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indy car series

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The IndyCar Series, currently known as the NTT IndyCar Series under sponsorship, is the highest class of regional North American open-wheel single-seater formula racing cars in the United States, which has been conducted under the auspices of various sanctioning bodies since 1920 after two initial attempts in 1905 and 1916. The series is self-sanctioned by its parent company, INDYCAR, LLC., which began in 1996 as the Indy Racing League (IRL) and was created by then Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony George as a competitor to Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART). In 2008, the IndyCar Series merged with CART's successor, the Champ Car World Series and the history and statistics of both series, as well as those from its predecessors, were unified. The series' premier event is the Indianapolis 500, which was first held in 1911.

PALOU wins GMR GRAND PRIX

Alex Palou and Chip Ganassi Racing flexed a potent combination of speed and strategy to win the GMR Grand Prix on Saturday on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, the Spaniard’s first victory of the 2023 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season.

2021 series champion Palou, who started third, drove his No. 10 The American Legion Honda to a 16.8006-second victory over runner-up Pato O’Ward in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. 2016 Indianapolis 500 winner Alexander Rossi finished third in the No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, his first podium result with the team he joined this season after seven years at Andretti Autosport.

SEE: Race Results

“We honestly knew we had a fast car since P1 (first practice) yesterday,” Palou said. “The car has been amazing all weekend. Once we knew we were starting on reds (Firestone alternate tires), I think we knew we were going to fight for the win.

“Amazing work by these guys. I just had to execute.”

Palou’s last victory came in the season-ending Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey last September at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

NTT P1 Award winner Christian Lundgaard finished a season-best fourth in the No. 45 Hy-Vee Honda. Felix Rosenqvist rounded out the top five in the No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, as his season-best result gave the team three of the top five finishing positions.

Devising the correct tire strategy for the 85-lap race caused considerable head-scratching for strategists and engineers up and down the pit lane Friday evening and Saturday, reflected in the reality that six of the top 10 starters began the race on Firestone primary “black” tires and four started on Firestone alternate “red” tires. INDYCAR rules require each driver to use both tire compounds during road and street course races.

Palou signaled his intent and showed his speed on Lap 1 when he jumped from third to first on alternate tires, taking the top spot in Turn 13 from pole sitter Lundgaard, who was on primary tires.

For the next 65 laps, Palou, Lundgaard, O’Ward, Rosenqvist, Rossi, Scott Dixon, Graham Rahal and Marcus Ericsson swapped the top spot as leaders peeled off the 14-turn, 2.439-mile road course to execute their chosen tire and fuel strategies. The constant shuffle kept strategists on their toes, as one wrong move could have proved pivotal if a caution flag fell at the wrong time.

But the race stayed caution-free after an incident on Lap 2 between Dale Coyne Racing teammates David Malukas and Sting Ray Robb, so the outcome came down to a blend of smarts, speed and execution. And nobody did it better than Palou and the Ganassi brain trust.

Palou made his final stop on Lap 60, choosing scuffed Firestone primary tires, which are slower initially than the softer-compound alternates but whose harder compound lasted laps longer than the alternates and proved to be the better choice for consistent lap times.

Rossi took the lead on Lap 62 when teammate O’Ward pitted for a set of sticker alternate tires for his final stint. But Rossi surrendered the lead to Palou when he made his final stop on Lap 65, and then it was checkout time for Palou.

Palou had a 10.5-second lead on O’Ward when he inherited the lead after Rossi’s pit stop. O’Ward hoped to take a chunk out of that lead and perhaps even challenge Palou for victory due to the extra grip and speed of his sticker Firestone alternate tires, but Palou’s pace on both Firestone compounds proved too much. He pulled away over the closing laps, leaving the best jousting on track as the spirited, position-swapping contest for the final podium position between Rossi, Lundgaard and Rosenqvist.

“Hats off to them,” O’Ward said of Palou and the CGR team. “I just think they were extremely strong today. They really were. For us, we’re two, three and five as a team, and that’s pretty frickin’ phenomenal.

“The guys gave us a great race car. We were kind of just running our own race today. We were there fighting with Lundgaard and all of us teammates. Once I got clear, I had to minimize the gap I had to Alex, but I think they were very strong today. We were just hanging on there at the end, trying not to destroy our reds.”

Palou led 52 of the 85 laps, followed by Lundgaard with 13 laps led. Palou will split $10,000 with Chip Ganassi Racing and his chosen charity, The American Legion, for his victory as part of the PeopleReady Force For Good Challenge.

The win also vaulted Palou to the top of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES standings in the most important month of the series calendar. He leads second-place O’Ward, 174-168, after five races this season. Previous championship leader Ericsson slipped to third, 19 points behind Palou, after finishing eighth in the No. 8 Huski Chocolate Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.

The next NTT INDYCAR SERIES race is the 107th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 28 on the 2.5-mile IMS oval. Practice for “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” starts Tuesday, May 16, with PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying on Saturday, May 20 and Sunday, May 21.

Lundgaard Leads RLL Resurgence with First Career Pole

Christian Lundgaard capped a resurgent Friday for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, winning his first career NTT P1 Award in qualifying for the GMR Grand Prix on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.

Lundgaard turned a best lap of 1 minute, 9.3321 seconds in the No. 45 Hy-Vee Honda to become the first Danish driver to win an INDYCAR SERIES pole. He edged Felix Rosenqvist by 27 ten-thousandths of a second, as Rosenqvist will start second after a best lap of 1:09.3348 in the No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. It was the closest gap ever between the top two drivers in the Firestone Fast Six format.

SEE: Qualifying Results

“This 45 Hy-Vee Honda has just been fast all day,” Lundgaard said. “I was hoping for this, but I wasn’t quite expecting it, so it’s awesome to be here right now.”

Lundgaard’s previous best career qualifying performance was third as a rookie last season on the streets of Nashville. His best qualifying spot through the first four races of the season was sixth in late April at Barber Motorsports Park.

This was the first pole for Rahal Letterman Lanigan since Takuma Sato took the top spot in August 2020 on the World Wide Technology Raceway oval.

Lundgaard led all three RLL drivers in the top eight, as Jack Harvey will start fourth (1:09.4220) in the No. 30 Kustom Entertainment Honda and Graham Rahal eighth (1:09.4711) in the No. 15 Fifth Third Bank Honda.

It was a sudden and significant rebound for the team, as Lundgaard entered this race 12th, Rahal 16th and Harvey 23rd in the championship standings. The team’s best finish this season is sixth, by Lundgaard last month at Barber and by Rahal in March at the season opener at St. Petersburg.

“Now we have a shot at it (victory),” Lundgaard said. “We’re leading the field to green, so that’s where we want to be. So, we’ve just got to stay there for the rest of the race.

“Every time we come here to IMS, at least this way (road course), we’ve been quick. So, coming into this year, I was confident. The last time I drove on this track (last July), I finished second. I was second in both practice sessions this morning, so I wanted to up it one, and I did.”

Live coverage of the 85-lap race starts at 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday on NBC, Peacock and the INDYCAR Radio Network.

Swedish driver Rosenqvist fell just short of earning his second NTT P1 Award of the season and first this year on a road course. But tight competition was the story of the day, as the margin of .2971 of a second between the top six was the fourth smallest in the history of the Firestone Fast Six format.

“It just came down to nailing a lap at the end,” Rosenqvist said. “I made a mistake, just a little wobble there. I just went for it – all or nothing. Big congrats to Christian. Scandinavian front row – that’s always cool.”

