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Wilson heads west for championship battle at Sonoma

The event marks Round 15 of the 2013 championship and Justin, who drives for Dale Coyne Racing, aims to gain ground in the championship hunt.

Sonoma, Calif. – Justin Wilson will be back in IZOD IndyCar Series race action this weekend as he travels to Sonoma, California for the GoPro Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma. The event marks Round 15 of the 2013 championship and Justin, who drives for Dale Coyne Racing in the No. 19 Boy Scouts of America Honda, aims to gain ground in the championship hunt as the Sonoma Raceway event kicks off the final five races of the season.

Justin Wilson, Dale Coyne Racing Honda
Justin Wilson, Dale Coyne Racing Honda

Photo by: Rebecca McKay

It’s been nearly a month since the previous round of IndyCar competition, but Justin has been far from inactive, as he has been in competition the last two weekends driving a Daytona Prototype for Michael Shank Racing in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series.

Adding even more miles to the frequent traveller was some added mileage between those back-to-back GRAND-AM events as Justin tested his Boy Scouts of America Honda at Sonoma in preparation for Sunday’s race.

Justin has made four starts at the 2.303-mile California road course and has finished among the top-10 three times with a best finish of sixth in 2010. He has over 700 miles around the scenic venue under his belt completing 314 of 315 race laps at the track.

With just five races remaining on the 2013 schedule, the championship battle heats up at Sonoma. Justin, who sits just 30 points out of the top-five in the standings, targets another strong run at the Sonoma circuit and eyes a return to the IndyCar podium.

“Sonoma is a very fun track to drive, there just isn’t anything else like it,” said Justin, who stood on the podium earlier this year at both Long Beach and Belle Isle. “It is a tough track-fast and flowing and a place where you have to attack. But, you can’t overdrive it so it is a challenge to get just right.

You have to be very precise, very technical. But with so many different kinds of corners, it is a huge challenge to get the balance right for the full lap. So you just have to compromise as well as you can to make the most of it.”

With 105 points apiece, Honda and Chevrolet are tied in the battle for the 2013 IndyCar Manufacturers’ Championship. Justin was the top-finishing Honda in the Indianapolis 500 and having already contributed two podiums and several more positive results so far this year, looks to add more championship points for Honda with a strong close to the year through the final five race events.

Justin begins the weekend with an open test at Sonoma Raceway on Wednesday.

Weekend Schedule: Justin will participate in two 45-minute practice sessions on Friday. Another 45-minute practice will take place on Saturday ahead of qualifying which begins at 5:30 PM (ET). Sunday will feature a 30-minute IndyCar morning warm up prior to the 85-lap Go Pro Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma which is set to go green at 4:40 PM (ET).

Justin Wilson

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