Press Snoop: F1 historics at Infineon.

The latest news from around the world courtesy of Press Snoop Lynne Huntting...

The Historic Grand Prix Series is one of the support races on the schedule this weekend for the Argent Mortgage Grand Prix at Infineon Raceway. Twenty Formula One cars, dating from 1973-1983, are racing on the 2.26-mile, twelve-turn elevated road course in the heart of Northern California's wine country.

The F1 cars are running the same course as the Indy Racing League cars, a configuration also used by motorcycle riders. NASCAR runs a different course for its Nextel Cup race in June, and there's yet a third layout used by the American Le Mans sports cars, vintage races, and SCCA club. The NHRA drags use the Drag Strip up the middle.

The F1 front row is all TAG Williams, with STEPHEN ROMAK/#42 1983 Williams FW08/11 on pole, and HAMISH SOMERVILLE/#27 1979 Williams FW07/04 beside him on the grid. All the Historic cars run transponders, so Timing & Scoring will know who's who and where.

Among the drivers is BOBBY RAHAL, who owns a three-car IRL IndyCar team with drivers VITOR MEIRA, DANICA PATRICK and BUDDY RICE. Rahal is racing a 1974 Brabham BT-44 originally raced by CARLOS PACE. The car is owned by PHIL and KATHY REILLY of Larkspur CA. Phil Reilly is the organizer of Saturday's race, which is sanctioned by CSRG-Classic Sports Racing Group. Reilly owns Phil Reilly Restorations, and is well known for his loving, well-done restorations. He also races vintage/historic cars in his spare time. Rahal is the only driver who is racing someone else's car. All the others F1 cars are driven by their owners.

STEVE EARLE, founder of the Monterey Historics, is this weekend experiencing a rare busman's holiday in that all he has to do is race his 1976 McLaren M-23 originally raced by JOCHEN MAAS. Last weekend he was the proverbial one-armed paper hanger at the 32nd Monterey Historic Automobile Races, and tonight he drives home to Santa Barbara to get ready for Monday's flight to Connecticut for his Rolex Vintage Festival at Lime Rock Park over the Labor Day weekend.

One of the cars MARIO ANDRETTI used to race, a 1973 VPJ 104 is now owned by DAVE OLSON of Tiburon CA, who is racing it this weekend. This means there are three generations of Andretti cars on site this weekend. Son MICHAEL ANDRETTI is co-owner (with KIM GREEN) a four-car IRL IndyCar team with drivers DARIO FRANCHITTI of Scotland, BRYAN HERTA/USA, TONY KANAAN/Brazil, and points leader DAN WHELDON of England. Grandson MARCO ANDRETTI is on pole for the IRL Menards Infiniti Pro Series race in #26 Vonage Dallara/Infiniti owned by Andretti Green Racing.

The Historics are all housed in a special tent right behind the main grandstand. The cars are all gridded facing out to the public, with story boards and authentic uniforms.

There is a great story board at one corner, with lots of candid photos of F1 drivers, and the words of the late, great DENNIS HULME. "Motor Homes, that's what changed everything ... before that drivers spent the time between sessions in the pit area, hanging out."