2021 series champion Alex Palou will start third after a best lap of 1:09.3780 in the No. 10 The American Legion Honda, with Harvey next to him on Row 2.

Pato O’Ward qualified fifth at 1:09.5422 in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. Long Beach winner Kyle Kirkwood rounded out the Firestone Fast Six at 1:09.6292 in the No. 27 AutoNation Honda.

Championship leader Marcus Ericsson will start seventh, just missing the Firestone Fast Six in Round 2 with his best lap of 1:09.4419 in the No. 8 Huski Chocolate Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.

While the rocket ride toward the top by RLL captured attention, another big story was the struggles of many of this season’s race winners and title contenders and past winners of this race and past season champions.

Two-time series champion Josef Newgarden (starting 13th), 2022 GMR Grand Prix winner Colton Herta (starting 14th), 2023 Barber winner Scott McLaughlin (starting 16th), and Andretti Autosport’s top championship contender this season, Romain Grosjean (starting 18th), all were eliminated in the first round of qualifying.

Reigning series champion Will Power made it through to the second round but was eliminated in that session. He will start 12th in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet.

Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix Receives Multiyear Extension

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Sunday, April 30, 2023) – Ahead of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES race this afternoon at Barber Motorsports Park, INDYCAR and ZOOM Motorsports announced a multiyear extension, which will continue the annual event through 2027.

Since 2010, Barber Motorsports Park has hosted this premier event on the NTT INDYCAR SERIES calendar and is one of the longest running races on the series’ schedule. Barber Motorsports Park is known as the “Augusta of Racing,” a favorite among fans and drivers alike.

The multiyear extension coincides with the new agreement with the entitlement partners of the race, Medical Properties Trust and Children’s of Alabama, which executed a multiyear commitment with ZOOM Motorsports this year.

This extension allows the Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix to continue its mission of raising funds for one of the busiest pediatric hospitals in the country, representing a first-of-its-kind philanthropic opportunity for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.

“It has been an honor to host this race since 2010 at the world-renowned Barber Motorsports Park,” said Gene Hallman, CEO of ZOOM Motorsports. “The event has become a cornerstone of the Birmingham community, drawing fans from all over the world. We are excited for the future of this event and what it means to Children’s of Alabama.”

“We are pleased the NTT INDYCAR SERIES will return to Barber Motorsports Park for years to come,” Penske Entertainment Corp. President and CEO Mark Miles said. “For the last 13 years, Barber has been an ideal host and the perfect Southeastern venue to showcase INDYCAR’s bold and brash personality and compelling action. With its unique layout and dramatic features, this beautiful facility is a favorite with our fans and within our paddock. We look forward to growing this meaningful partnership with more thrilling racing and iconic moments.”

Race coverage of the Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix starts at 3 p.m. ET today on NBC and Peacock. The INDYCAR Radio Network also will provide coverage starting at 2:30 p.m. ET.

INDY NXT series

www.indycar.com/nxt.indyca

Nannini Holds Off Foster at IMS for First Career Victory

Matteo Nannini drove to his first career INDY NXT by Firestone victory, holding off fellow series rookie Louis Foster in a compelling duel Saturday on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.

Nannini, from Italy, drove his No. 75 Juncos Hollinger Racing car from the pole to the victory by .3909 of a second over the No. 26 Copart/USF Pro Championship car of Foster, fielded by Andretti Autosport. Nannini led all 35 laps of the INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix despite unyielding pressure from Foster over the last quarter of the race.

SEE: Race Results

“I really wanted this win, mainly for the team,” Nannini said. “We didn’t start the championship where we really wanted, but I know we have the car to do it, the crew to do it. So, I would have been really pissed if I would not have been the winner of this race.”

Kyffin Simpson finished a lonely third in the No. 21 HMD Motorsports with CGR machine, 9.8065 seconds behind winner Nannini on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile road course.

This was the first INDY NXT by Firestone victory for Juncos Hollinger Racing since September 2019, when current NTT INDYCAR SERIES standout Rinus VeeKay swept the season-ending doubleheader at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. That also was the last INDY NXT by Firestone win for a team other than HMD Motorsports or Andretti Autosport.

Nannini jumped from 17th to fourth in the standings for INDYCAR’s development series with the win.

Hunter McElrea finished fourth in the No. 27 Smart Motors car fielded by Andretti Autosport. Championship leader Christian Rasmussen rounded out the top five in the No. 6 HMD Motorsports with DCR machine after a spirited duel for position with McElrea for much of the second half of the race.

Nannini controlled the race from the start, building a lead of one second after the first green-flag lap and padding that margin to 1.580 seconds by Lap 7.

But Foster stayed in touch, deftly managing his Firestone tires and push-to-pass time for a drive toward the front. With 10 laps to go, Foster closed the gap to within three-tenths of a second.

“I just tried to manage the car to the end of the race,” Nannini said. “I had a little issue with the braking. It was losing (time) quite a bit, but here we are. So happy for the result.”

Foster had two good looks at trying to pass Nannini at the end of the back straightaway entering Turn 7, on Lap 33 and the final lap, but couldn’t pull close enough to make a potentially winning pass stick. Nannini had exhausted his push-to-pass before the final lap, with Foster having five seconds remaining on the final trip around the circuit.

“I was pretty convinced we could get it done there, but with the car and the tires coming off (wearing), it’s unfortunate, really,” British driver Foster said. “Our last two weekends haven’t gone particularly well, so this weekend it was all about points, and we got that. Hopefully we can build on this from here in Detroit.”

The next INDY NXT by Firestone event is a doubleheader June 3-4 at the Detroit Grand Prix on the streets of the Motor City.

Nannini Wins First Career Pole on IMS Road Course

Matteo Nannini came to Indianapolis Motor Speedway this week needing a boost after a tough start to the season.

Consider that wish granted. Rookie Nannini earned his first INDY NXT by Firestone pole position Friday for the INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. Nannini, from Italy, finished 15th in both of the first two races of the season in the No. 76 Juncos Hollinger Racing car.

Nannini’s top lap was 1 minute, 15.3194 seconds in the eight-minute session on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile road course. His previous best start this season was ninth at the season opener in March at St. Petersburg. It also was the first INDY NXT by Firestone pole for the JHR team since current NTT INDYCAR SERIES standout Rinus VeeKay swept both poles for the season-ending doubleheader in September 2019 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

SEE: Qualifying Results

“We really needed the result as a team,” Nannini said. “We didn’t start the championship in the best way possible. So, definitely starting in Indy with P1 is really satisfying. I’m really happy for the team, really happy for myself and the group that is supporting me.”

Live coverage of the 35-lap race starts at 1 p.m. ET Saturday on Peacock, INDYCAR LIVE and the INDYCAR Radio Network.

“In this series, qualifying is important,” Nannini said. “When you start in the middle of the pack, the possibility to have a crash is much higher. Now we make sure that we can finish the job tomorrow.”

Hunter McElrea will join Nannini on the front row after qualifying second at 1:15.4467 in the No. 27 Smart Motors car fielded by Andretti Autosport.

Rookie Louis Foster helped to put two Andretti Autpsport cars in the top three of qualifying, as he will start third in the No. 26 Copart/USF Pro Championship car after a best lap of 1:15.5070.

Kyffin Simpson, who led morning practice, qualified fourth at 1:15.5334 in the No. 21 HMD Motorsports with CGR machine. Josh Green was the third rookie in the top five, ending up fifth at 1:15.6517 in the No. 3 HMD Motorsports with DCR car.

