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IndyCar preview: 2018 GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma

By Brittany Frederick

SONOMA, CA - SEPTEMBER 14: Alexander Rossi works his way thru Turn 9A during the Verizon IndyCar Series practice for the Grand Prix of Sonoma on September 14, 2018, at Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, CA. (Photo by Larry Placido/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
SONOMA, CA - SEPTEMBER 14: Alexander Rossi works his way thru Turn 9A during the Verizon IndyCar Series practice for the Grand Prix of Sonoma on September 14, 2018, at Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, CA. (Photo by Larry Placido/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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The 2018 IndyCar season ends with the final Verizon IndyCar Series race at Sonoma. Look ahead with our 2018 GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma preview.

The Verizon IndyCar Series season concludes Sunday with the GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma, which is important for a number of reasons. What should race fans expect from this final act?

Not only is this the last race of the 2018 IndyCar season, not only is the championship still undecided, but Sunday’s event will be the final one at Sonoma Raceway. IndyCar is moving to Laguna Seca next year, so this is the end of an era.

But however it ends, it’s going to be one heck of a last chapter. A champion will be crowned and some of the best drivers in the world are eligible to take home the Astor Cup. Everyone has a story and that story will come to a thrilling conclusion in Northern California.

What should race fans look for this weekend? Let’s break the race down in our GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma preview:

THREE THINGS TO WATCH:

  • The track: With this being the last event at Sonoma Raceway, it will be interesting to see if the venue or the league do anything to commemorate that and the years of great racing that have happened here. It was a little awkward when Laguna Seca executives were seen at Sonoma during Friday’s practice session, already talking to teams and sponsors about their event. Let’s not look forward so much that we forget about giving Sonoma a proper send-off.
  • Team play: It’s that point in the season where everyone knows who’s a title contender and who is not. Everyone eligible for the championship has at least one teammate, and they can either be a huge help to their title plans or a huge problem (ask Will Power and Juan Pablo Montoya about what happened at Sonoma in 2015).
  • New drivers in the mix: As usual, the last race of the season features several prospective new drivers getting tryouts. The most notable is 2018 Indy Lights champion Patricio O’Ward, driving for Harding Racing. Many people are already speaking highly of his talent, but he also just won the junior series title. How will he fare against senior circuit competition?

THREE DRIVERS TO WATCH:

  • Scott Dixon: Dixon enters the race with a 29-point lead in the championship. That’s not huge, but it’s not nearly as narrow as it could have been, considering what happened in Portland. If the second half of the season has taught us anything about Dixon, it’s that he can survive (and thrive) under unbelievable circumstances. He has to be the favorite just because of that alone.
  • Alexander Rossi: Rossi is the hottest driver in the Verizon IndyCar Series, and has been the hottest driver for months now. 2018 is the season everyone has been waiting for him to have. Either he’s going to win a title and be the first Andretti champion since Ryan Hunter-Reay, or even if he comes in second, he’s got an awful lot to be proud of. And he will make this race very interesting.
  • Ryan Hunter-Reay: Speaking of Hunter-Reay, he’s Rossi’s teammate so he’ll undoubtedly want to help his colleague if at all possible on Sunday. And the former champion presents a huge challenge in his own right. So even if he’s not specifically working in Rossi’s favor, RHR could help swing the race results or even the championship results—because there’s no reason to believe he won’t finish strong.

Next. Spencer Pigot previews IndyCar season finale. dark

The 2018 GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma happens Sunday, Sept. 16 at 6:30 p.m. ET; TV coverage is on NBCSN. For complete coverage of the 2018 IndyCar season, follow the Motor Sports category at FanSided.