limit) ESPN2 (taped, 2 p.m., Aug. 31)

THE TRACK: 2.26-mile road course; 40 feet wide

INDY-STYLE RACING IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA:

Since opening in 1968, Infineon Raceway, formerly known as Sears Point Raceway, has been the home to motorsports action for much of Northern California, The track first hosted Indy-style racing with two USAC Indy Car races in 1969 and 1970. Dan Gurney took the checkered flag in the USAC IndyCar 150 over drivers such as Mario Andretti, Mark Donahue and Al Unser. But the track closed shortly after that race, and open-wheel cars were replaced by sports cars and later NASCAR stock cars.

On Aug. 3, 2004, the Indy Racing League announced that the IndyCar Series would race on an IndyCar Series-modified 12-turn, 2.26-mile course at Infineon Raceway. The first Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma was won by Tony Kanaan on Aug. 28, 2005.

INDY PRO SERIES NOTES:

* Unique procedures in place for doubleheader: The Indy Pro Series employs some unique procedures for doubleheader weekends. After a single practice session, all cars will participate in a European-style qualifying session to determine the starting order for Race 1. Any car that causes a full-course caution during the qualifying session is penalized 10 positions. Following Race 1, the race winner participates in a blind draw to determine how many starters will invert positions for Race 2. The possibilities are 0, 4, 6 and 8. The remainder of the field starts where they finished.

* Camara holds 'Iron man' title: Jaime Camara established the Indy Pro Series' all-time mark for consecutive starts at the Liberty Challenge at Indianapolis on June 16 with his 32nd consecutive start. He extended the streak to 39 at Kentucky on Aug. 11. Camara competed for Sam Schmidt Motorsports in 2005 and for Andretti Green Racing in 2006. He returns in the AGR entry in 2007.

* Cunningham can extend record: Wade Cunningham has started in the top 10 in the past 22 consecutive races, which is the Indy Pro Series record.

* Six race winners in '07: Six drivers have won races in the Indy Pro Series in 2007 -- one short of the record established last season. Winners this season include: Richard Antinucci, Wade Cunningham, Alex Lloyd, Hideki Mutoh, Robbie Pecorari and Bobby Wilson.

-credit: irl