Series championship leader Christian Rasmussen qualified sixth at 1:15.6814 in the No. 6 HMD Motorsports with DCR machine.

usf2000 series

www.usfpro2000.com

About the USF Pro Championships: The USF Pro Championships Presented by Cooper Tires is an evolution of the Road to Indy, one of the most successful driver development programs in the world. Comprised of USF Pro 2000 Presented by Cooper Tires, USF2000 Presented by Cooper Tires and USF Juniors Presented by Cooper Tires, the ladder system provides a unique, scholarship-funded path to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and Indianapolis 500. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES grid is comprised of numerous graduates and, in 2022, 20 of the 33 starters in the Indianapolis 500 were alumni. The mission of the USF Pro Championships is to develop and advance, and that includes not only drivers but teams and personnel as well. For more information, visit usfpro2000.com, usf2000.com and usfjuniors.com.

De Alba and Clark Claim USF Pro Championship Wins

Gavin Baker

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Mexico’s Salvador de Alba and Canadian Mac Clark emerged victorious in front of a large and appreciative crowd yesterday evening in the Carb Night Classic at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park as the USF Pro Championships Presented by Cooper Tires made their one and only visit this season to an oval track.

De Alba, from Guadalajara, Mexico, made a lightning start from third on the grid and went on to win the Freedom 90 USF Pro 2000 Presented by Cooper Tires event over Exclusive Autosport teammate Joel Granfors, from Eskilstuna, Sweden. Local favorite Jack William Miller, from Carmel, Ind., had to settle for third for Miller Vinatieri Motorsports after starting on pole position.

In the earlier USF2000 Presented by Cooper Tires contest, last year’s USF Juniors champion, Mac Clark, from Milton, Ont., Canada sped to an emphatic victory for DEForce Racing in his first-ever oval start.

Evagoras Papasavvas (Jay Howard Driver Development), from Loveland, Ohio, and Simon Sikes (Pabst Racing), from Augusta, Ga., completed the USF2000 podium.

Freedom 90 Results

Freedom 75 Results

De Alba’s Fast Start Decisive

The outcome of the USF Pro 2000 race was decided within moments of the green flag flying. Miller used his extensive oval experience, dating back to 2019, to claim his first Cooper Tires Pole Award of the season during qualifying yesterday afternoon, but he was unable to hold back a fast-starting de Alba, who quickly muscled his way into the lead of the 90-lap race.

Immediately behind, Francesco Pizzi (TJ Speed Motorsports), from Rome, Italy, also displaced Granfors on the opening lap, moving from fourth into third, although the Swede was able to redress the balance on the 38th lap as the leaders negotiated some slower traffic. The quartet circulated together in the same order until lap 65, when Granfors finally was able to find a chink in Miller’s armor and slip through into second.

The two Exclusive cars then edged clear of Miller and Pizzi before Pizza’s teammate Christian Weir, from Naperville, Ill., lost control in Turn Four after 79 laps and necessitated a full-course caution. Unfortunately, there wasn’t quite enough time for the race to be restarted, so de Alba was declared the winner ahead of Granfors, Miller and Pizzi.

Myles Rowe (Pabst Racing with Force Indy), from Brooklyn, N.Y., maintained his healthy championship lead after passing Michael d’Orlando (Turn 3 Motorsport), from Hartsdale, N.Y., for fifth after 61 laps.

Jonathan Browne, from Dublin, Ireland, continued his strong run of form for Turn 3 Motorsport by securing seventh ahead of Jordan Missig (Pabst Racing), from Channahon, Ill. Missig’s fine effort, having started last in the 18-car field after crashing in qualifying, earned him the Tilton Hard Charger Award.

Michael Duncalfe earned his second successive PFC Award as the winning car owner following Granfors’ victory a couple of weeks ago on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Grand Prix road course.

De Alba’s victory vaulted him from ninth in the points table to fourth, only nine points behind teammate Granfors in second.

Provisional championship points after 7 of 18 rounds:

1. Myles Rowe, 165

2. Joel Granfors, 133

3. Francesco Pizzi, 128

4. Salvador de Alba, 124

5. Kiko Porto, 117

6. Reece Ushijima, 101

7. Jack William Miller, 101

8. Jonathan Browne, 101

9. Jace Denmark, 96

10. Lirim Zendeli, 83

Salvador de Alba (#91 Archandel/Red Cola/Mecano/Z Motors-Exclusive Autosport Tatuus IP-22): “It was a very, very good week. We improved the car a lot in the test sessions yesterday, and qualifying was the best of the season in third place. We knew we had a very good race pace. At the start, we managed to get into first place. We stayed there the entire race and managed the tires. Joel, at the end, caught me a little bit and I pushed a lot. We still had good tires and managed to finish it. Congrats to Joel, another one-two for Exclusive Autosport. I am very thankful to my sponsors for making this possible and for sure we are going in the right direction. I hope to be on the podium many times this year.”

Clark Wins USF2000 in his First Oval Start

Mac Clark was imperious in his first-ever start on an oval track, leading throughout yesterday’s Freedom 75 and taking the checkered flag well clear of his rivals.

Clark placed only fifth and seventh in the two test sessions prior to qualifying, but come single-car qualifying, the oval track rookie nailed his two laps perfectly to secure the first Cooper Tires Pole Award of his young career.

The Canadian teenager maintained his advantage at the start and soon began to edge clear of Papasavvas, who started on the outside of the front row of the grid. His lead was trimmed when the caution flags flew after 12 laps, when Danny Dyszelski’s VRD Racing Tatuus came to a stop on the back straightaway, but Clark quickly reasserted himself at the restart.

A series of fast laps, including one that would stand as the fastest of the race, earning him an additional championship point, soon enabled Clark to rebuild his lead, leaving Papasavvas to concentrate his attention on Chase Gardner (Exclusive Autosport), from Prosper, Texas.

But Sikes was the man on the move. After starting ninth following a troubled qualifying, Sikes fought his way steadily forward. He slipped past championship leader Lochie Hughes (Jay Howard Driver Development) after 26 laps, and, following a protracted battle with Gardner, moved into third with seven laps remaining in the 75-lap race.

Sikes’ effort moved him to within four points of Hughes in the battle for a Discount Tire Driver Advancement Scholarship valued at $433,200 to graduate into USF Pro 2000 in 2024. Sikes also claimed the Tilton Hard Charger Award.

Clark’s victory secured the first PFC Award of the season for DEForce Racing’s David and Ernesto Martinez as the winning car owners.

While the focus of attention now switches back to the hallowed ground of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for tomorrow’s highly anticipated 107th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, the USF Pro Championships will return to action next month at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis. The famed road course will host a pair races for each series, to be held in conjunction with the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, on the weekend of June 17/18. In the meantime, drivers on the first step of the ladder, USF Juniors Presented by Cooper Tires, will contest a triple-header event next weekend, June 3/4, at VIRginia International Raceway in Alton, Va.

USF2000 provisional championship points after 8 of 18 races:

1. Lochie Hughes, 208

2. Simon Sikes, 204

3. Nikita Johnson, 170

4. Evagoras Papasavvas, 144

5. Mac Clark, 140

6. Sam Corry, 108

7. Chase Gardner, 103

8. Jorge Garciarce, 102

9. Danny Dyszelski, 88

10. Max Garcia, 81

Mac Clark (#1 USF Pro Championships/Valkyrie AI/ARM/Clubine Motorsports-DEForce Racing Tatuus USF-22): “To describe a night like tonight, it is hard to put into words. It is incredible. It feels amazing. It has been too long since we have won a race, and now to be on the top step of the podium with these boys and DEForce is great. I have so many people to thank – everyone who has supported my 2023 program. This is why we are racing in this series and this is what we aim to do every weekend. It was a little bit stressful in the car, not really a lot of emotion, and then the last five laps my spotter was telling me plus-five, plus-five and it starts to sink in and you cross the line and it is a wave of emotion. It is the best feeling in the world. This was my first-ever oval race and my first oval win.”

