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The Grand Prix of Sonoma opening ceremonies
IRL and NASCAR races are always preceded by an invocation and the national anthem. Teams line up on the grid to pay their respects. Chip Ganassi (white shirt), a team owner (also a NASCAR team owner), lines up with his crew. Jamie Little, an ESPN pit reporter, also participates in opening ceremonies.
The drivers, however, are already in the cars, awaiting the well-known, 'Drivers, start your engines!' command. Dario Fanchitti can be seen (at least his helmet anyway), ready in the Klein Tools-sponsored machine.
And the race begins
During the race, pit crews remain ready for anything. There are spare parts, such as replacement nose cones and rear wings, if needed. Subtle changes can be made to the cars during pit stops to help with how the car handles - one being tire pressure. The lower the tire pressure, the more tire surface touches the track, giving more grip. But too much grip can cause the speeds to lessen. Checking pressure before and after a run can provide vital information to a team.
The Indy Car drivers make their way through the chicane, a tight 'S' turn after a long straightaway that requires them to get hard on the brakes. It makes for some good racing and passing opportunities. As some drivers found, it's also a spot that's easy to loose control and spin out!
Depending on the race length, teams must 'pit' or visit their pit stalls for fuel and new tires. It requires intricate and highly coordinated movements on the part of the pit crew to fuel and change tires in less than 15 seconds. Teams are only allowed a certain number of pit crew members over the retaining wall to keep the advantage even and for safety reasons. The No. 7 XM Satellite crew go through their paces.
History in the making
The Andretti family is well-known inside and outside of racing circles. So much so, that they are referred to as one of the racing dynasties for their longevity and success. The third generation of Andretti's is now racing in the IndyCar Racing League, Marco. His father, crew chief and car owner, Michael Andretti keeps a close eye on the on-track racing.
The family patriarch, Mario Andretti, also kept a close eye on the action via the video feed in their pit box. At the Grand Prix of Sonoma, odds were in favor or Marco Andretti claiming his first win. Both the team and driver expressed in pre-race interviews their happiness and confidence in their car.
Marco (in the NYSE machine) leads Dario Franchitti turn the chicane and crosses the start/finish line to win his first IndyCar event.
Victory lane
Needless to say (but I will anyway), it was a huge victory. Not only was it Marco's first in this series, but he's an Andretti and also the youngest series winner in history. As Marco drove the car into victory lane/circle, the confetti started to fly and grandpa Mario was there to greet him with a bearhug and a, 'That-a-boy'. Once out of the car, Marco shares his thoughts on his win with Jamie Little, an ESPN pit reporter.
