Sonoma adds few new twists

More turns, longer laps, uncertainty part of ‘Carousel’

SONOMA, Calif. — This twisty road course in Northern California wine country already provided one of the NASCAR Cup Series’ biggest challenges and best rides of the year.

And now the drivers are also going for a ride on “The Carousel” on Sunday.

That’s the name for a section of Sonoma Raceway that hasn’t been used in a NASCAR race since 1997, but was put back in the layout this year to celebrate this venerable track’s 50th anniversary.

With three more turns, longer laps and an overriding uncertainty across the paddock, the first road race of the NASCAR season could be a doozy — and the drivers can’t wait to take a ride.

“I love it,” William Byron said after practice Friday. “It’s probably the most fun I’ve had driving a race car this year.”

Nearly every driver is more excited than frightened by the Carousel’s challenge. After all, weeks upon weeks of driving in circles and only turning left can get a little dull, even for the world’s best.

Sonoma is already no picnic for drivers; in fact, it’s one of the most physical tracks in North America. The layout is known for its precipitous elevation changes and tough turns, but the return of the Carousel adds another layer of complexity to an already daunting challenge.

NASCAR’s usual 12turn layout over nearly 2 miles at Sonoma has been transformed into a 15turn, 2.52-mile setup, and most drivers are unfamiliar with the new part. They’ll do 90 laps instead of 110, but the race is now 8 miles longer.

“I like the change,” Denny Hamlin said. “It had gotten a little stagnant where we needed to freshen up the course.”

IndyCar races in Sonoma have used the Carousel, which means Chip Ganassi Racing and Team Penske could have a little extra data — if it does them any good.

“It’s going to change a lot of things,” Hamlin said. “The biggest thing is the strategy. We have all these notes from so many years here, and all this information based off of strategies that have played out in years past. Now we have a different stage length. The track is a different length. You’re not going to be able to dive onto pit road at the last second. The lap times are slower. All of that plays a factor in strategy.”

Kyle Larson won the pole for the third straight year, navigating the new layout with ease Saturday.

Larson reached an average lap speed of 95.712 mph in his Ganassi Chevrolet to earn his first 2019 pole on his home track. Byron was second for Hendrick Motorsports, barely behind Larson at 95.669 mph, making an all-Chevy front row.