Sweden’s Granfors Vaults to Maiden USF Pro 2000 Victory

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Joel Granfors started a lowly 18th for this morning’s second leg of the Discount Tires Grand Prix of Indianapolis on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Grand Prix road course. But the rising star from Eskilstuna, Sweden, took advantage of a series of opportunities and ended up with a convincing maiden USF Pro 2000 Presented by Cooper Tires victory.

Salvador de Alba, from Guadalajara, Mexico, capped a banner day for the Canadian-owned Exclusive Autosport team by finishing second. Jace Denmark, from Scottsdale, Ariz., finished third for Pabst Racing.

Results

Championship leader Myles Rowe, from Brooklyn, N.Y., looked to bounce back from a disappointing race on Friday after claiming the Cooper Tires Pole Award for Pabst Racing with Force Indy by virtue of setting the fastest lap in yesterday’s race. Rowe duly held onto the lead at the start, only for an unforced error at Turn Seven on the opening lap to send him wide onto the grass and to the tail of the field.

Instead it was Francesco Pizzi, from Rome, Italy, who took the early advantage for TJ Speed Motorsports after starting second.

An early full-curse caution following an incident farther down the field proved pivotal in the outcome of the race. Pizzi, still out front, was slow on the restart and consequently was swamped by the chasing pack.

De Alba, who was seventh in line for the resumption, timed his jump to perfection, leaping into the lead by the start/finish line, followed by the opportunistic Granfors, who had made up nine positions over the course of the first couple of laps and then leapt from ninth to second.

But the rookie Granfors was far from done. After another full-course caution interruption, the Swede took advantage of a big draft from de Alba as the leaders sped toward Turn One, then promptly braked later, on the outside line, to grasp the lead.

Granfors, who finished second in last year’s GB3 Championship in the UK, never looked back as he raced away to take the checkered flag over three seconds clear of de Alba.

Denmark also profited from the restarts, jumping from sixth to third, which he maintained to the finish.

Ireland’s Jonathan Browne enjoyed a strong weekend for Turn 3 Motorsport, securing his second successive fourth-place finish ahead of the remarkable Rowe, who atoned for his earlier gaff by storming back through the field and finishing fifth to further extend his championship lead.

Granfors, unsurprisingly, earned the Tilton Hard Charger Award, while Michael and Kimberly Duncalfe claimed their first PFC Award of the season as the winning car owners.

Next up for the USF Pro 2000 Presented by Cooper Tires contenders is their lone oval race of the season at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park on Friday evening, May 26.

Provisional championship points after 6 of 18 rounds:

1. Myles Rowe, 139

2. Kiko Porto, 100

3. Francesco Pizzi, 98

4. Joel Granfors, 95

5. Jace Denmark, 91

6. Reece Ushijima, 86

7. Lirim Zendeli, 82

8. Jonathan Browne, 80

9. Salvador de Alba, 77

10. Jack William Miller, 67

Joel Granfors (#92 Corpay Cross-Border-Exclusive Autosport Tatuus IP-22): “It was a crazy race. I started P18, all the way in the back after the DNF in Race 1. I made a good start. I think I managed to get up to P8 after the first two laps then the safety car came out. I had a really good restart. There was a miscommunication with some drivers and we took advantage of that. I think I went from P10 to P2 going into Turn One and then the pace car came out again. I just managed to slipstream Salvador going up into Turn One and managed to brake later than him. From that point on, I was trying to do as quick laps as possible to pull away. I got a gap and managed the tires until the end. It is a dream come true to win here.”

Salvador de Alba (#91 Archandel/Red Cola/Mecano/Z Motors-Exclusive Autosport Tatuus IP-22): “It was a very strange race. I started P12 and gained some spots at the start. Then there was a yellow and the restart was so wild. The leading driver got on the power too late and as soon as it went green, I went to the outside lane and I ended up first. I had quite good speed, but not as good as Joel who took P1. I managed P2 and a podium which is my first podium of the year. I am very happy about that and hope it is the first of many this year.”

Jace Denmark (#20 Metal Works Custom Fabrication-Pabst Racing Tatuus IP-22): “My first start was really awesome. I think I went to sixth or so, and then we had a caution. The restart was super chaotic. I don’t know what the leader was doing but he clearly didn’t pay attention in the driver’s meeting and started way later than what the start zone should be. It bottled everything up but good for me because I came out third from that and just ran my race. I was defending from Jonathan Browne for a while and just finished the race a little behind Salvador. A great race and a great rebound from yesterday. It is nice to finish Indy on a good note. Usually, I don’t have much luck here so this helps going into the Freedom 90."

Mexico’s Escotto Claims Bizarre Dry-Wet USF Pro 2000 Race Win

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Ricardo Escotto claimed an extraordinary victory in this afternoon’s USF Pro 2000 Presented by Cooper Tires race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Grand Prix road course. The 18-year-old from Mexico City started 12th in his Jay Howard Driver Development Tatuus IP-22 and was running in 10th position when the red flag was displayed due to a brief rain shower with 13 laps in the books.

When the race was restarted, with the entire field now equipped with Cooper wet-weather tires, despite a fast-drying track, Escotto looked after his tires and managed his pace to perfection. He moved into the lead with around six minutes remaining in the 40-minute timed race and took the checkered flag 4.7227 seconds ahead of Japanese-American teammate Reece Ushijima.

Last year’s USF2000 Presented by Cooper Tires champion, Michael d’Orlando, from Hartsdale, N.Y., completed the podium in third for Turn 3 Motorsport.

Results

The day began routinely enough with Brazilian Kiko Porto, who had been fastest in practice yesterday, claiming his first Cooper Tires Pole Award for DEForce Racing.

Porto, the 2021 USF2000 champion, maintained his advantage at the start, was unfazed by an early full-course caution due to some debris on the race track, and continued to lead the way until the race was red-flagged. At that stage he was followed by d’Orlando, with local driver Jack William Miller holding onto third for Miller Vinatieri Motorsports.

The stoppage changed everything. Due to conditions at the time, Race Control instructed all of the teams to change onto wet tires for the restart, after which it became almost immediately apparent that dry weather tires would be significantly faster. But with only around 13 minutes remaining, most of the leaders opted to remain on wets.

Porto led for a couple of laps before his tires started overheating. d’Orlando and Miller then traded the lead a couple of times before they, too, began to struggle for grip on the drying surface.

Finally, on lap 20, Escotto suddenly leapt into the picture, sweeping past d’Orlando at Turn 13 and immediately beginning to pull away. Under instruction from team owner and former champion driver Jay Howard, Escotto had been careful not to push too hard, too soon and the ploy worked to perfection.

Ushijima, who slipped from eighth to 11th soon after the restart, quickly made up ground in the closing stages, finally overtaking d’Orlando for second place with a couple of laps remaining.

Ireland’s Jonathan Browne, the polesitter at Indianapolis one year ago for Turn 3 Motorsport, claimed his best finish to date in fourth, followed by Miller and Mexico’s Salvador de Alba (Exclusive Autosport).

Porto eventually crossed the line in seventh, which enabled him to gain a little ground in the points standings on Pabst Racing with Force Indy’s Myles Rowe, from Brooklyn, N.Y., who finished two laps down.

