Pacific F2000 Championship confirms return to Infineon Raceway

Infineon Raceway

The Pacific F2000 Championship Presented by Hankook Tires will include a pair of races at the scenic and challenging Infineon Raceway, near Sonoma, Calif., on the weekend of July 5/6.

Infineon Raceway has hosted the Pacific F2000 cars each year since the series was introduced in 2004 and remains one of the most popular – and demanding – venues on the West Coast.

"Our original hope for our sixth and final event of the season was to race with the Champ Cars at Portland in July," explains Pacific F2000 series originator and coordinator Les Phillips, "but with the unification of Champ Car and the IRL, that date went away so we had to make alternate plans. All of our teams and drivers want to race at Infineon because it’s truly a world-class venue – in every conceivable way – so that became our primary goal. The problem was that finding space on an already scheduled weekend gets harder as each club with a secure date can easily fill the space with their own racers. Our other choices [of venue] were either too far, too small or duplicates so we went with the Infineon opportunity and will join the Shelby Club on their weekend. We’re excited about it."

The visit to Infineon Raceway will complement already scheduled events at Auto Club Speedway of Southern California (a.k.a. California Speedway), Willow Springs International Raceway, Buttonwillow Raceway Park, Miller Motorsports Park and Las Vegas Motor Speedway to ensure a full 12-race season.

"I think the schedule is really good," says Phillips. "Three of our dates are at the big ‘super tracks’ – Cal Speedway, Infineon and Miller – while our other dates are at the fastest track in the U.S., Willow Springs, our home track at BRP and then ending our the season at the party and banquet town, Las Vegas.

"The more skilled can recoup their 2008 race budgets while in Las Vegas," quips Phillips.

The addition of Infineon Raceway to the schedule has proven predictably popular with the drivers.

"To me, racing at Infineon is huge," says current points leader Jeff Westphal. The 21-year-old has plenty of experience on the track during his days at the Jim Russell Racing Drivers School, which is based at Infineon Raceway. "Not only is it one of the premiere tracks in the United States, but the track is extremely relevant for the future as an aspiring professional race car driver in America because lots of other race series that are considered next steps visit Infineon. So there is a sense of preparation that also comes with racing in Sonoma."

"Home sweet home," adds veteran racer Chuck Hulse, who currently leads the Masters point standings and is a fellow JRRDS graduate. "Racing at Infineon is going back to where road racing started for me. It is one of the most challenging tracks in our series and where many great road racers are groomed. Track time there is very important and will be a key to a great finish. Put on your boxing gloves, boys…the old man is coming home."

2008 Pacific F2000 Championship Presented by Hankook Tires