IndyCars - Elkhart Lake: A facelift for the National Park of Speed

[MarkyS]

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The great Road America circuit near Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, has been repaved for the first time in many, many years and speeds will certainly go up, this weekend, as we do…

The Sonsio Grand Prix at Road America

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One of the oldest natural road courses in existence, anywhere, they’ve been racing at Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin since the early '50s, first on the streets of the town but eventually at the beautiful facility built nearby, called Road America. Nestled in the Kettle Hills in the middle of the state, Road America boasts the longest track in the nation, at just over 4 miles. The 14-turn circuit presents great elevation changes and many kinds of turns, including the famous Carousel at Turn 9, Canada Corner at Turn 12, the Kink at Turn 11 and the infamous Turn 5 - the heartbreaker. Add to that the very long and uphill front straight, holding Start / Finish. Road America actually has 3 long straights, when one includes the Moraine Sweep and Kettle Bottoms, making for fantastic passing opportunities. With the repave it might end up being the fastest event here in decades, rivalling the heady Champ Car days for speed.

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Road America also boasts great camping facilities and the huge crowds always take advantage of them, turning the track into a mini-city during a race weekend. Those crowds will have a great racing weekend ahead, with no less than 9 races to fill the 3 event days. They include:

• Blue Marble Radical Cup - 3 races, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday
• USF2000 - 2 races, on Saturday
• USF Pro 2000 - 2 races, on Saturday and Sunday
• Indy NXT, 1 race on Sunday

…and, of course, the IndyCars will race on Sunday.

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Let’s look at that support racing…

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Blue Marble Radical Cup - This series is like many multi-class SportsCar series, with several classes racing at the same time, but in this case, all the cars are different versions of the Radical brand of prototype SportsCars - one of the best and most affordable training tools for racing in existence. This weekend, three classes of Radicals will be raced, including the top Platinum class 450hp SR-10s and two versions of the SR3, the Pro 1500 class and the Pro 1340 class - both powered by iterations of the powerful Suzuki Hayabusa motorcycle engine.

There will only be 1 IndyCar driver in this series this weekend - USF2000 driver Danny Dyszelski in the # 88 SR3 for WISKO Racing, currently leading the points in the Pro 1500 class due to 4 WINS on the season, so far. We’ll keep an eye on Danny and see what he can do.

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Danny Dyszelski in his Pro 1500 SR3 for WISKO Racing

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continued…

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M

[MarkyS]

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Support racing…(continued…

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IndyCar has a four-series ladder system where young driving talent can develop, in order to be able to step up to IndyCars. It consists of, in order of complexity, USF Juniors, USF2000, USF Pro 2000 and finally Indy NXT. This weekend, 3 of the 4 rungs of the ladder will be competing at Road America:

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USF2000 - Second from the bottom rung on the ladder training system, USF2000 uses the all-carbon Tatuus USF-22 car, powered by a 2.0 liter engine made by Elite Engines, with about 175 hp. The cars have racing slicks and adjustable wings. They are often the first such equipped cars the drivers will have driven. The transmissions are a six-speed sequential gearbox, with steering-wheel paddle shifters. The brakes are 4-piston monobloc caliper sets, front and rear.

The fields are usually very large, very eclectic and very competitive but the talent range is also large - some very good while others are learning. After 8 rounds, the current points leader is Australian Lachlan “Lochie” Hughes, driving for Jay Howard Driver Development, with 3 WINS and 6 podiums. Lochie hasn’t finished a race worse than P6, this season. But hot on his tail is Simon Sikes for Pabst Racing with 2 WINS and 6 podiums. The pair are separated by only 3 points.

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Lochie Hughes in his Tatuus USF-22 for JHDD

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USF Pro 2000 - This is a middle rung of the ladder. “UP2K” uses the IP-22 car from Tatuus, based on the USF-22, but with much bigger tires, much more wing, and a much more powerful engine. The Elite Engines 2.0 liter puts out 275 hp. The brakes are bias driver-adjustable, just like in the USF-22. Transmissions are six-speed paddle-shifter sequential jobs. With the bigger tires and more wing, the cars have substantially more downforce and braking than USF2000.

The fields are typically graduates from USF2000 or from European F3 and GP3, all used to handling decent power and grip and all with great racecraft. The level of competition across the board is much more even, though the fields are smaller than USF2000. After 7 rounds, the current points leader in UP2K is rookie Myles Rowe for Pabst Racing, with 3 WINS, 4 podiums and 6 TOP FIVES. He is well ahead on points, with 165 to rookie Joel Granfors for Exclusive Autosport in 2nd with 133, but Sweden’s Granfors has been very strong lately and is mounting a challenge.