Escotto’s fine performance also assured him the Tilton Hard Charger Award, while Jay Howard claimed his first PFC Award of the year as the winning car owner.

The USF Pro 2000 will be back in action tomorrow morning to complete the Discount Tires Grand Prix of Indianapolis for the sixth round of their 18-race season.

Provisional championship points after 5 of 18 rounds:

1. Myles Rowe, 120

2. Kiko Porto, 90

3. Francesco Pizzi, 84

4. Reece Ushijima, 74

5. Lirim Zendeli, 71

6. Jace Denmark, 69

7. Joel Granfors, 64

8. Jonathan Browne, 61

9. Jack William Miller, 61

10. Ricardo Escotto, 53

Ricardo Escotto (#4 JHDD/CSU One Cure/Lucas Oil products/LHP-Jay Howard Driver Development Tatuus IP-22): “It was the craziest race of my life. I had damage on Lap 4 or 5 with a broken wing and I continued and then the rain came and we changed to wet tires and everything just worked out perfectly. I couldn’t ask for more and I am really, really happy and thankful to my family, my dad, my sponsors, (engineer) Bryn (Nuttall), Jay Howard and all the team. This is a great day I will remember for a long time for sure.”

Reece Ushijima (#6 Susquehanna-Jay Howard Driver Development Tatuus IP-22): “To be honest, the race started out pretty rough and I was really unhappy on the radio. I was struggling with a little bit of straight-line speed. I was a bit questionable on the call to go to wet tires but Bryn did a great job in setting the pressures correctly and to see both of us come through like we did, it was a great achievement for the team. I am very happy that we have something to show for all the work we have been doing throughout the year. We still have a long way to go but it is a good stepping stone.”

Michael d’Orlando (#1 USF Pro Championships/Focused Project Management-Turn 3 Motorsport Tatuus IP-22): “What a race. Qualifying was interesting with the track being half wet and half dry, you’re just finding the limit, finding the line. It’s definitely been an interesting day to say the least. When I was out there fighting with Kiko for a good part of that race, it was a good fight. We checked away from Jack Miller and I was super happy. I felt like I was back in my element and this streak of bad luck has finally come to an end. This was a good result, definitely what we needed right now. Obviously, the Jay Howard drivers had something more that we didn’t, but sitting P1 for as long as I did, I felt like I was back to where I belong. I am super thankful to Rising Star Racing and Turn 3 for putting together such a good car and I can’t wait to see what we can do in Race 2.”

Traditional Carb Night Classic Nextfor USF Pro Championships

PALMETTO, Fla. – Indianapolis, Ind., remains as the focal point of the open-wheel auto racing world this week. Following an intensely competitive and dramatic Pole Day qualifying weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to set the grid for next Sunday’s 107th running of the Indianapolis 500 Presented by Gainbridge, the attention for dozens of potential future stars of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES this week will switch to Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park for Friday night’s traditional Carb Night Classic.

An action-packed night of racing on the banked 0.686-mile oval will feature two steps on the USF Pro Championships Presented by Cooper Tires open-wheel development ladder, plus the 70th Annual Hoosier Hundred, one of the crown jewel events on the USAC Silver Crown Series calendar, and a 30-lap National Pavement Midget Championship feature. The entry list for the Midget race includes 2006 USF2000 Champion, 2009 INDY NXT (Lights) champion and 2011 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year JR Hildebrand, who will step out of his comfort zone to drive a car prepared by Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing Development.

For drivers competing in the Cooper Tires Freedom 90, the seventh round of the USF Pro 2000 season, and the Cooper Tires Freedom 75, round eight in USF2000 competition, this Friday, May 26, will represent their only chance this year to gather race experience on an oval track.

On Thursday morning, all drivers – including 19 who have not competed previously at IRP – will benefit from an Oval Clinic hosted by Andersen Promotions and featuring advice and consultation with current INDY NXT title contender Hunter McElrea, who finished second in the 2020 USF2000 event at IRP, accomplished driver coach Jonatan Jorge and hugely successful team owner/race engineer Dominic Cape.

Rowe Heads Tight USF Pro 2000 Field

Two main talking points have emerged from the opening six USF Pro 2000 races of the season: the closeness of the field and the consistent pace displayed by points leader Myles Rowe as he chases a Discount Tire Driver Advancement Scholarship valued at $664,500 to graduate onto the next step on the ladder, INDY NXT, in 2024.

Entry List

Rowe, a 22-year-old rookie from Brooklyn, N.Y., already has three wins to his name and has recorded the fastest lap in each of the last three races for the Pabst Racing with Force Indy team. He finished third in last year’s USF2000 race at IRP, and currently holds a 39-point edge in the standings.

The next seven drivers in the championship rankings are blanketed by only 20 points, led by Brazilian Kiko Porto, the 2021 USF2000 champion, who has finished on the podium three times this year for DEForce Racing.

Francesco Pizzi (TJ Speed Motorsports), from Rome, Italy, has been one of the revelations of the season, especially in qualifying having started each of the first six races from one of the top three positions. Pizzi currently lies just one point adrift of Porto, with fellow rookie Joel Granfors (Exclusive Autosport), from Sweden, only four points further back and a similar margin ahead of Rowe’s Pabst Racing teammate Jace Denmark, from Scottsdale, Ariz.

This week will represent the first ever taste of an oval for both Pizzi and Granfors, who claimed his first win in the most recent road course race at Indianapolis, as well as fellow rookies Reece Ushijima (Jay Howard Driver Development) and Lirim Zendeli (TJ Speed Motorsports).

Ireland’s Jonathan Browne also enjoyed a breakthrough weekend at Indianapolis, claiming two fourth-place finishes. Turn 3 Motorsport teammate and 2022 USF2000 champion Michael d’Orlando, from Hartsdale, N.Y., has endured all manner of misfortune so far this season, but can reflect upon fond memories of the IRP oval after claiming victory in each of the past two years.

All drivers will gain some valuable experience during a pair of 45-minute test sessions on Thursday, May 25, which will lead into official single-car qualifying at 5:30 p.m. EDT. An additional 15 minutes of practice at 4:50 p.m. on Friday will provide one final opportunity to hone the cars in preparation for the 90-lap Cooper Tires Freedom 90 which is scheduled to see the green flag at 9:30 p.m.

USF2000 Trending Toward a Three-Horse Race

The ebbs and flows of a season-long battle for supremacy have characterized the opening three weekends of USF2000 competition in 2023. Four talented young drivers – Lochie Hughes, from the Gold Coast of Queensland, Australia, Jay Howard Driver Development teammate Evagoras Papasavvas, from Loveland, Ohio, Nikita Johnson (VRD Racing), from Gulfport, Fla., and Simon Sikes (Pabst Racing), from Augusta, Ga. – emerged as the leading contenders following the first event on the streets of St. Petersburg, Fla.

Entry List

A few weeks later on the permanent road course a hundred miles or so to the east at Sebring International Raceway, Hughes and Sikes shared the victory spoils to put some distance in the points table between themselves and their pursuers, only for Johnson to work his way back into the conversation recently at Indianapolis with two pole positions and a trio of podium finishes.

Of the four, only Sikes has prior experience on the challenging oval – an eighth-place finish in 2022. But with the previously dominant Cape Motorsports team absent from the field this season, having stepped up to INDY NXT after winning eight times at IRP since 2010, the door is wide open this year.

The stakes are high, with a Discount Tire Driver Advancement Scholarship valued at over $433,000 up for grabs. Hughes currently holds a relatively slender 14-point edge over Sikes, 185-171, with 14-year-old Johnson not far adrift on 144.

