Press Snoop: Gigliotti, Donoso win at Infineon.

Tuesday, 19th July 2005

The fastest car line-up was much the same Saturday morning for American Le Mans practice as it was in Friday's test session at Infineon Raceway for the Infineon Technologies Grand Prix of Sonoma, with one exception.

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Andretti said he talks to his father, MICHAEL, and grandfather, MARIO, every day, and they talk racing. But, in the end, said Andretti, it is he who is racing and it's up to him to do well.

Canadian JAMES HINCHCLIFFE finished third - his first podium, and he's third in the standings. Points leader RAPHAEL MATOS of Brazil was fourth and still leads the standings. ROBBIE PECORARI finished fifth and he's second in the standings. Forty cars started the race, with 30 finishing on the lead lap.

GRAHAM RAHAL finished 31st after a spin on lap 20 of the 25-lap race. He ended up one lap down after running in the top ten for a long time. Rahal and another driver, PHIL SAVILLE, both spun in separate incidents in the same lap and the caution flag was out for three laps, setting the scene for a two-lap shootout. Rahal dropped to fourth overall in the standings.

Sunday at Infineon Raceway there will be the races for ALMS, SPEED World Challenge Touring, and a second round for both Star Mazda and Pacific F2000.

The weather continues to be warm and wonderful.

The IRL race team run by Marco Andretti's father, Andretti Green Racing, has four drivers, and one of them won Saturday's Nashville race, taking home a trophy and a Gibson guitar. DARIO FRANCHITTI won his first race this season, beating SAM HORNISH and PATRICK CARPENTIER. AGR's other three drivers didn't fare so well - none finished. TONY KANAAN crashed but is all right; points leader DAN WHELDON had mechanical problems; and BRYAN HERTA retired with handling problems.

Rahal's father, BOBBY RAHAL, skipped the IRL race to watch Graham race. His three Rahal Letterman Racing drivers had different outcomes. Rookie DANICA PATRICK started second, led for nine laps and finished seventh. VITOR MEIRA finished 16th after being part of a fiery crash on lap 175, which also involved ALEX BARRON. Both drivers will be all right, but their race was over. Rahal's third driver, BUDDY RICE retired with mechanical problems.