SONOMA, CaliforniaIRL IndyCar® Series driver Tomas Enge took his first trip around Infineon Raceway’s twisting road course behind the wheel of an open-wheel car on Wednesday and came away pleased.
Enge, who drives for Rockstar Panther Racing, took part in a one-day test session and posted a top time of 1 minute, 18.90 seconds over the 12-turn, 2.26-mile serpentine circuit. The native of the Czech Republic did not participate in the IRL’s open test session at Infineon Raceway in April.
“I have raced here before in a Ferrari in the ALMS (American Le Mans Series) and the track layout is different but I like it,” Enge said. “It will be good to come back here and race again. It’s a good circuit.”
Enge drove a Ferrari at Infineon Raceway in ALMS competition in 2003 with co-driver Peter Kox. The duo placed fourth in the GTS class. Enge’s time on Wednesday was well off the pace established by Andretti Green Racing’s Dario Franchitti, who posted the top time during the test session in April at 1:16.10.
Enge tested in advance of the Argent Mortgage Indy Grand Prix, set for Aug. 26-28 at Infineon Raceway. This will mark the first-ever event on a permanent road course in the 10-year history of the IRL, as well as the first major open-wheel race in 35 years at Infineon Raceway.
For more information or to purchase tickets, call 800-870-RACE or visit www.infineonraceway. com or www.ticketmaster. com.