In common with USF Pro 2000, additional points will be on offer for this round, with 45 available to the winner – a 50-percent bonus compared to the remainder of the season. As usual, single points also will be awarded for pole position, fastest race lap and leading most laps.

The event format for the USF2000 competitors closely mirrors that of the USF Pro 2000 contingent with two 45-minute test sessions on Thursday preceding qualifying at 4:45 p.m. and then a brief 15-minute warmup on Friday afternoon prior to the start at 8:30 p.m.

All Roads Lead to Indy for USF Pro Championships

gavin baker

PALMETTO, Fla. – The month of May holds a special meaning for all aficionados of open-wheel racing, especially in North America. Highlighted on Memorial Day weekend by the traditional Indianapolis 500, which on May 28 will be held for the 107th time, May also is a busy month for those who aspire to a future in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES’ crown jewel event.

Teams and drivers representing the two senior levels of the USF Pro Championships Presented by Cooper Tires open-wheel racing development ladder – USF Pro 2000 and USF2000 – will return to action on Friday and Saturday, May 12/13 as they contest the Discount Tire Grand Prix of Indianapolis on the 2.439-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway Grand Prix road course. Two weeks later, on Friday, May 26, they will be back in action a few miles to the west at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park for their only opportunity this season to gain some experience on an oval track.

Rowe has the Hot Ticket in USF Pro 2000

Two years ago, in common with many young drivers, Myles Rowe was struggling to establish himself in the world of motorsport. He was granted a lifeline by Roger Penske’s Race for Equality and Change initiative and claimed his first race win, in tricky wet conditions, later that year at New Jersey Motorsports Park.

Rowe, the first Black driver to win at this level, narrowly missed out on the USF2000 Championship in 2022, but has repaid the faith shown in him by taking control of this year’s USF Pro 2000 title-chase. The 22-year-old Pace University graduate from Brooklyn, N.Y., has won three of the first four races of the season for Pabst Racing with Force Indy. Rowe already holds a commanding 42-point lead in his quest for a Discount Tire Driver Advancement Scholarship valued at $664,500 to ensure progression onto the next step on the ladder, INDY NXT, in 2024.

Kiko Porto and Francesco Pizzi are currently tied for second place in the points table. Porto, from Recife, Brazil, has finished on the podium three times for DEForce Racing, but the 2021 USF2000 champion’s title hopes were dented by being unable to start the first of two races at Sebring last month due to a mechanical failure. Pizzi, a rookie from Rome, Italy, has impressed for TJ Speed Motorsports with three top-five finishes along with a pole position and a fastest race lap.

Pizzi’s teammate, German-raised Albanian Lirim Zendeli, also has shown a good turn of speed, including a podium last time out at Sebring, tempered by some inconsistency which he plans to eradicate in Indiana.

Other contenders among an extremely competitive field include Jace Denmark (Pabst Racing), from Scottsdale, Ariz., and Sweden’s Joel Granfors (Exclusive Autosport), both of whom already have a podium finish to their credit, and local driver Jack William Miller, who secured two pole positions last year at Indy for the Miller Vinatieri Motorsports team.

The IMS road course has proved to be a happy hunting ground for Mexico’s Salvador De Alba, who secured his maiden victory last year, Exclusive Autosport teammate Yuven Sundaramoorthy, from Delafield, Wis., who earned a pair of USF2000 victories in 2021 as well as his maiden USF Pro 2000 podium finish last year, and 2022 USF2000 champion Michael d’Orlando (Turn 3 Motorsport), from Hartsdale, N.Y. All three will be hoping to turn their fortunes around after a difficult start to their campaigns.

Entry List

Two hour-long test sessions, followed by 30 minutes of official practice on Thursday will lead into a single, all-important qualifying session at 8:45 a.m. EDT on Friday. A pair of 25-lap races will start at 2:55 p.m. on Friday and 8:55 a.m. on Saturday.

Hughes vs. Sikes USF2000 Tussle Intensifies

Two talented youngsters have separated themselves from the pack after four of the 18 races which will comprise the USF2000 Presented by Cooper Tires season.

Lochie Hughes, from Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast of Queensland, Australia, took first blood with a convincing debut victory on the streets of St. Petersburg for Jay Howard Driver Development. But after an error during qualifying for the first race, Simon Sikes, from Augusta, Ga., has fought back for Pabst Racing and now holds a slender three-point edge as they head to Indianapolis.

Hughes, last year’s F4 United States Championship powered by Honda champion, added a second win to his tally at Sebring, while Sikes has proven his capabilities with three poles, one race win and two second-place finishes. Sikes also has recorded the fastest lap in all four races.

Hughes’ teammate, Cypriot-American Evagoras Papasavvas, from Loveland, Ohio, lies third in the title chase after snagging a pair of podium finishes, six points ahead of 14-year-old Nikita Johnson, who won the second round on the streets of St. Petersburg, Fla., in March for VRD Racing.

Johnson must be considered as one of the favorites for honors in this weekend’s important triple-header event, especially since his team swept all three wins at Indianapolis last year during a triumphant, one-off appearance for rising British star Alex Quinn.

After a challenging start to his season at St. Petersburg, Mac Clark, who convincingly won last year’s USF Juniors Presented by Cooper Tires title, as well as a scholarship to guarantee graduation into USF2000, bounced back strongly for DEForce Racing at Sebring with a fourth and a second. Clark, from Milton, Ont., Canada, has every intention of maintaining that momentum.

Entry List

This week’s USF2000 schedule is very similar to the one for USF Pro 2000 with two hours of testing and 30 minutes of practice on Thursday, followed by a single qualifying session on Friday morning. However, after one 15-lap race later in the day on Friday at 2:55 p.m., the USF2000 contingent will have two more opportunities to race on Saturday, at 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon.

Full coverage can be found on the free USF Pro Championships App, YouTube channel and respective series’ websites.

usf20000 series

www.usf2000.com

The Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires is a racecar driver development program, providing a scholarship-funded path to reach the IndyCar Series and Indianapolis 500.[1] Sanctioned by IndyCar, the Road to Indy is owned and managed by Andersen Promotions. On December 9, 2010 it was announced that Mazda would become the title sponsor of the program and provide scholarships for series champions to advance to the next rung of the ladder with all three series running on Cooper Tires

Sikes and Hughes Share USF2000 Victory Spoils at Indianapolis

INDIANAPOLIS Ind. – The final two rounds of the Discount Tire Grand Prix of Indianapolis saw the top three drivers in the USF2000 Presented by Cooper Tires point standings share dual podium honors with Simon Sikes of Pabst Racing taking the win in Race 2 and Lochie Hughes of Jay Howard Driver Development further extending his championship lead with a victory in Race 3.

Nikita Johnson of VRD Racing capped off two podium finishes of third with a second-place drive in the final 15-lap event.

Race 2 Results

Race 3 Results

The first of today’s pair of races saw Johnson, from Gulfport, Fla., once again starting at the front of the field having earned his second successive Cooper Tires Pole Award. But the young Floridian found himself under attack the moment the green flag fell.

Remarkably, having lined up sixth on the grid, it was one of Johnson’s VRD Racing teammates, Danny Dyszelski, from Belmont, N.C., who drove around the outside of everyone at Turn One to emerge in the lead from Sikes, who started second, and Johnson.

The more experienced Sikes soon dispatched Dyszelski to assume the top position, which he was able to hold for the remainder of the 15-lap race to clinch his second victory of the season.

