The IZOD IndyCar Series makes its way to Northern California this weekend for the GoPro Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma and the Panther Racing National Guard No. 4 car will cater to the hometown crowd.

The car, driven by Bay Area-native J.R. Hildebrand, will sport a 49ers-themed paint job as a tribute to coach Jim Harbaugh, a part-owner at Panther Racing. A model car with the same paint job was on display at the team facility Thursday.

Hildebrand, principal owner John Barnes, other members of Panther Racing and several men and women of the National Guard were also in attendance.

"It’s a real honor and a privilege and a pleasure to have the Panther team here," Harbaugh said. "Many of the players have commented on the car, [DT] Justin Smith in particular. He likes it.”

Harbaugh became a racing fan as a teenager when his father, Jack, took the family to a time trial in 1976. He remembers watching IndyCar drive Tom Sneeva break the 200-mph barriers while he was there.

It wasn't until Harbaugh was traded to the Indianapolis Colts in 1994 that he get more involved with the sport. He met Barnes around that time and they eventually became business partners.

“(Harbaugh) likes to downplay his involvement, but he was an instrumental part of our team getting off the ground in 1997 and he helped lay the foundation that led Panther to two IndyCar championships,” Barnes told PantherRacing.com. “He brought the same heart, integrity and effort to IndyCar racing that he had on the football field, which are the same key values that has enabled him to be such a successful coach."

Hildebrand, 24, echoed a lot of what Barnes said as he prepares to race at Infineon Raceway on Sunday, the track he grew up racing at.

"You don’t have to be around (Harbaugh) long to understand why these guys love playing for him and why they were able to have the success they did last year," Hildebrand said. "So I’m pumped about wearing the Niners colors and certainly hope we do Jim and the boys proud up in Sonoma (this) weekend.”

Has Harbaugh's interest in racing carried over to his personal life in the form of speeding tickets?

“I’ve had a few," he said. "I don’t know how many exactly, I don’t think too many lately though. I’ve matured.”

Kaepernick the No. 2: In an announcement that had long been assumed, Harbugh said QB Colin Kaepernick is the clear No. 2. He didn't commit to Kaepernick for the entire season, but it appears he'll have no trouble holding off both Scott Tolzien and Josh Johnson.

Jacobs has earned a roster spot: Despite the knee injury he suffered in the team's preseason game at Houston on Saturday, Brandon Jacobs has done enough in training to earn a roster spot, Harbaugh said. The timetable for his return is unclear, but there is an outside chance he could be ready to play by the season-opener on Sept. 9. Jacobs is still walking with the use of crutches.

Other injury updates: LB NoVorro Bowman missed practice Thursday, but was seen at the team facility. … LBs Kourtnei Brown and Cam Johnson did not participate in the individual portion of practice and were seen rehabbing on a side field. … CB Chris Culliver was not at practice and will not play Sunday at Denver. … WR Joe Hastings spent the early part of practice rehabbing by himself.

Follow 49ers reporter Kyle Bonagura on Twitter: @CBSSportsNFLSF and
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