The X-Factor Grand Prix of Sonoma
Sears Point Raceway / Sonoma, California
July 20 - 22, 2001


Official Schedule and Event Supplementary Regulations

OFFICIAL SCHEDULE AND EVENT SUPPLEMENTARY REGULATIONS
Sanctioned by SPORTS CAR and Held Under the SPORTS CAR Code
and the ACO Specifications “2001” 

THE X-FACTOR
GRAND PRIX OF SONOMA
Sears Point Raceway / Sonoma, California
 

Wednesday, July 18, 2001
12:00 pm -   5:00 pm                       Paddock open for Competitor Rig Parking                                               
Thursday, July 19, 2001

  7:00 am -   5:00 pm                       Paddock open for Competitor Rig Parking
  8:00 am -   5:15 pm                       Promoter Test Day for Support Series (Star Mazda, SPEEDVISION World Challenge and Historic IMSA GTP)
  9:30 am - 10:00 am                       Practice - Russell Racing Series
10:00 am -   5:00 pm                       SPORTS CAR Registration (In Paddock)
12:15 pm -   1:00 pm                       Lunch
  1:00 pm -   1:30 pm                       Practice - Russell Racing Series
  4:00 pm -   4:30 pm                       Practice - Russell Racing Series 

Friday, July 20, 2001

  7:00 am -   5:00 pm                       SPORTS CAR Registration
  8:00 am -   5:00 pm                       Technical Inspection by Appointment for ALMS Competitors at the SPORTS CAR Technical Trailer (Timing Transponders will be provided by SPORTS CAR)
  8:00 am -   8:30 am                       Practice - Star Mazda
  8:40 am -   9:10 am                       Practice - Trans-Am Series for BF Goodrich Tires Cup
  9:20 am - 10:05 am                       Practice - SPEEDVISION World Challenge
10:15 am - 10:45 am                       Practice - Historic IMSA GTP
10:55 am - 11:25 am                       Practice - Star Mazda
11:25 am - 12:10 pm                       Lunch
12:10 pm - 12:40 pm                       Test Session - ALMS (GTS/GT)
12:40 pm -   1:40 pm                       Combined Test Session - ALMS (LMP 900/LMP 675/GTS/GT)
  1:40 pm -   2:10 pm                       Test Session - ALMS (LMP 900/LMP 675)
  2:20 pm -   3:05 pm                       Qualifying - Trans-Am Series for BF Goodrich Tires Cup
  3:15 pm -   3:45 pm                       Qualifying - Russell Racing Series
  3:55 pm -   4:25 pm                       Practice - Star Mazda
  4:35 pm -   5:20 pm                       Practice - SPEEDVISION World Challenge
  5:30 pm -   6:00 pm                       Practice - Trans-Am Series for BF Goodrich Tires Cup
  6:10 pm -   6:40 pm                       Practice - Historic IMSA GTP 

Saturday, July 21, 2001

  7:30 am -  3:00 pm                        SPORTS CAR Registration
  8:00 am                                         MANDATORY BRIEFING FOR ALL AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES DRIVERS AND TEAM MANAGERS/CREW CHIEFS ONLY – DRIVER LOUNGE 1ST FLOOR OF MEDIA BLDG.
  8:00 am -   9:00 am                       Technical Inspection for ALMS Competitors at the SPORTS CAR Technical Trailer
  8:00 am -   8:45 am                       Qualifying - Star Mazda
  9:00 am - 10:00 am                       Combined Practice - ALMS (LMP 900/LMP 675/GTS/GT)
10:15 am - 11:00 am                       Qualifying - SPEEDVISION World Challenge
11:30 am -   1:00 pm                       Trans-Am Series for BF Goodrich Tires Cup Race (100 Miles)
12:00 pm -   1:00 pm                       Driver Autograph Session for ALL American Le Mans Series Drivers at the Main Concession area in the paddock
  1:00 pm -   1:45 pm                       Lunch
  1:45 pm -   2:45 pm                       Combined Practice - ALMS (LMP 900/LMP 675/GTS/GT)
  2:55 pm -   3:25 pm                       Qualifying - Historic IMSA GTP
  3:00 pm -   4:15 pm                       Mandatory tire marking for ALL ALMS Competitors at the SPORTS CAR Technical Trailer
  3:50 pm -   4:40 pm                       SPEEDVISION World Challenge Touring Race (50 Minute Window)
  4:55 pm -   5:15 pm                       Qualifying - ALMS (GTS/GT)
  5:25 pm -   5:45 pm                       Qualifying - ALMS (LMP900/LMP675)
  5:50 pm                                        Post-qualifying Press Conference for ALMS class pole sitters in the Media Center
  6:05 pm -   6:50 pm                       Star Mazda Race - 45 Minutes 

