IndyCar’s move to Monterey is official
The site of IndyCar’s annual Northern California stop will change, but the stakes will remain the same.
Laguna Seca will host the season-ending, championship deciding series race in 2019.
In a widely expected move, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved Laguna Seca taking over the race that has been held at Sonoma Raceway since 2005. The stop at Sonoma Raceway (which will be held Sept. 14-16 this year) has been the last race of the year since 2016.
Laguna Seca’s agreement is for three years. Sponsorship details have not been announced. GoPro had held the naming rights to the Sonoma race until this season when it opted not to renew its sponsorship.
“We wish INDYCAR and our friends at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca the very best with their new event,” Sonoma Raceway President and general manager Steve Page said in a statement.
Although the move is a major setback for Sonoma, IndyCar officials are thrilled with the series returning to Monterey for the first time since 2004.
“I can’t imagine a more attractive destination location for IndyCar’s season finale,” said Mark Miles, the president and CEO of IndyCar owner Hulman and Co., in a statement. “Monterey is a place people want to be, and we will bring all of our guests. I think it’s a great choice for us.”
IndyCar — as part of CART (Championship Auto Racing Teams from 1983 through 2003) and Champ Car World Series (in 2004) — raced at Laguna Seca for two decades before moving north.
“It’s great news, but I might be biased,” said Bobby Rahal, now co-owner of the Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing team that competes in the IndyCar series, in the statement. “I personally won four Indy car races there and won my first Can-Am race there. Our Indy car team won with Bryan Herta and Max Papis and our sportscar team won IMSA races there, so I would almost bet you that Laguna Seca is the site of more victories for me as a driver and team owner combined of any track I’ve ever raced on.”
Teo Fabi won the first Laguna Seca IndyCar race in 1983 and Rahal won the next four. Other series winners in Monterey have included Helio Castroneves (2000), Michael Andretti (1991-92), Danny Sullivan (1988 and ’90) and — in the final two races — Patrick Carpentier.
“There is nothing better than the Monterey Bay area,” said Rahal. “It’s a great circuit that always drew great crowds, so I’m thrilled to have Indy car racing coming back to a circuit I love so much. We will put on a good show, for sure.”
Season-championship-deciding races won’t be a new wrinkle for Laguna Seca. The 2.238-mile layout hosted the final race of the season from 1989 through ’96.