Sikes, from Atlanta, Ga., fought off his pursuers following a couple of full-course caution periods, then put his head down and set the fastest laps of the race as he edged clear of the battle for second between championship rival Hughes and Johnson.

Hughes, from Surfers Paradise, Queensland, Australia, who started second, drove well to regain ground after being elbowed out on the opening lap and falling to seventh. The Australian narrowly held off Johnson at the checkered flag.

Mac Clark (DEForce Racing), from Milton, Ont., Canada finished fourth ahead of Friday winner Sam Corry (VRD Racing), from Cornelius, N.C., then New Zealander Jacob Douglas (Exclusive Autosport) and local resident Elliot Cox (Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing Development), who claimed the Tilton Hard Charger Award after fighting his way to climbing from 18th on the starting grid to seventh.

The third race of an eventful Discount Tire Grand Prix of Indianapolis had Sikes claiming another successive Cooper Tires Pole Award by virtue of setting the fastest lap of the weekend during the earlier encounter. A four-wide battle heading into Turn One saw Sikes on the bottom and shuffled back to sixth as Evagoras Papasavvas of Jay Howard Driver Development, who started third, become the star of the opening lap as he moved into the lead.

The caution flags flew before the end of the first tour due to contact between two drivers and when the race resumed on Lap 4, Hughes took full command followed by Johnson in second, Papasavvas and Sikes.

Sikes continued to use his experience to advantage and when the yellow came out three laps later for an incident involving local driver Elliot Cox of Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing Development and Friday’s race winner Sam Corry of VRD Racing, he had advanced to second behind Hughes with Johnson in third and Papasavvas fourth.

After repairs to the tire wall following the incident, the scene was set for a three-lap shootout. Impressively, 14-year-old Max Garcia of Coconut Grove, Fla., found himself in the mix. The Pabst Racing driver slotted into third from eighth at the restart with Johnson settling in to second while Sikes was displaced to fourth.

Hughes comfortably maintained the point to continue his streak of winning one race in every event held to date this season.

Garcia ended the day fourth with Ethan Ho of Los Angeles, Calif., showing impressive form for DC Autosport to round out the top five.

Zack Ping from Buford, Ga., picked up the final Tilton Hard Charger Award of the weekend for VRD Racing with a gain of eight positions to finish 11th.

Augie Pabst and Jay Howard took home the PFC Awards as the winning car owners.

The USF2000 teams and drivers will remain in the Indianapolis area for their next round on Friday night, May 26, their only chance of the season to compete on an oval track at Lucas Oil Raceway Park.

Provisional championship points after 7 of 18 races:

1. Lochie Hughes, 185

2. Simon Sikes, 171

3. Nikita Johnson, 144

4. Evagoras Papasavvas, 108

5. Sam Corry, 94

6. Mac Clark, 92

7. Jorge Garciarce, 85

8. Danny Dyszelski, 79

9. Chase Gardner, 74

10. Jacob Douglas, 71

Simon Sikes (#22 Big Check Race Fans/Group6Gear.com-Pabst Racing Tatuus USF-22): “We started on pole, which is obviously where you always want to start but it quickly went downhill from there. I had a bit of a rough start and got into the grass on the exit of Turn Two and unfortunately fell back to sixth place. We went under the safety car pretty quickly and then I had an awesome restart and was able to get all the way back up into second before another yellow. I got the worse at the restart and knocked back a few spots but was able to have a great battle with my teammate Max Garcia for the final spot on the podium on the last lap. I am really happy for Pabst Racing to put another one on the podium.”

Lochie Hughes (#8 JHDD/CSU One Cure/Lucas Oil Products/LHP-Jay Howard Driver Development Tatuus USF-22): “I am super happy to win Race 3. I mean, what a place to win. I can’t thank the team enough. It has been a tough weekend finishing second every single race so far. To finally come out on top is just such a relief and I can’t thank the team enough. It is cool to win for my mom on Mother’s Day as well so hi to them back home.”

Nikita Johnson (#17 Allen Exploration, LLC/Walker’s Cay-VRD Racing Tatuus USF-22): “The weekend went amazing. To have a podium in every race and to have it at Indianapolis at a super historic track is just huge. I started second, went back to fifth and then came up to third. After that I was just focusing on the restarts. I chose the outside and braked deeper than anyone and got into first, was pushed into the grass and went into second and was battling with Lochie for a little bit. I am happy that we picked up a lot of great points after Sebring which didn’t favor us at all. We are back in the championship fight and that’s always good.”

Corry on Top Following Dramatic Indianapolis USF2000 Race

INDIANAPOLIS Ind. – Sam Corry started 12th on the grid for this afternoon’s first of three races that will comprise the Discount Tire Grand Prix of Indianapolis, but he ended the day on the top step of the podium to score his first USF2000 Presented by Cooper Tires victory for VRD Racing. A chaotic fifth round of the season saw four different leaders during the 15-lap race, with Corry, from Cornelius, N.C., taking full advantage of a tangle between Mac Clark (DEForce Racing) and former points leader Simon Sikes (Pabst Racing) to grasp the initiative on the final lap.

Lochie Hughes, from Surfers Paradise, Queensland, Australia, crossed the line in second place for Jay Howard Driver Development to take over the points lead, mere inches ahead of polesitter Nikita Johnson (VRD Racing), from Gulfport, Fla.

Results

Johnson, who claimed all three bonus points for the pole, fastest lap and most laps led, laid out his stall yesterday by pacing the field both in the two hours of testing and official practice later in the afternoon. Even though conditions were dramatically different this morning, Johnson continued that form on a wet but drying track to secure his first-ever Cooper Tires Pole Award.

The action began at the first corner when second-place qualifier Jacob Douglas (Exclusive Autosport), from Christchurch, New Zealand, clambered over the curbs and was collected by several other cars to ensure a full-course caution.

There was more contact soon after the restart as 14-year-old Max Garcia (Pabst Racing), from Coconut Grove, Fla., missed his braking point at Turn Seven and inadvertently took out both debutant Max Taylor (VRD Racing), from Hoboken, N.J., and local driver Elliot Cox, who had qualified a fine third for Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing Development. Cue another caution.

The final five laps were held under proper green flag conditions, even though they, too, were peppered with incidents. Johnson staunchly defended his lead at the first restart, but on the second, having been pinned to the inside by a charging Sikes, left his braking a tad too deep and slid wide at the apex, gifting Sikes the lead. It didn’t last for long. A couple of corners later, Hughes, up from 11th on the grid, made an incisive pass on Sikes, who had started fourth, at Turn Three.

It was Hughes’ turn to take on a defensive strategy as the leaders headed down the long front straightaway into Turn One for the 12th time. He, too, carried too much speed through the middle of the corner, running out wide and taking Sikes with him. Canadian Mac Clark (DEForce Racing), last year’s USF Juniors Presented by Cooper Tires champion, was the main beneficiary as he slipped past both of them to grasp the advantage ahead of Sikes and Corry, who had steadily moved up the order. For him, the best was yet to come.

When Sikes once again pressured Clark into Turn One for the final time, there was a sense of deja vu as the Canadian ran wide at the apex and once again took Sikes with him. On this occasion both ran onto the grass, losing several positions. Sikes, from Augusta, Ga., subsequently was involved in a separate incident at Turn Five, dropping him to the tail of the field.

Corry grasped the opportunity with both hands, reeling off the final 2.439-mile lap to take a well earned victory. Behind, Hughes barely held off Johnson, who had recovered well after falling to seventh following his earlier incident.