Sunday, July 22, 2001

  7:15 am                                       Motorsports Ministries Chapel Service in the Driver Lounge 1st Floor of Media Building
  7:30 am - 12:30 pm                       SPORTS CAR Registration
  8:00 am -   9:00 am                       ALMS refueling installation shall be ready for inspection
  8:00 am -   8:15 am                       Warm Up - Historic IMSA GTP
  8:30 am -   9:00 am                       Combined Warm Up - ALMS (LMP 900/LMP 675/GTS/GT)
  9:15 am -   9:45 am                       Russell Racing Series Race - 30 Minutes
10:00 am - 11:00 am                       Historic IMSA GTP Race - 60 Minutes
11:00 am - 12:00 pm                       Lunch
12:00 pm -   2:45 pm                       The X-Factor Grand Prix of Sonoma for the American Le Mans Series Race - 2 Hour 45 Minutes
  2:55 pm                                         Post-race Press Conference for ALMS class winners in the Media Center
  3:15 pm                                         All ALMS Timing Transponders must be returned to the SPORTS CAR Technical Trailer
  3:15 pm -   4:05 pm                       SPEEDVISION World Challenge GT Race (50 Minute Window) 

Schedule may be amended to accommodate local conditions.

SUPPLEMENTARY REGULATIONS 

CHAPTER 1: GENERAL CONDITIONS

 

ART. 1 - DEFINITION OF THE EVENT 

The X-Factor Grand Prix of Sonoma race is listed on the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) international calendar as a Restricted International Event.  It is held under the FIA International Sporting Regulations, the SPORTS CAR Code, the ACO Specifications “2001” and these supplementary regulations and amendments thereto.

ART. 2 - ORGANIZATION

2.3   -   Organization Committee:

            H. Doug ROBINSON, Managing Director, SPORTS CAR
            Bill DONALDSON, Executive Director, American Le Mans Series
            Scott ATHERTON, President and COO, Panoz Motor Sports Group

ART. 3 - INFORMATIONS ABOUT THE EVENT

3.1  -                Name of the Event:   The X-Factor Grand Prix of Sonoma 

3.2  -                National Sporting Authority: 

            Automobile Competition Committee for the United States, FIA, Inc. (ACCUS-FIA)

            Address:               1500 Skokie Boulevard, Suite 101
                                        Northbrook, Illinois 60062
           
Telephone:            (847) 272-0090
            Fax:                     (847) 272-0101                                       

3.3 -     Organizer:

            Professional Sports Car Racing, Inc. (SPORTS CAR), organizes the “The X-Factor Grand Prix of Sonoma” as part of  the 2001 “American Le Mans Series” with equipment and facilities supplied by SPORTS CAR and Sears Point Raceway, the creator of the Event.       

            Address:               14175 Icot Boulevard, Suite 300
                                        Clearwater, FL  33760
            Telephone:            (727) 533-0503
           
Fax:                     (727) 533-0787
            Internet:                www.professionalsportscar.com 

3.4   -   Selection Committee:

            Bill DONALDSON, Executive Director, American Le Mans Series
            Charlie COOK, Technical Director, American Le Mans Series
            H. Doug ROBINSON, Managing Director, SPORTS CAR 

3.5   -   Place of the Event:            Sears Point Raceway                                Phone:    (707) 938-8448
                                                   Highways 37 & 121                                   Fax:        (707) 938-8430
                                                   Sonoma, California 95476 

3.6   -   Preliminary practice session:  None 

3.7   -   Date of the Event:  Sunday, 22nd July 2001 

3.8   -   Entries:

              Opening:          28th May 2001
              Closing:           5th July 2001 (midnight) 

3.9   -   Length of the Race Track:  2.52 miles 

3.10 -   Direction of the race:  Clockwise 

3.11 -   Duration or length of the race:  2 Hours 45 Minutes 

3.12 -   Number of cars admitted:

              Preliminary practice:            Not Applicable
              Practice:                             39 Maximum
              Race:                                  39 Maximum 

3.13 -   Start (rolling):  Sunday, 22nd July 2001 / Hour: 12:00 noon 

3.14 -   Administrative Checking & Scrutineering:

            Administrative Checking

              Venue:             SPORTS CAR Registration
           
  Schedule:         10:00 am - 5:00 pm         Thursday, 19th July 2001
                                         7:00 am - 5:00 pm         Friday, 20th July 2001 

            Scrutineering

              Venue:             SPORTS CAR Technical Trailer
           
  Schedule:         By Appointment 

3.15 -   Parc Fermé:  To be announced 

3.16 -   Fuel:

            Place of Delivery:    ELF Racing Fuel compound located     Fuel distribution hours:
                                         in the ALMS paddock                          Thursday, 19th July - 8:00 am  -    5:00 pm
            Distribution:            Service pump at ELF Racing                Friday, 20th July - 8:00 am -    5:00 pm
                                         Fuel compound                                   Saturday 21st July - 7:30 am  -    5:30 pm
            Storage                Approved 55 gallon drums (available      Sunday, 22nd July - 7:30 am  -    4:00 pm
                                         at ELF Racing Fuel compound) 

3.17 -  American Le Mans Series Team Managers’ Briefing:                                        

             Date: Saturday, 21st July 2001 / Hour: 8:00 am
          
  Venue:  Driver Lounge 1st Floor Media Bldg.
          
