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<body> <Table Width="550" border="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" cellpadding="0"><TR><TD Width="35"><IMG SRC="//www.totalmotorsport.com/images/spacer.gif" WIDTH="35" HEIGHT="1"></td><td> <CENTER><Table border="0" width="100%"> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="5">AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="left"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="2">07/05/2002</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="4">Sears Point gets new look</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="3">Circuit revisions complete for ALMS</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><img border="1" src="Storage/sears-point-web.jpg"></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="1">  </FONT></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="left"><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="2"><BR> When racing teams from the American Le Mans Series begin arriving at Sears Point Raceway for the May 19 Grand Prix of Sonoma presented by Fosters, they may not recognize the place.<BR> <BR> As part of a massive £35 million modernization program, the Northern California road racing circuit has changed a great deal since the sports cars of the American Le Mans Series last competed at the track in 2001.<BR> <BR> Changing the look of the facility in dramatic fashion is a new high-rise permanent grandstand, built on the paddock side of the race track along the start/finish line. Visible from some distance away from the track, the grandstand also contains suites and race control.<BR> <BR> The raceway has also constructed new terraced seating above turns 7-9, similar to the popular terraced seating that opened at turn 2 last year. In addition, the previous cross-over bridges at turn 10 and at start/finish have been demolished and replaced by walk-through tunnels.<BR> <BR> Of major interest to drivers and racing teams will be a change in the racing circuit itself, including a re-design of the front stretch and a new shape to the first turn. Both resulted from the permanent separation of the facility’s drag strip from the road racing circuit. Some sections of the track have also been repaved.<BR> <BR> Also new is an enlarged and expanded pit road which now extends close to the entrance to the first turn, as well as increased runoff at turns 8, 8a, 9 and 10. Runoff was added at most of the rest of the turns last year. The paddock has also been expanded by nearly 80 percent, and more permanent garages have been built.<BR> <BR> Overall phase two improvements include:<BR> <BR> · Construction of hillside terrace seats alongside Turns 7-9.<BR> · Construction of a go-kart track on the south side of the property.<BR> · Construction of a permanent grandstand along the west side of start/finish line. Suites will be built atop the grandstands.<BR> · Creation of a 660-foot concrete launching pad for drag racing and separation of the road course from the drag strip. <BR> · Increased run-off on the road course at Turns 8, 8a, 9 and 10.<BR> · Enlargement of pit road to accommodate a 43-car starting grid for road-race events.<BR> · Repaving of the road course and drag strip<BR> · Expansion of the paddock.<BR> · Pedestrian tunnels under start/finish and Turn 10.<BR> <BR> Phase one featured the construction of shuttle and shade shelters; permanent garages (40) for teams; dramatically expanded entrance and access roads to reduce traffic congestion around the raceway; a new entrance for fans at Gate 7 alongside Highway 121; increased run-off on the road course at turns 1, 2, 3, 3a, 4, 6 and 7; and the construction of hillside terrace seats above Turns 2-4.<BR> <BR> </FONT></TD></TR> </TABLE><BR> </CENTER> <BR><CENTER><font size="1" color="#808080" face="Tahoma">Copyright ©2000-©2023 TotalMotorSport</font></CENTER> </td> </tr> </table> </body>