Danny Dyszelski (VRD Racing), from Belmont, N.C., scored a career best fourth ahead of the recovering Clark, while Chase Gardner (Exclusive Autosport), from Prosper, Texas, picked up the Tilton Hard Charger Award after climbing from 19th on the starting grid to sixth. Clark was later assessed a 30-second penalty for avoidable contact, which dropped him to 14th position.

Dan Mitchell, of VRD Racing, claimed his first PFC Award of the season as the winning car owner.

The USF2000 competitors now have a little time to catch their breath and prepare for two more races tomorrow at 8:00 a.m. and 12 noon EDT.

Provisional championship points after 5 of 18 races:

1. Lochie Hughes, 129

2. Simon Sikes, 115

3. Nikita Johnson, 96

4. Evagoras Papasavvas, 79

5. Sam Corry, 72

6. Jorge Garciarce, 67

7. Mac Clark, 62

8. Chase Gardner 62

9. Jacob Douglas, 61

10. Danny Dyszelski, 53

Sam Corry (#14 Red Line Oil/Fill-Rite/Stilo Helmets-VRD Racing Tatuus USF-22): “I started P12 and everyone loves a comeback story. I just tried to stay out of trouble at the beginning and just try to hit my marks. There was some carnage in front of me and I got out of that clean and led the last lap again just trying to hit my marks and I did and it came to me. The VRD boys put together a really good race car, and I can’t thank them enough and my family.”

Lochie Hughes (#8 JHDD/CSU One Cure/Lucas Oil Products/LHP-Jay Howard Driver Development Tatuus USF-22): “ It was a pretty good race. To start from 11th, which is not ideal, and come through to lead at one point, you can’t ask for more really. It’s great points for the championship. It was a crazy race. We made contact with a few different cars. To come out second in the end, I am very happy.”

Nikita Johnson (#17 Allen Exploration, LLC/Walker’s Cay-VRD Racing Tatuus USF-22): “I took pole position in qualifying and was leading most of the race. But every restart, I would have to out-brake Simon going into Turn One and I was locking up my left and right front. Just by being in the lead, it is always hard here at Indy because you are constantly under pressure and always overheating your tires. I went into One on one of the restarts and locked up and had to use the escape route. I dropped to eighth, I think, but then came back up to third. It was a pretty good race but I am a bit disappointed in my mistake. It was hard with all the cautions and safety cars and that kind of messed me up where I would have broken the draft. I want to thank VRD, my sponsors, my family and everyone that helped get this podium.”

indycar series INDY NXT series indypro 2000 series usf20000 series

road to indy

2023 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Schedule

Date	Venue	Television
Sunday, March 5	Streets of St. Petersburg	NBC, Peacock
Sunday, April 2	Texas Motor Speedway	NBC, Peacock
Sunday, April 16	Streets of Long Beach	NBC, Peacock
Sunday, April 30	Barber Motorsports Park	NBC, Peacock
Saturday, May 13	Indianapolis Motor Speedway (road course)	NBC, Peacock
Sunday, May 28	Indianapolis Motor Speedway (oval)	NBC, Peacock
Sunday, June 4	Streets of Detroit	NBC, Peacock
Sunday, June 18	Road America	USA Network, Peacock
Sunday, July 2	Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course	USA Network, Peacock
Sunday, July 16	Streets of Toronto	Peacock
Saturday, July 22	Iowa Speedway	NBC, Peacock
Sunday, July 23	Iowa Speedway	NBC, Peacock
Sunday, Aug. 6	Streets of Nashville	NBC, Peacock
Saturday, Aug. 12	Indianapolis Motor Speedway (road course)	USA Network, Peacock
Sunday, Aug. 27	World Wide Technology Raceway	NBC, Peacock
Sunday, Sept. 3	Portland International Raceway	NBC, Peacock
Sunday, Sept. 10	WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca	NBC, Peacock

2023 INDY NXT by Firestone Schedule

Date	Venues	Broadcast Time	Broadcast
Sunday, March 5	Streets of St. Petersburg	9:50 a.m. ET	Peacock
Sunday, April 30	Barber Motorsports Park	12:50 p.m. ET	Peacock
Saturday, May 13	Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course	1 p.m. ET	Peacock
Saturday, June 3	Streets of Detroit Race 1	12:35 p.m. ET	Peacock
Sunday, June 4	Streets of Detroit Race 2	12:35 p.m. ET	Peacock
Sunday, June 18	Road America	11 a.m. ET	Peacock
Sunday, July 2	Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course	11:30 a.m. ET	Peacock
Saturday, July 22	Iowa Speedway	11 a.m. ET	Peacock
Sunday, Aug. 6	Streets of Nashville	10:05 a.m. ET	Peacock
Friday, Aug. 11	Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course	4:50 p.m. ET	Peacock
Sunday, Aug. 27	World Wide Technology Raceway	3:55 p.m. ET	Peacock
Sunday, Sept. 3	Portland International Raceway	1:10 p.m. ET	Peacock
Saturday, Sept. 9	WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Race 1	3:25 p.m. ET	Peacock
Sunday, Sept. 10	WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Race 2	12:50 p.m. ET	Peacock

2023 USF2000 Presented by Cooper Tires 2023 Schedule

March 4-5	Streets of St. Petersburg	1.8-mile street circuit*	INDYCAR
March 25-26	Sebring International Raceway	3.74-mile road course*	USAC
May 12-13	Indianapolis Motor Speedway	2.439-mile road course**	INDYCAR
May 26	Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park	.686-mile oval	USAC
June 17-18	Road America	4.014-mile road course*	INDYCAR
July 1-2	Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course	2.258-mile road course**	INDYCAR
July 15-16	Streets of Toronto	1.786-mile street circuit*	INDYCAR
September 2-3	Portland International Raceway	1.964-mile road course**	INDYCAR

*Double-Header Rounds **Triple-Header Rounds

2023 USF Pro 2000 Presented by Cooper Tires Schedule

March 4-5	Streets of St. Petersburg	1.8-mile street circuit*	INDYCAR
March 25-26	Sebring International Raceway	3.74-mile road course*	USAC
May 12-13	Indianapolis Motor Speedway	2.439-mile road course*	INDYCAR
May 26	Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park	.686-mile oval	USAC
June 17-18	Road America	4.014-mile road course*	INDYCAR
July 1-2	Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course	2.258-mile road course*	INDYCAR
July 15-16	Streets of Toronto	1.786-mile street circuit*	INDYCAR
August 26-27	Circuit of The Americas	3.41-mile road course*	USAC
September 2-3	Portland International Raceway	1.964-mile road course**	INDYCAR

*Double-Header Rounds **Triple-Header Round

2023 USF Juniors Presented by Cooper Tires Schedule

March 23-25	Sebring International Raceway	3.74-mile road course**	USAC
April 28	Barber Motorsports Park	2.3-mile road course*	INDYCAR
June 3-4	VIRginia International Raceway	3.27-mile road course**	USAC
July 8	Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course	2.258-mile road course*	NASCAR
August 12-13	Road America	4.014-mile road course**	USAC
August 25-27	Circuit of The Americas	3.41-mile road course**	USAC

*Double-Header Rounds **Triple-Header Rounds

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This site is dedicated to my dad " Hoot" who introduced me to the great sport of auto racing............. rest in peace DAD

larry criss....................A true race fan LIKE AN UNCLE TO ME

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charlie patterson ............my old friend that supported me when mo one else did

Carroll Horton .......................................life long friend and indy car owner

Judy Morris.................... a true race fan

todd shafer..............."a rock n roller" with a love for racing!

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