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Myles Rowe in his IP-22 for Pabst Racing

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Indy NXT - (say, “Indy next”) The top step on the ladder system, Indy NXT used to be called “Indy Lights” but whatever it’s called it is a great training ground. The car is the Dallara IL-15 and is close to an IndyCar in performance and feel. The Dallara uses a 450 hp turbo-charged engine from AER. The adjustable brakes are by PFC and are the biggest in the ladder system. The cars have the widest wheels in the ladder and are now shod with Firestone tires - same as on the big cars. The IL-15 has one more thing - Push-to-Pass, just like on the big cars. That is, an additional short burst of 50 horsepower is available to the driver under most conditions, with the push of a button on the steering wheel.

The drivers are typically graduates of lower ladder-rung series USF2000 and Indy Pro 2000, but can often come from F3 or F2 in Europe. These drivers are ready to make the move to the big cars by season’s end and many of the drivers in IndyCars are recent graduates of Indy Lights. Indy NXT have held 5 races, so far, and the current points leader is Danish sophomore Christian Rasmussen for HMD Motorsports, with1 WIN, 4 TOP FIVES and 1 pole. Hot on his heels is teammate and rookie Nolan Siegel, celebrating his first WIN at the last race in Detroit. They are but 2 points apart.

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Christian Rasmussen in his Dallara IL-15 for HMD Motorsports

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USF2000, USF Pro 2000 and BMRC will all have test sessions on Thursday, to start their weekends. Let’s GET THIS GOING!!!

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M

[MarkyS]

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Thursday at Road America - USF2000 holds testing…

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The only difference between a test and a practice is who pays for the track time. A test has to be done at an extra cost to the racing series, while practices are a part of the negotiated race weekend for a series - practices, qualifying and races. USF Pro Championships is happy to pay extra to Road America for the track time to run two test sessions each for USF2000 and USF Pro 2000, in order to give the kids the maximum track time available - the whole point of the exercise.

Today, the first guys out on track were the kids from USF2000, who completed two test sessions. Virtually everyone was better in the T-2 session, so we will present those results.

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Here was the order of speed for the USF2000 T-2 test session with times for the TOP FIVE: [R] denotes rookie

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1 - Lochie Hughes [R], Jay Howard Driver Development - time of 2:07.8670s for a speed of 113.011mph

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2 - Simon Sikes, Pabst Racing - time of 2:08.2390s for a speed of 112.683mph

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3 - Sam Corry [R], VRD Racing - time of 2:08.3200s for a speed of 112.612mph

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4 - Max Garcia [R], Pabst Racing - time of 2:08.4682s for a speed of 112.482mph

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5 - Mac Clark [R], DEForce Racing - time of 2:08.4866s for a speed of 112.466mph

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6 - Danny Dyszelski, VRD Racing
7 - Evagoras Papasavvas, Jay Howard Driver Development
8 - Max Taylor [R], VRD Racing
9 - Chase Gardner [R], Exclusive Autosport
10 - Quinn Armstrong, DEForce Racing

11 - Jacob Douglas, Pabst Racing
12 - Ethan Ho, DC Autosport
13 - Gordan Scully, VRD Racing
14 - Jorge Garciarce, DEForce Racing
15 - Nikita Johnson [R], VRD Racing
16 - Jack Jeffers [R], Exclusive Autosport
17 - Zack Ping [R], VRD Racing
18 - Elliot Cox [R], Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing Development
19 - Maxwell Jamieson [R], DEForce Racing
20 - Avery Towns [R], Exclusive Autosport

21 - Dane Scott [R], Jay Howard Driver Development
22 - Al Morey [R], Jay Howard Driver Development - no time

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Notable:

• Lochie Hughes TOPPED both test sessions but Simon Sikes was right with him in the 2nd session. These two are going to BATTLE.

• The TOP TWELVE are all exceptional drivers and anyone of them could podium, this weekend.

• 15-year-old Danny Dyszelski has an advantage in that he is also participating in the Blue Marble Radical Cup racing this weekend and so he will get tons of extra track time, compared to everyone else. He was P2 in the first test session, anyway, looking like he already has the track time under his belt.

