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IndyCar: Looking back at the past five Sonoma races

ByAsher Fair|
SONOMA, CA - AUGUST 30: Carlos Munoz of Colombia driver of the #26 Andretti Autosport Honda Dallara leads a pack of cars during the Verizon IndyCar Series GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma at Sonoma Raceway on August 30, 2015 in Sonoma, California. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)
SONOMA, CA - AUGUST 30: Carlos Munoz of Colombia driver of the #26 Andretti Autosport Honda Dallara leads a pack of cars during the Verizon IndyCar Series GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma at Sonoma Raceway on August 30, 2015 in Sonoma, California. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)

For the 13th season in a row and 14th overall, Sonoma Raceway will host an IndyCar race. Let’s look back at the last five events held at the track.

For the 13th season in a row and 14th season overall, IndyCar will race around the 11-turn, 2.385-mile natural terrain Sonoma Raceway road course in Sonoma, California. And for the third season in a row, the track hosts the series championship finale.

Let’s take a look back at the past five races at Sonoma as we prepare for the race on Sunday, September 17th, 2017. What sorts of things might we have to look forward to in this season’s race?

2012

Will Power dominated the race after starting from the pole position, leading 57 of the race’s 85 laps. But a late caution allowed Ryan Briscoe to get to the front since he had come to the pits before Power, and he held on for the win after starting in 2nd place and leading 27 laps.

2013

For the third time in four seasons, Will Power was victorious at Sonoma, this time after starting in 3rd place. He only led 16 of the race’s 85 laps. He benefited from a controversial penalty incurred by Scott Dixon when a tire changer on Power’s car entered the path of Dixon’s car in the pits and Dixon hit him. Race polesitter Dario Franchitti led just 17 of 85 laps en route to a 3rd place finish.

2014

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Will Power started on pole and led 33 of the race’s 85 laps, but he had to settle for just a 10th place finish. Scott Dixon got revenge from his penalty at Sonoma in 2013 and won the race after starting in 3rd and leading only three laps.

2015

In its first season as the IndyCar championship finale, Sonoma hosted a great race, with Scott Dixon winning after starting in 9th place and leading 34 of the race’s 85 laps. That win propelled him to the championship over Juan Pablo Montoya, who finished in 6th thanks in part to being involved in a small accident with polesitter Will Power, who led 26 laps before finishing in 7th.

2016

Simon Pagenaud started from pole and dominated his way to the race win and his first career IndyCar championship, leading all but nine of the race’s 85 laps en route to winning the title by a record 127-point margin over Will Power, who finished the race in 20th place after experiencing mechanical issues.

Next: IndyCar driver power rankings

Who do you think will win this year’s GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma? Let us know in the comments below, and be sure to follow along with Beyond the Flag for the latest news, opinions and analysis stemming from a number of different motorsports series. You don’t want to miss any of it. Also be sure to follow Beyond the Flag on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.