Sonoma - Race Advance
Target Chip Ganassi Racing Sonoma Advance Notes
RACE SETUP
Race: GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma, August 24
Drivers: @scottdixon9 @tonykanaan
Cars: No. 9 Target and No. 10 Target Chevrolets
Track: Sonoma Raceway (12-turn, 2.385-mile road course)
TV: NBC Sports Network, 4:00 PM ET
Social: @CGRTeams #TeamTarget
BET YOU DIDN’T KNOW THAT
Championship Pedigree: Chip Ganassi was honored this month by the International Motor Racing Research Center (IMRRC) for outstanding contributions to motorsports by receiving the inaugural Cameron R. Argetsinger Award. The award is named after the “Father of American Road Racing”, a visionary who, in 1948, conceived, organized and drove in the first post-war road race in America through the roads of Watkins Glen. "Chip Ganassi is a titan in the racing community. His leadership and business acumen have grown Chip Ganassi Racing from a one-car team to a powerhouse in the industry," said International Speedway Cooperation President John Saunders. "Owning multiple teams across different racing series is no small task, yet he continues to find success at the upper echelons of professional motorsports.” NASCAR President Mike Helton added, "Chip is an outstanding competitor, savvy team owner and is passionate about his work. The France Family and all of NASCAR congratulate Chip on being the first recipient of the Cameron R. Argetsinger Award for outstanding contributions to motorsports."
Sonoma Success: Target Chip Ganassi Racing (TCGR) has two wins at Sonoma Raceway (Dixon, 2007; Franchitti, 2009).
TCGR Drivers at Sonoma: In Dixon and Kanaan’s combined 18 career starts at Sonoma, they have a total of two wins (Kanaan, 2005; Dixon, 2007), four podiums, seven top-fives and 11 top-10s. Dixon and Kanaan have completed 1391 of 1430 (97.3%) laps of competition and have led a combined 124 laps. Dixon and Kanaan are also two of only three drivers to have competed in every Verizon IndyCar Series event at Sonoma Raceway.
Team Target Tie: Following their top-five finishes at Milwaukee last week, TCGR teammates Dixon and Kanaan remain tied for ninth place overall and second place among active drivers on the all-time Indy car top-five list with 117.
Reliable Racing: Up to this point in the 2014 Verizon IndyCar Series season, TCGR has completed 3903 out of a possible 4120 laps, or 94.7 percent.
Listen to The Legend: After retiring from his racing career at the end of 2013, former TCGR driver Dario Franchitti returned to Team Target in 2014 as a driving advisor for Chip Ganassi Racing Teams. Franchitti has also received many honors in 2014. The four-time Verizon IndyCar Series Champion and three-time Indianapolis 500 Winner from Scotland was among sports figures to be honored in Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday list in early June, being made a Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to motor racing. Earlier this year, Franchitti also received the honor of being named the pace car driver for the 98th running of the Indianapolis 500, where he led the field around during the opening laps in a 2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28. In his new role with Team Target, Franchitti has been assisting the team as it adapts to recent lineup changes and additions and will continue to provide support throughout the remainder of the year.
100+ Wins and Counting…: The Target Racing Program, which began with Target and Chip Ganassi Racing in 1990, will be contending for their 106th win as the season progresses. The first win for the program came in 1994 with Michael’s Andretti’s Indy car victory at Surfers Paradise, Australia, when the team was a two-car, Indy car program. 105 wins later, the program’s umbrella not only includes involvement in the Verizon IndyCar Series, but in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship. The partnership between Target and Chip Ganassi Racing is one of the longest consecutive team partnerships in motor racing history.
#TEAMGANASSI
Follow Team Target on Twitter: Continue to followTarget Chip Ganassi Racing through Chip Ganassi Racing’s official team Twitter page. Find in-race updates and weekly news on the No.9 and No.10 Target teams throughout the 2014 season by following “@CGRTeams”.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW FOR SONOMA RACEWAY
Scott Dixon and No. 9 Target Team
Sonoma Consistency: Dixon is the only driver to have completed every lap of competition at Sonoma (715/715) and has led 84 laps at the track. He has also finished inside the top-10 in five out of his nine starts at Sonoma, including a victory in 2007.
On a Roll: Dixon has claimed six straight top-10’s this season and has finished inside the top-5 in five of the last six races, including a victory at Mid-Ohio earlier this month.
Moving On Up: With his victory at Mid-Ohio, Dixon tied Al Unser Jr. for sixth on the all-time wins list with 34. He also extended his streak of consecutive seasons with a win to 10, while his pole at Iowa earlier this year marked his eighth consecutive season with a pole. He has led at least one race for 12 consecutive seasons. Dixon has 172 consecutive starts, placing him in fourth on the all-time list and second among active drivers behind teammate Kanaan.
The Ice Man Returns: The three-time Verizon IndyCar Series Champion (2003, 2008, 2013) and 2008 Indianapolis 500 Winner returns in 2014 for his first season alongside 2004 Series Champion and 2013 Indianapolis 500 Winner Kanaan. Dixon, the active wins leader, is tied with Al Unser Jr. for sixth place on the all-time list (1909-Present) with 34 victories, ranking only behind A.J. Foyt, the Andretti’s (Mario and Michael) and the elder Unser’s (Al and Bobby). His next pole (22nd) will see him break a tie with Gil De Ferran for sole possession of 13th on the all-time list.
Go with What you Know: 2014 marks Dixon’s 13th year with Team Target – the longest tenure for a driver in team history (1990-Present).
SEASON
2014 Verizon IndyCar Series Standings
|
Starts |
Wins |
Poles |
Top 5s |
Top 10s |
Pts. Pos. |
|
|
Scott Dixon |
16 |
1 |
1 |
9 |
10 |
6 |
|
|
CAREER
|
Starts |
Wins |
Poles |
Top 5s |
Top 10s |
|
|
Scott Dixon |
236 |
34 |
21 |
117 |
163 |
|
|
ROSTER
Mike Hull – Managing Director
Barry Wanser – Team Manager, Competition
Scott Harner – Team Manager, Administration
|
No. 9 |
|
|
Crew Chief/(R/F): Blair Julian |
Shocks/Firebottle: Chris Clark |
|
Engineer: Eric Bretzman |
Engines/Radio: Troy Scheller |
|
Assistant Engineer: Brian Welling |
Fueler: Todd DeNeve |
|
Front End/Tire Helper: Jason Beck |
Gear Box/Air Jack: Andy Schneider |
|
Front End/(R/R): Greg Shuker |
Rear Tire Helper: Jake Klomp |
|
Rear End/(L/F): Adam Rovazzini |
Spotter: Robbie Fast |
|
Rear End/(L/R): Tyler Rees |
Floater: Wayne Westplate |