• Al Morey put in no time in this session but was P11 in the first session.

• Kiwi Jacob Douglas has been with Exclusive Autosport in the season so far but moved over to the “Speed Boys” at Pabst Racing for the rest of the season.

• New to the grid this weekend is Dane Scott for Jay Howard Driver Development. Dane has been in F4 United States for JHDD up to this point.

• Quinn Armstrong, Ethan Ho and Jack Jeffers are all excellent USF Juniors pilots this season, but as can be seen here, they are willing to jump into a USF2000 car whenever possible. That’s probably WHY they are excellent USF Juniors pilots.

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left to right, Quinn Armstrong, Ethan Ho and Jack Jeffers - ambitious

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Dane Scott - New kid on the block

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Lochie Hughes - TOPS in testing

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USF2000 will hold their official practice session on Friday early morning and then qualify for Race 1 of the weekend on Friday late morning. They will then qualify for Race 2 of the weekend on Friday afternoon. Next up, USF Pro 2000 holds testing…

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M

[MarkyS]

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Thursday at Road America - USF Pro 2000 holds testing…

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Just like the kids in USF2000, the UP2K gang also had two test sessions and they were almost all faster in the T-2 session, so we will present those results.

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Here was the order of speed for the USF Pro 2000 T-2 test session, with times for the TOP FIVE: [R] denotes rookie

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1 - Michael d’Orlando [R], Turn 3 Motorsport - time of 2:01.2671s for a speed of 119.162mph

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2 - Reece Ushijima [R], Jay Howard Driver Development - time of 2:01.5984s for a speed of 118.837mph

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3 - Kiko Porto, DEForce Racing - time of 2:01.7778s for a speed of 118.662mph

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4 - Louka St. John [R], Turn 3 Motorsports - time of 2:01.8374s for a speed of 118.604mph

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5 - Myles Rowe [R], Pabst Racing - time of 2:01.8829s for a speed of 118.560mph

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6 - Joel Granfors [R], Exclusive Autosport
7 - Christian Weir [R], TJ Speed
8 - Jonathan Browne, Turn 3 Motorsport
9 - Jace Denmark [R], Pabst Racing
10 - Salvador de Alba, Exclusive Autosport

11 - Bijoy Garg, DEForce Racing
12 - Lirim Zendeli [R], TJ Speed
13 - Jordan Missig, Pabst Racing
14 - Jackson Lee [R], Turn 3 Motorsport
15 - Francesco Pizzi [R], TJ Speed
16 - Jacob Abel, Jay Howard Driver Development
17 - Yuven Sundaramoorthy, Exclusive Autosport
18 - Jack William Miller, Miller Vinatieri Motorsports
19 - Ricardo Escotto [R], Jay Howard Driver Development
20 - Nicholas Monteiero [R], NeoTech Motorsports

21 - Lindsay Brewer, Exclusive Autosport
22 - Charles Finelli, FatBoy Racing!

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Notable:

• 2022 USF2000 Champ Michael d’Orlando TOPPED both sessions. Michael is currently 11th in the points and has been having a middling season, so perhaps he’s ready to turn it around.

• Reece Ushijima has also been middling at best, so far this season, so this too is an improvement. Let’s see where this goes for the Arizonan.

• 17-year-old Canadian Louka St. John started the season driving in USF2000 for Jay Howard Driver Development, had one race weekend with them - nothing special - and then went out for the month of May with an injury. Here he is, back racing, but now moved up to USF Pro 2000, now driving for Turn 3 Motorsports and now looking very good. Louka was also P4 in the first session. Wow! Let’s watch him, too.

• Indy NXT driver Jacob Abel is in the # 5 JHDD Tatuus this weekend, for some reason. Jacob is currently having a great year in Indy NXT, 5th in the points, so he is NOT returning to UP2K - Trust us on that. We believe he is assessing the JHDD cars for Jay Howard, to see what they can do to improve them. He has never driven for Jay before and he will also be in the Indy NXT race, this weekend. Very curious!

• Francesco Pizzi has fallen on his face, a bit. Let’s see how he does, with more time on the track.