  MANDATORY ATTENDANCE OF THE TEAM MANAGERS
          
  Each Team Manager must sign attendance documentation

          
 
Fine: $500.00 US - per person not attending 

3.18 -  American Le Mans Series Drivers’ Briefing:

             Date:  Saturday, 21st July 2001 / Hour: 8:00 am
          
  Venue:  Driver Lounge 1st Floor Media Bldg.
          
 MANDATORY ATTENDANCE OF THE DRIVERS

          
 Each Driver must sign attendance documentation
          
 Fine: $500.00 US - per person not attending 

3.19 -   Delivery of identification equipment:  Not Applicable 

3.20 -   Winners’ Press Conference:     

             Venue:  Media Center
             Hour:   Immediately following podium prizes & cups presentations 

3.21 -   Organization Press Officer:

            Andy HALL 

3.22 -   Timing:

            SPORTS CAR Timekeepers 

            Per the SPORTS CAR Code, SPORTS CAR will require each car to be fitted with a timing transponder in an approved location and manner.  It must be subject to inspection at all times and surrendered or replaced upon request.  The transponder must not be tampered with nor transferred to another car unless specifically approved by SPORTS CAR.  Cost to replace a lost or damaged scoring transmitter is $750.00 invoiced to the entrant.  Failure to obtain and install the assigned transponder will result in the car not being scored. 

3.23 -   Official Posting Board: 

            SPORTS CAR Technical Trailer 

3.24 -   Prizes & Cups:

              Date:             Sunday, 22nd July 2001
              Venue:          Victory Podium 

ART. 4 - MAIN OFFICIALS 

4.1   -   In charge of Sporting and Technical operations:

              Martin KAUFMAN

4.2   -   Stewards of the Meeting:

              Chairman:  H. Doug ROBINSON
              International Steward: Roger PEART
              National Steward: Brian KOHL

4.3   -   Race Control:

              Race Director:  Martin KAUFMAN
              Clerk of the Course:  James FOYLE
              Assistants:

               Simone SMILJANIC
               TBA

4.4   -   Competitors Liaison:

               Cindy ROBINSON
               Carol MUELLER

4.5   -   Scrutineers:

              SPORTS CAR Scrutineers

4.6   -   Timing & Scoring:

              Chief of Timing:  Phil “Gypsy” WHITE
              SPORTS CAR Timekeepers

4.7   -   Chief Medical Officer:

              Dr. Ron KROME

4.8   -   Race Operations

              Operations Director:  Gordon GRATIOT
              Safety Team:  Don MUELLER
              Paddock Control:  Ron SHARP

4.9 - Pit & Grid Control:

              Dick MARTIN 

ART. 5 - ORGANIZATION PERMIT 

• Permit No:  2001-03

CHAPTER II: SPORTING RULES 

ART. 3 - ENTRIES 

3.1   -   By Thursday, 5th July 2001 (midnight) at the latest entry forms must be sent to the Organizer. 

ART. 4 - GENERAL CONDITIONS 

4.4   -   Passes & Credentials:

            Passes:  Any person concerned, whatever the reason, with an entered car, and present in any other capacity whatsoever in the paddock, pits or on the pit lane must wear his pass in a visible location.           

            Overcrew credentials will be sold by Sears Point Raceway upon authorization of the entrant at a cost of $45.00 each.  SPORTS CAR’s annual credential will also serve as a valid credential for this event.  (Copies of annual waivers must be on file at the SPORTS CAR Operations Trailer). 

            Each car that enters an American Le Mans Series event will receive a serialized season-long team support vehicle pass.  This pass will remain the property of Professional Sports Car Racing.  SPORTS CAR reserves the right to remove cars found in the paddock without a parking sticker at the owners expense.  Lost or stolen season-long support vehicle passes can be replaced one time only at a cost of $100.00. 

4.5   -   Paddock and Pits:

            Allocation for Paddock and Pit space is under the Organizer’s exclusive responsibility.           

ART. 5 - GENERAL DISCIPLINE & SAFETY 

5.10 -  Delimitation of the pit lane:  Pit lane delimited by two transverse yellow lines. 

5.11 -  Place of “Stop and Go” area:  Team designated pit space. 

