2012 GoPro Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma

The GoPro Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma was an open-wheel IndyCar motor race and held as the fourteenth and penultimate round of the 2012 IndyCar Series season. It took place on Sunday, August 26, 2012. The race was contested over 85 laps at the 2.303-mile (3.706 km) at Sonoma Raceway, California, United States.

2012 Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma

Race details
13th round of the 2012 IndyCar Series season
Date	August 26, 2012
Official name	GoPro Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma
Location	Sonoma Raceway
Course	Permanent racing facility 2.303 mi / 3.706 km
Distance	85 laps 195.755 mi / 315.010 km
Weather	Temperatures reaching up to 75 °F (24 °C); wind speeds up to 17.1 miles per hour (27.5 km/h)[1]
Pole position
Driver	Will Power (Team Penske)
Time	1:17.2709
Fastest lap
Driver	Ryan Hunter-Reay (Andretti Autosport)
Time	1:19.1848 (on lap 82 of 85)
Podium
First	Ryan Briscoe (Team Penske)
Second	Will Power (Team Penske)
Third	Dario Franchitti (Chip Ganassi Racing)

The race was won by Australian racer Ryan Briscoe racing for Team Penske. Briscoe finished 0.4 seconds ahead of Australian team mate Will Power with British driver Dario Franchitti finishing third for Chip Ganassi Racing. It was Briscoe's first win since the 2010 Firestone 550, and also his last win in IndyCar. Brazilian driver and Formula One veteran Rubens Barrichello finished fourth in his best result since joining IndyCar. Power's second place, coupled with Ryan Hunter-Reay finishing 18th expanded Power's lead in the championship. Power led Hunter-Reay by 36 points.^[2]

The event marked a notable change in the course layout. The cars used the inner loop at the back hairpin instead of the outer loop in order to open a passing zone. The exit of the bus stop was widened to allow for more room. Another passing zone was established by using a part of the hairpin instead of cutting it off altogether.