Infineon Raceway (Sears Point)

[Vezna31]

Sears Point is a very technical track, probably the most difficult of all the west coast tracks.  My first time (back at Winter Wine Tour '05) was not a good driving day for me.  Since that time, I have been looking forward to getting back after much more seat time at other tracks.

Sears is very intimidating.  There's avery low margin of error.  Not much run-off if you get in trouble, and pretty much surrounded by walls in many parts of the track.  The first half of the track is literally a roller coaster of elevation changes with blind apexes thrown in for good measure.  The second part of the track is high speed highlighted bythe "Wall of Shame" at turn 10.  For those that have never been there, the wall of shame is referred to the huge amount of drivers that blow it in turn 10 and hit the wall, on either side of the track.

Here's the guide:

http://www.pca-ggr.org/pdf/InfineonDescription.pdf

[Vezna31]

In my review of the in-car videotape of my sessions, I belive I could have held more throttle through turn 1 going uphill.  Turn 2 is an easy place to spin if you carry too much speed.  Turn 3 is a fun turn and 3A presents the same problem as 2.  Easy place to carry too much speed and there's a wall a few feet off the track. 

Turn 4 is important because is gives a good bit of acceleration time before going into 6.  Watching the tape, I could have stayed full throttle through the bend of T5 and gotten into 4th gear braking hard after the hill instead of coasting over the hill whule staying in 3rd gear.

Turn 6 is a great turn, but be careful at the exit.  Make sure you track out all the way or you could find yourself spinning at a very high speed.  Even throttle can be held throught most of the turn, easily squeezing on more as you progress throught the turn.

Turn 7 is a slow double-apex.  It is easier to lift slightly off the throttle in the middle of the turn to help rotate the car and then back to full throttle coming out.  Not breathing on the throttle can cause you to miss the second apex and run too wide at the corner exit.

The esses are fast and should be apexed late.  It is important to not be early in your entrance to T8 (something I was having difficulty with), so that your speed throught the rest of the back part of the course is maximized.  Turn 8A is a blind apex and you should track out all the way to the edge.  Many drivers don't.  This would present a really big problem to someone carrying a good amount of speed.  This speed carries through to T9 which is more of a slight bend before turning into Turn 10.

Turn 10 is probably the most important and most difficult turn on the track.  It is very high speed and the margin for error is extremely low due to retaining walls on both sides.  It is most important because of the amount of acceleration time before and after which could result in a big loss of speed (and time) if not done correctly.

Turn 11 is very important because it sets you up for the straight. Good entrance speed is very important to get good exit speed.  Putting the outside tires just outside the paint will give you the best line and the best traction for coming out of the turn.  Turn 12 is a slight bend at full throttle bringing you to the starting line.

With regard to the most important turns to get correct, in my opinion, they are in this order: 10, 6, 8A, 7B.