• Charles Finelli is a gentleman driver who can afford to indulge himself and race, whenever he wants to. Usually, such guys end up in IMSA Pro/Am racing, sharing a car with a professional driver, but Charles doesn’t want to share a car, so he occasionally jumps into a UP2K car and goes racing.

left to right, Jacob Abel, Francesco Pizzi and Charles Finelli

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Michael d’Orlando - TOPS in testing, both sessions

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On Friday USF Pro 2000 will hold their official weekend practice mid-morning and then qualify for Race 1 of the weekend at Midday. Next up, the BMRC gang holds testing…

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M

[MarkyS]

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Thursday at Road America - the Blue Marble Radical Cup gang go testing…

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Just like the USF Pro Championships, the BMRC bought extra track time for testing for all three classes of Radicals that will race, this weekend. There were 3 test sessions, in all. We’re really only interested in how 15-year-old USF2000 driver Danny Dyszelski did, as he is the only IndyCar driver in a Radical, this weekend, out of 36 entries. Danny drives in the Pro 1500 class for WISKO Racing and is currently leading the series points.

So, it is no surprise to us that Danny TOPPED all three test sessions today, besting 13 other Pro 1500 class drivers and in fact coming in P6 overall, besting more than half the Platinum class cars, too. Excellent.

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Danny Dyszelski

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Let’s see if he can get lucky and pull down a few more WINS, this weekend. On Friday, BMRC will hold practice first thing in the morning, qualify mid-day and then hold Race 1 of 3 in the afternoon. This was the last on-track activity of the day.
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M

[MarkyS]

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Friday morning at Road America - USF2000 holds practice and qualifies for Race 1…

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This morning, USF2000 held their one and only practice before qualifying. The TOP FIVE during the practice session were, in order of speed:

1 - Lochie Hughes, Jay Howard Driver Development
2 - Evagoras Papasavvas, Jay Howard Driver Development
3 - Simon Sikes, Pabst Racing
4 - Max Garcia [R], Pabst Racing
5 - Mac Clark [R], DEForce Racing

Any one of that TOP FIVE could end up champion. All of them already have either WINS or podiums or both. A little later in the morning USF2000 held qualifying for Race 1.
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Here is that way USF2000 will grid for Season Round 9, with times for the TOP SIX: [R] denotes rookie

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Row 1

Pole - Lochie Hughes [R], Jay Howard Driver Development - time of 2:07.8964s for a speed of 112.985mph

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P2 - Simon Sikes, Pabst Racing - time of 2:08.0268s for a speed of 112.870mph

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Row 2

P3 - Mac Clark [R], DEForce Racing - time of 2:08.2069s for a speed of 112.712mph

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P4 - Jorge Garciarce, DEForce Racing - time of 2:08.4026s for a speed of 112.540mph

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Row 3

P5 - Sam Corry [R], VRD Racing - time of 2:08.5012s for a speed of 112.453mph

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P6 - Jacob Douglas, Pabst Racing - time of 2:08.6719s for a speed of 112.304mph

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Row 4

P7 - Max Garcia [R], Pabst Racing
P8 - Ethan Ho, DC Autosport

Row 5

P9 - Evagoras Papasavvas, Jay Howard Driver Development
P10 - Elliot Cox [R], Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing Development

Row 6

P11 - Danny Dyszelski, VRD Racing
P12 - Nikita Johnson [R], VRD Racing

Row 7

P13 - Chase Gardner [R], Exclusive Autosport
P14 - Max Taylor [R], VRD Racing

Row 8

P15 - Jack Jeffers [R], Exclusive Autosport
P16 - Maxwell Jamieson [R], DEForce Racing

Row 9

P17 - Gordan Scully, VRD Racing
P18 - Dane Scott [R], Jay Howard Driver Development

Row 10

P19 - Avery Towns [R], Exclusive Autosport
P20 - Zack Ping [R], VRD Racing

Row 11

P21 - Al Morey [R], Jay Howard Driver Development - no time

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Notable:

• Lochie set a new track record with this pole. He was the only guy to break into the 1:07s on time.

• The TOP TEN are within a second of each other over the huge distance.

• Prior to this P4, a P7 was the best start for Jorge Garciarce. The young Mexican is improving. A podium finish cannot be too far off.

• Not on track for some reason was Quinn Armstrong for DEForce Racing. Quinn is normally a USF Juniors driver, but he was on track for the two USF2000 tests yesterday and made TOP TEN. It’s possible that was all the experience the team wanted for him, but it seems strange not to let him race, too.

