Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Pre-Race Notes & Quotes: GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma

Race Fast Facts

  • Verizon IndyCar Series drivers: Ryan Briscoe (No. 5), James Jakes (No. 7), Mikhail Aleshin (No. 77)
  • Event title: GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma
  • Location: Sonoma Raceway, Sonoma, CA
  • Track: 12-turn, 2.385-mile, natural-terrain road course
  • Race distance: 85 laps
  • 2015 event counter: The GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma is the 16th race (of 16) for the Verizon IndyCar Series

Verizon IndyCar Series track schedule
Practice sessions: Friday, August 28 from 2:30-6 p.m. PST,Saturday, August 29 from 10:45-11:30 a.m.
Qualifying: Saturday, August 29 from 3:05-4:20 p.m. PST
Race: Sunday, August 30 with pre-race activities beginning at approximately 1:30 p.m. PST and an estimated green flag at 2:07 p.m.

Sam Schmidt and the SAM car:
As part of a collaboration with Arrow Electronics, Sam Schmidt will drive an exhibition lap around the Sonoma Raceway track in the SAM (semi-autonomous motorcar) car on Sunday, August 30 at 1:16 p.m. PST. The SAM Project is an innovative in which a 2014 Corvette C7 Stingray car has been modified with integrated advanced electronics and a human-to-machine interface so a qualified quadriplegic driver can safely operate it under racetrack conditions.

Broadcast Information
TV race broadcast: NBC Sports Network
Radio race broadcast: IMS Radio Network, XM 209 and Sirius 213

IndyCar Quotes:
Ryan Briscoe (No. 5)

“It is a really difficult time for the entire IndyCar community. I’m terribly saddened by Justin’s passing and I will be racing in Sonoma with a heavy heart.

“I’ve been very proud to fill the seat for Hinch in the No. 5 Arrow Electronics car this season. It’s been great to follow his recovery and it won’t be long until we see him back behind the wheel. I’m also looking forward to bringing home a good result for all the Arrow executives coming out to the track this weekend.”

James Jakes (No. 7)
“Sonoma is a great place to end the season. It’s one of my favorite tracks on the calendar. I really like the layout because it’s very challenging and feels great when you can put a lap together. With so many different types of corners, it’s always a challenge to find the perfect balance.

“It will be a tough weekend as our thoughts are with Justin’s family and friends. He was a former teammate of mine and will be missed terribly.”

Mikhail Aleshin (No. 77)
“I’m very happy to back in Indycar for the Sonoma race with a great team like Schmidt Peterson Motorsports and SMP Racing. I had such an interesting season here last year with this team. I enjoyed all the new tracks and it was very different from racing in Europe. It was a long journey to make it up here again and I will use this opportunity to give it 100% of my effort.

“I would like to dedicate this race to the memory of Justin Wilson, who was a great race driver, man and father. I will miss him a lot.”

Featured story: Schmidt Peterson Motorsports to
Partner with Trefethen Family Vineyards for
2015 GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma Weekend

Indianapolis, IN – August 26 – The Verizon IndyCar Series accomplished team, Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, and the award-winning Napa Valley winery, Trefethen Family Vineyards, will partner for the upcoming 2015 GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma, scheduled for Aug. 27-30, at Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, Calif.

Trefethen Family Vineyards’ logo will be displayed on the No. 5 Arrow Electronics Honda Indy car, to be driven at the 2015 IndyCar season finale, GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma, by the multiple Verizon IndyCar Series race winner:  Australian Ryan Briscoe.

“Sam Schmidt is absolutely inspiring. It was a real honor to meet him at the last race in Mid-Ohio, and we couldn’t be more pleased at Trefethen Family Vineyards to partner with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports for the Grand Prix of Sonoma,” said Lorenzo Trefethen. “Together, we’re going to bring our two worlds together in a really exciting way, welcoming racing fans at the winery, and fans of our wines at the track. I daresay it’s going to be a beautiful collaboration, and we’re already having a lot of fun together.”

Trefethen Family Vineyards will host Schmidt Peterson Motorsports’ sponsors and guests at the winery, located in the heart of Napa Valley, and the IndyCar team will do the same, throughout the Sonoma race weekend, at its racetrack hospitality compound for Trefethen Family Vineyards’ guests.

“The Trefethen partnership is one that the team and its partners will truly enjoy… literally,” said Schmidt Peterson Motorsports co-owner Sam Schmidt. “It’s no secret Ric, myself and our families enjoy wine and the super people at Trefethen produce some of the best. We look forward to hosting their guests at the track and then enjoying a fantastic dinner at the winery. Hopefully we can conclude the weekend with a victory on Sunday as I already know where the party would be.”

This is not Trefethen Family Vineyards’ first experience with racing. John Trefethen and his son, Lorenzo, are avid race-car drivers. This season, Lorenzo Trefethen drives the No. 13 Trefethen Family Vineyards/BRM Chronographes/750 Group Porsche GT3 Cup in the Pirelli World Challenge, and is third in the 2015 Pirelli World Challenge GT-Cup Class driver point standings, entering Sonoma. Two rounds of the Pirelli World Challenge, featuring Trefethen and his ANSA Motorsports Porsche GT3 Cup, are scheduled during the GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma weekend on Saturday, Aug. 29 and Sunday, Aug. 30.

The GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 30 at 4 p.m. ET. Both races will be broadcast live on NBC Sports Network.

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Team Social Media
Website: www.SPMindycar.com
Twitter: @SPMindycar
Instagram: @SPMindycar
Facebook: Schmidt Peterson Motorsports

Driver Social Media
Ryan Briscoe

Website – www.RyanBriscoe.com
Twitter – @Ryan_Briscoe
Facebook – Ryan Briscoe
Instagram – @Ryan_Briscoe

James Jakes
Website – www.JamesJakes.com
Twitter – @JamesJakes
Instagram – @JamesJakes

Mikhail Aleshin
Twitter – @mikhailaleshin
Facebook – Mikhail Aleshin

Scott Anderson
Website – www.ScottAndersonRacing.com
Twitter – @ScottDKAnderson
Facebook – Official Scott Anderson Racing
Instagram – @scanders01

RC Enerson
Website – www.RCenerson.com
Twitter – @RCenerson
Facebook – RC Enerson Racing
Instagram – @RCenerson

Jack Harvey
Website – www.JackHarveyRacing.com
Twitter – @Jack_Harvey42
Instagram – @Jack_Harvey42

Ethan Ringel
Website – www.EthanRingelRacing.com
Twitter – @EthanRingel
Facebook – Ethan Ringel Racing
Instagram – @EthanRingelRacing

Fan Opportunities
Verizon IndyCar Series autograph session with Ryan Briscoe, James Jakes and Mikhail Aleshin: Saturday, August 29 from12:30-1:30 p.m. PST in the INDYCAR Fan Village.