SONOMA, Calif. (AP) _ The usually confident Danica Patrick is anything but this weekend.

Her first trip to Infineon Raceway last year was a disaster from the start and ended in a crash on the 19th lap. Her hope this year is just to be there at the end of Sunday's Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma.

``I'd be lying if I told you I was looking forward to it. It's hard, it's fast and it's incredibly physically challenging,'' she said of Infineon's 12-turn, 2.26-mile road course.

Although she has been driving for 15 of her 24 years, this weekend marks only her sixth IndyCar race on a course that combines right turns with the left-handers.

``I haven't gotten on with the road courses like I thought I would,'' she said.

Last year, she fought an ill-performing car all weekend and was taken out in a crash with pole-sitter Ryan Briscoe that also sent Helio Castroneves to the garage.

Castroneves will be among the road course pros at the 80-lap (180.8-mile) race in the heart of California's rolling wine country. Other drivers accustomed to twisting circuits are last year's winner, Tony Kanaan, Briscoe, Dario Franchitti, Scott Dixon, Vitor Meira and rookie Marco Andretti, the son of team co-owner Michael Andretti.

Sam Hornish, winner of this year's Indianapolis 500, leads the point standings going into Sunday's race with a slim seven-point advantage over teammate Helio Castroneves in the tightest race since 2000. Just 79 points separate the top six drivers _ all mathematically eligible to win the championship _ going into the next-to-last race of the season.

For Patrick, it also will be her next-to-last outing with Rahal Letterman Racing. She is moving to Andretti Green Racing, home to Kanaan, Franchitti, Marco Andretti and Bryan Herta.

It's been a difficult season for Patrick, one that started with teammate Paul Dana's death during a practice session. Her team has struggled with a new chassis while she has been bogged down by mechanical problems that have her mired in 10th in the point standings.

There were even rumours that she was planning to jump to NASCAR.

``My decision came on where I can win and nothing else. That really is what I have to do as a driver,'' she said.

``Leaving Rahal Letterman doesn't say I didn't think they can win,'' she added, diplomatically. ``It means I think I have a better chance with Andretti Green. They have more wins and more championships. I feel I can learn a lot. They work hard on developing the car, and that means a lot to me. Change is good and getting better as a driver takes change sometimes.''

This season has seen her finish eighth at Indianapolis. After finishing fourth at Nashville and Milwaukee, mechanical problems relegated her to 17th at Michigan.

To prepare for Sunday's race on the serpentine Infineon course with its 176-foot fluctuation in levels, Patrick said she _ like most of the other drivers _ had ramped up their weight training.

``I've felt that my strength has been much better this year because I'm more relaxed and used to it. I'm race fit.''

She also suggested she would be more aggressive on Sunday.

``I went through a period where I was trying to take my teammates' driving styles, but I learned that I need to drive the way I drive and improve on that. I'd like to be faster than more than a couple of cars this year,'' she said.

``It will start here, so don't expect a lot out of me. My goal this weekend is just to finish the race.''