• Al Morey put in no time during qualifying

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Quinn Armstrong (left) and Al Morey

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Lochie Hughes - on pole, with a record

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USF2000 will hold a separate qualifying for Race 2 a little later today. Next up, USF Pro 2000 holds their practice and qualifies for Race 1

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M

[MarkyS]

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Friday morning at Road America - USF Pro 2000 holds practice and qualifies for Race 1…

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Just like their younger brethren, USF Pro 2000 held a single practice this morning. The TOP FIVE from that practice were:

1 - Jonathan Browne, Turn 3 Motorsport
2 - Michael d’Orlando [R], Turn 3 Motorsport
3 - Reece Ushijima [R], Jay Howard Driver Development
4 - Louka St. John [R], Turn 3 Motorsports
5 - Kiko Porto, DEForce Racing

Really, the only usual TOP FIVE guys here are Michael d’Orlando and Kiko Porto, so we have some good season progress showing up on track.

Following the practice the series held qualifying for Race 1 a little later in the morning.

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Here is the way USF Pro 2000 will grid for Season Round 8, with times for the TOP SIX: [R] denotes rookie

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Row 1

Pole - Michael d’Orlando [R], Turn 3 Motorsport - time of 2:01.7851s for a speed of 118.655mph

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P2 - Christian Weir [R], TJ Speed - time of 2:01.7907s for a speed of 118.649mph

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Row 2

P3 - Reece Ushijima [R], Jay Howard Driver Development - time of 2:02.1503s for a speed of
118.649mph

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P4 - Myles Rowe [R], Pabst Racing - time of 2:02.2038s for a speed of 118.248mph

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Row 3

P5 - Louka St. John [R], Turn 3 Motorsports - time of 2:02.2038s for a speed of 118.220mph

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P6 - Bijoy Garg, DEForce Racing - time of 2:02.3165s for a speed of 118.139mph

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Row 4

P7 - Kiko Porto, DEForce Racing
P8 - Francesco Pizzi [R], TJ Speed

Row 5

P9 - Jonathan Browne, Turn 3 Motorsport
P10 - Jace Denmark [R], Pabst Racing

Row 6

P11 - Ricardo Escotto [R], Jay Howard Driver Development
P12 - Lirim Zendeli [R], TJ Speed

Row 7

P13 - Salvador de Alba, Exclusive Autosport
P14 - Jordan Missig, Pabst Racing

Row 8

P15 - Jackson Lee [R], Turn 3 Motorsport
P16 - Yuven Sundaramoorthy, Exclusive Autosport

Row 9

P17 - Lindsay Brewer, Exclusive Autosport
P18 - Joel Granfors [R], Exclusive Autosport

Row 10

P19 - Jack William Miller, Miller Vinatieri Motorsports
P20 - Nicholas Monteiero [R], NeoTech Motorsports

Row 11

P21 - Charles Finelli, FatBoy Racing!
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Notable:

• This is Michael’s 2nd pole of the season. It has really only been bad luck that has the 2022 USF2000 Champion mired in 11th place in the UP2K standings. Maybe he can turn it around, this weekend.

• This is the best qually for Christian Weir all season. Same is true for both Reece Ushijima and for Louka St. John, who is new to UP2K this weekend. Great start to a new series!

• Both Jack William Miller and Joel Granfors should be much better than this.

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Jack William Miller (left) and Joel Granfors - What’s up?

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Michael d’Orlando - 2nd pole of the season

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USF Pro 2000 will qualify for Race 2 on Saturday morning and then do Race 1 a little later in the day. Next up, Blue Marble Radical Cup qualifies…
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M

[MarkyS]

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Friday at Road America - Blue Marble Radical Cup holds qualifying…

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The one session will be used for all the BMRC racing, this weekend, with the 2nd fastest lap of each driver or the driver’s best Race 1 or Race 2 lap gridding Race 2 or Race 3 - whichever is faster.

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For Race 1:

On the pole will be Steve Jenks for the Platinum Class, with a time of 02:07.382 seconds

On the pole for the Pro 1500 class will be Nick Persing with a time of 02:12.557 seconds.

On the pole for the Pro 1340 class will be Robert Cipriani with a time of 02:15.900 seconds.

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Our guy, USF2000 driver Danny Dyszelski, had something go horribly wrong, as he qualified 10th in the Pro 1500 class with a time of 02:16.413 seconds. That’s a full 6 seconds SLOWER than he showed in practice, this morning, where he TOPPED the class TWICE.

Danny - what happened??

