1.      Luhr learns in first IZOD IndyCar Series test

2.      Brabham earns Mazda Road to Indy scholarship with Pro Mazda title

3.      Hildebrand, crew at Second Harvest in San Jose

4.      Of note

1. Luhr learns in first IZOD IndyCar Series test: Lucas Luhr enjoyed his first experience in an IZOD IndyCar Series car, despite his time being limited by a mechanical problem.

The German, who will make his series debut through a partnership between RW Motorsports and Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing at Sonoma Raceway, completed 10 laps on the 12-turn, 2.385-mile road course Aug. 13 as the team overcame issues with the brakes and radio harness.

"Got my first laps in the Indy car today," Luhr wrote on Twitter following the test. "Great (experience) we have some work to do but love it so far."

2. Brabham earns Mazda Road to Indy scholarship with Pro Mazda title: Matthew Brabham's climb up the Mazda Road to Indy ladder is as impressive as his pace on the track.

The third-generation driver secured his second Mazda Road to Indy ladder series championship in as many years by clinching the Pro Mazda Championship presented by Cooper Tires in a doubleheader sweep at the Grand Prix of Trois Rivieres on Aug. 10-11.

By recording his 10th and 11th victories of the season, the 19-year-old continued to re-write the series record book. He holds the series record for most wins in a season, career wins and as most podium finishes (13) in one season with two races remaining.

"What an awesome year," said Brabham, son of former sports car champion Geoff Brabham and grandson of racing legend Jack Brabham. "I could not have predicted a season like this. I'm so happy for the team and all my supporters. Everyone has worked so hard and it has been perfect. I really have to thank Andretti Autosport and also Mazda for the wonderful year. I'm really happy and I'm enjoying the moment."

Brabham will earn a scholarship package from Mazda to advance to Firestone Indy Lights next season - the third and final step on the Mazda Road to Indy ladder system that provides a clear and scholarship-supported path for drivers to reach the IZOD IndyCar Series and the Indianapolis 500.

Brabham earned the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship title in 2012 to ensure a ride for the 2013 Pro Mazda season.

"I am definitely looking forward to the future," said Brabham, who has dual American and Australian nationality. "The United States has been wonderful for me. It was the perfect move for me at this point in my career and I am really looking forward to moving up to Indy Lights next year. I remember when I first went to St. Petersburg and I saw the Lights cars on track and I thought these cars are really cool and I want to get in one of those. I am really looking forward to being a part of Dan Andersen's series again next year. Last year and this year were run smoothly and perfectly. I have never been in a series this organized and well-run before."

3. Hildebrand, crew at Second Harvest in San Jose: JR Hildebrand, driver of the No. 98 Barracuda Racing car for the GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma, will be at Second Harvest Food Bank's Cypress Center in San Jose, Calif., from 10-11 a.m. Aug. 20 to greet fans. There also will be pit stop demonstrations by the Barracuda Racing crew.

Headquartered in the Bay Area, Barracuda Networks is a supporter of the Second Harvest Food Bank. Barracuda Networks CEO BJ Jenkins will co-chair Second Harvest's Holiday Food and Fund Drive this fall, along with Dan Campbell, COO for Backup and Recovery Systems at EMC Corporation.

4. Of note: Twelve winning bidders will ride around Sonoma Raceway with their favorite IZOD IndyCar Series driver before the start of the GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma through a live auction at the track on race daythat benefits Speedway Children's Charities. Other items available include an A.J. Foyt autographed piston, a Dario Franchitti signed helmet, a Nolan Ryan autographed baseball and a GoPro camera. The auction begins at 10:15 a.m. (local) in the INDYCAR Fan Village...Indianapolis 500 competitor Conor Daly will see the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course from a different perspective this weekend as he gets a ride on the Ducati two-seater as part of the Red Bull Indianapolis GP...Daly also will join IZOD IndyCar Series drivers Graham Rahal and Simona De Silvestro in participating in the Bridgestone Golf Challenge with several MotoGP riders and motorcycle legend Kenny Roberts at the Brickyard Crossing...Team Penske's Will Power will greet fans at the Chevrolet Performance display Aug. 17 in Memorial Park in Royal Oak, Mich., during the Woodward Dream Cruise...Sher Shepps of Portland, Ore., will be an honorary pit crew member for the No. 3 Team Penske car driven by IZOD IndyCar Series Helio Castroneves at the GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma. She won the "Cheer for Gear" sweepstakes held by Hitachi, which is the primary sponsor of the No. 3 car for nine races this season.

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The next IZOD IndyCar Series race is the GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma on Aug. 25 at Sonoma Raceway. The race will be televised live at 4 p.m. (ET) by NBC Sports Network and broadcast by the IMS Radio Network, including on Sirius and XM Channels 211, www.indycar.com and the INDYCAR 13 App for most smartphones and tablets. The next Firestone Indy Lights race is the Baltimore 100 on Sept. 1 on the streets of Baltimore. The race will be televised by NBC Sports Network at 1 p.m.