IRL to use different configuration at Infineon
The Target Chip Ganassi Racing and Rahal Letterman Racing drivers will test on the 12-turn, 2.26-mile road course Dec. 6-7, navigating the circuit that will include a slight modification to Turns 6-7. The test (8 a.m.-5 p.m. local) is free and open to the public. Tickets for the Aug. 22-24 race weekend, which also includes two Indy Pro Series races, are on sale now.
Brian Barnhart, president of the competition and operations divisions of the sanctioning Indy Racing League, requested the course alteration in an effort to potentially create a corner conducive to more passing.
"About halfway down the drag strip we go to the left and then do the loop around, which is our Turn 7, and head back for the Esses," Barnhart said. "I'd like to have our drivers try staying on the drag strip where it stays straight all the way down and then take the longer loop, which (the track has) listed as 7a, and then head back to the Esses. Hopefully, getting feedback from our drivers, what I'd like to see is if by staying straight we create a harder braking area and thus a better passing zone going into Turn 7."
Dixon won the Motorola Indy 300 at Infineon Raceway, completing a sweep of the three road-course events on the 2007 schedule, and was runner-up in the series championship race. IndyCar.com