5.15 -  Mandatory tracksuits:  Any person who is permitted to have access to the "working" or the "signaling" areas must wear identification provided by the organizer.  During the race anyone who has access to the working pit lane must wear fire resistant clothing. 

ART. 6 - ADMINISTRATIVE CHECKING 

6.1   -   It concerns:

            6.1.1 - Presentation of compulsory valid documents:

                         Entrant’s license (both FIA and SPORTS CAR)
                         Drivers’ licenses (both FIA and SPORTS CAR) - FIA International Grade B minimum for PROTOTYPE, Grade C for GTS and GT.
                          For Entrants and Drivers from Countries outside the United States:  permission to race in the United States granted by their National Sporting Authority (A.S.N.)                       

ART. 7 - SCRUTINEERING 

7.3   -   Presentation of the cars to Scrutineering:

            7.3.1 - The Entrant’s National Flags:  3 decals: 36 x 22 cm on each side, 26 x 16 cm on the bonnet.

            7.3.2 -  The Driver(s) National Flag(s) and Name(s):  On each side of car above door opening the national flag(s) of the driver(s) as well as the name(s) shall be displayed.  Minimum height of both flag(s) and name(s) shall be 4 cm.

            7.3.3 - Mandatory Decals:  3 SPORTS CAR decals on each side and bonnet; 3 ALMS decals on each side and bonnet; Class decal both sides (GT only, both sides and rear) and 2 Fuel decals one on each side. 

            Cars found during the event without required series decals will not be eligible for awards.  Cars with decals of other competing series and sanctioning bodies must be removed prior to technical inspection. 

7.4   -   The Scrutineers will check:

            7.4.2  The refueling installation which shall be ready for inspection.

                      Schedule:  Sunday, 22nd July 2001 from 8:00 am - 9:00 am 

7.5   -   Racing numbers:

            7.5.1 - Allocation:  Assigned by the Organizer. 

ART. 8 - WEIGHING 

8.2   -   During the qualifying practice sessions:

            8.2.2 - Drivers must abide by the signals made by the Marshals and they must stop when the red light is on:

                       Fine and penalties (Art. 8.2.5):  Not Applicable

            8.2.5 - In case of a breach and should the deficiency in weight not result from an accidental cause:

                       Fine and penalties:  Not Applicable

ART. 9 - QUALIFYING PRACTICE SESSIONS 

9.2   -   Schedule:

              Saturday, 21st July:              4:55 pm - 5:15 pm (GTS and GT)
                                                          5:25 pm - 5:45 pm (LMP 900 and LMP 675)           

9.3   -   Preliminary session:  Not Applicable 

ART. 10 - FREE PRACTICE (WARM-UP) 

            10.2.2 - Schedule:  Sunday, 22nd July 2001 from 8:30 am - 9:00 am

            In case of change in the weather conditions, an unscheduled practice session will take place if possible (schedule:)  Not Applicable 

ART. 11 - PRESENTATION OF THE CARS AND OF THE DRIVERS 

Details of implementation regarding specific presentation (Sunday, 22nd July) will be notified to Competitors at the Driver and Team Manager Briefings on Saturday, 21st July at 8:00 am. 

ART. 12 - STARTING GRID 

12.1     -   a/ Drivers nominated to start the race:  Entrant shall nominate the driver to start the race 30 minutes after the end of the final qualifying session.

                b/ Posting time of the starting grid:  Will be posted 1 hour after the end of the warm-up session.

                12.3.1 - “Pole position” (place on track):  Reserved for the car which has achieved the fastest lap time during qualifying sessions is on the left of the front row according to circuit homologation by the FIA. 

12.4     -   Access to the grid before the start:  Access to the grid is not permitted 30 minutes prior to the start of the race. 

ART. 13 - STARTING PROCEDURE

 

13.3       Reconnaissance lap(s): 

                Detailed information will be provided at the Driver and Team Manager briefing on Saturday, 21st July at 8:00 am. 

13.4     -   Start (countdown):        5 Minute warning - Clear grid except for officials and necessary team personnel
                
                                  1 Minute warning - Clear grid of all individuals except for officials

                13.5.3 - A car leaving the pits that way may join the race only after all cars have passed the pit exit during their first racing lap:

                Penalty for early start:  One (1) lap.

                13.6.2 - The driver may then complete the formation lap but under no circumstances is he allowed to overtake a moving car except if in trouble: 

                Penalty:  Stop and Go. 

ART 14 - MODIFIED STARTING PROCEDURE

CASES OF STARTING PROCEDURE MODIFICATION: 

14.1     -   Weather conditions change after the free practice (warm-up) session:

                If the track is:

                a) dry, although all practice sessions have been wet,         

                b) wet, although all practice sessions have been dry

                ... an additional 30 min. free practice session will be scheduled if possible:  Not Applicable