Stars of the IZOD IndyCar Series will zoom into San Francisco’s Union Square this evening to preview a race at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma this weekend.
Race fans are encouraged to arrive at the free event by 5:20 p.m. to welcome drivers Mario Andretti and Will Power as they enter on a motorized cable car following a tour of the city.
Macy’s will don a 70-foot-tall banner as a tribute to the IZOD IndyCar series and display six historic cars from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum on Geary Street, including the winning car from the 1911 Indianapolis 500 race, dubbed the Marmon Wasp.
Racing legends Danica Patrick and Helio Castroneves and others will join Andretti and Power for an hour-long autograph session beginning at 6 p.m. on the first floor of the Macy’s Men’s Store on Stockton Street.
Event spokesman Brian Gordon said fans can look forward to pictures, autographs and memorabilia.
“We’re providing total access to the sport by bringing the athletes and cars right to the fans,” he said.
Andretti and Power will unveil the IZOD IndyCar Series Mario Andretti Road Championship trophy in preparation for the weekend’s festivities, during which Power will be awarded the prize for garnering the set’s most road course points.
The IndyCar series features races on three different types of courses: road, street and oval tracks. The Sonoma race, which will be held Friday and Saturday, marks the last road course of the series, race officials said.
Infineon Raceway spokesman John Cardinale called the Grand Prix “an exciting event worth checking out.”
The 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series stop in San Francisco is part of a national tour that began in March and will conclude in early October.
Gordon cited the relationship between Macy’s, IZOD and the IndyCar Series as a vigorous partnership.
“It’s a great platform for power, technology and speed,” Gordon said.
