Following a weekend of the best in America on two wheels, Infineon Raceway will change gears to some of the best in vintage racing when the 21st annual Wine Country Classic Vintage Car Races grace the picturesque road course overlooking Sonoma’s wine country June 2-3.

The pace will be different and the thrills of a different nature from last weekend’s Superbikes doubleheader when nearly 300 vintage cars, some dating as far back as 1915, take over at Infineon. The featured mark will be Can-Am and more than 20 of the cars from that significant period in motorsports will be on display and competing on track throughout the weekend.

Noted constructors in the Can-Am Series included McLaren, Chaparral, Lola, BRM, Shadow and Porsche. Also featured will be more than 10 vintage NASCAR models dating from the 1965-1975 era.

All races will be 10 laps on the 12-turn, 2.52-mile permanent road course. Ticket information is available by calling (800) 870-7223 or logging on to www.infineonraceway.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

Emotive Group to Launch New Russell School: Long a fixture at Infineon Raceway, the Jim Russell Racing School will benefit from new ownership — London-based Emotive Group — that plans to invest $10 million in re-working the school, bringing in custom-designed Formula cars and the proposed state-of-the-art facilities.

Emotive Group is an automotive marketing firm that produces high-profile manufacturer events and whose United States division operates a number of driving programs. It announced it will launch the new Jim Russell Racing Drivers School on June 2.

Jim Russell Racing Drivers School will offer a variety of courses and programs, including a one-day, one-on-one intensive course, a two-day group course and a four-day advanced course. For more information about the Jim Russell Racing Drivers School, visit www.jimrussellusa.com or call (800) 733-0345.

Big Hearts — and wallets: Nearly $15,000 was raised on Sunday at Infineon Raceway during the fourth annual Northbay Motorsport & Marine Charity Fundraiser. The fundraiser was held as part of the Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown weekend.

The auction generated $14,580 for Speedway Children’s Charities, the charitable arm of Infineon Raceway. All proceeds will be distributed to qualified youth groups in Sonoma County.

FOREMAN NOW A PANTHER

Former heavyweight boxing champ George Foreman and his sons have become co-owners of the Indy Racing League’s Panther Racing team. It’s Foreman’s first sports venture since he retired from boxing in 1997. “To add a true professional and sports legend like George Foreman … is a tremendous boost to our team,” team co-owner John Barnes said.

THIS WEEK’S PIT STOPS

NEXTEL CUP

WHAT: Coca Cola 600

WHERE: Concord, N.C.

WHEN: Sunday, 2 p.m.

BUSCH

WHAT: Carquest Autoparts 300

WHERE: Concord, N.C.

WHEN: Saturday, 5 p.m.

NHRA

WHAT: O’Reilly Summer Nat’ls

WHERE: Topeka, Kan.

WHEN: June 3

IRL

WHAT: Indianapolis 500

WHERE: Indianapolis

WHEN: Sunday, 10 a.m.

CHAMP CAR

WHAT: G.I. Joe’s Grand Prix

WHERE: June 10

WHEN: Portland, Ore.

FORMULA ONE

WHAT: Monaco G.P.

WHERE: Monte Carlo

WHEN: Sunday, 4:30 a.m.

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