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Danny will have to start in the South end of the class for Race 1 and hope his Race 1 and Race 2 laps are much better, so he can grid better in Race 2 and Race 3. Nick Persing is 2nd in the points right now, and is Danny’s main rival for the title hunt.

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Race 1 for BMRC will happen later this afternoon. Next up, USF2000 qualifies for Race 2 of the weekend…

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M

[MarkyS]

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Friday afternoon at Road America - USF2000 holds their qually for Race 2…

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…to be run on Saturday afternoon.

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Here is the way USF2000 will grid for Season Round 10, with times for the TOP SIX: [R] denotes rookie

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Row 1

Pole - Mac Clark [R], DEForce Racing - time of 2:08.3365s for a speed of 112.598mph

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P2 - Simon Sikes, Pabst Racing - time of 2:08.4465s for a speed of 112.501mph

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Row 2

P3 - Lochie Hughes [R], Jay Howard Driver Development - time of 2:08.4879s for a speed of 112.465mph

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P4 - Max Garcia [R], Pabst Racing - time of 2:08.6040s for a speed of 112.364mph

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Row 3

P5 - Sam Corry [R], VRD Racing - time of 2:08.7173s for a speed of 112.265mph

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P6 - Jorge Garciarce, DEForce Racing - time of 2:08.8029s for a speed of 112.190mph

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Row 4

P7 - Jacob Douglas, Pabst Racing
P8 - Nikita Johnson [R], VRD Racing

Row 5

P9 - Danny Dyszelski, VRD Racing
P10 - Evagoras Papasavvas, Jay Howard Driver Development

Row 6

P11 - Ethan Ho, DC Autosport
P12 - Max Taylor [R], VRD Racing

Row 7

P13 - Al Morey [R], Jay Howard Driver Development
P14 - Chase Gardner [R], Exclusive Autosport

Row 8

P15 - Dane Scott [R], Jay Howard Driver Development
P16 - Elliot Cox [R], Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing Development

Row 9

P17 - Zack Ping [R], VRD Racing
P18 - Gordan Scully, VRD Racing

Row 10

P19 - Maxwell Jamieson [R], DEForce Racing
P20 - Avery Towns [R], Exclusive Autosport

Row 11

P21 - Jack Jeffers [R], Exclusive Autosport

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Notable:

• This is the first time Lochie Hughes has NOT been in the top spot all weekend. This is Mac Clark’s 2nd pole this season. The 2022 USF Juniors Champ is coming off a pole to the WIN at Lucas Oil Raceway for the Freedom 75, a few weeks ago.

• Jack Jeffers put in one slow lap and then pitted. We suspect a mechanical that he will need to get repaired overnight, before Race 1 in the midday on Saturday.

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Mac Clark - 2nd pole for 2023

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As mentioned, this race will be run on Saturday afternoon. Next up, Indy NXT comes on track for the first time to do their first practice…

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M

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[MarkyS]

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Friday afternoon at Road America - Indy NXT comes out for the first practice…

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The series will get two practice sessions, this weekend, with the 2nd one on Saturday morning in anticipation of qualifying, midday.

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Here was the order of speed for the Indy NXT P-1 practice, with times for the TOP FIVE: [R] denotes rookie

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1 - Kyffin Simpson, HMD Motorsports - time of 01:49.6479s for a speed of 131.789mph

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2 - Colin Kaminsky [R], Abel Motorsports - time of 01:51.0475s for a speed of 130.128mph

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3 - Danial Frost, HMD Motorsports - time of 01:51.1016s for a speed of 130.065mph

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4 - Jacob Abel, Abel Motorsports - time of 01:51.1072s for a speed of 130.058mph

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5 - Ernie Francis, Jr., HMD Motorsports / Force Indy - time of 01:51.3412s for a speed of 129.785mph

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6 - Josh Green [R], HMD Motorsports
7 - Hunter McElrea, Andretti Autosport
8 - Matteo Nannini [R], Juncos Hollinger Racing
9 - Reece Gold [R], HMD Motorsports
10 - Christian Rasmussen, HMD Motorsports

11 - James Roe, Andretti Autosport
12 - Christian Bogle, HMD Motorsports
13 - Rasmus Lindh, Juncos Hollinger Racing
14 - Jagger Jones [R], Cape Motorsports
15 - Enaam Ahmed, [R], Cape Motorsports
16 - Louis Foster [R], Andretti Autosport
17 - Josh Pierson [R], HMD Motorsports
18 - Nolan Siegel [R], HMD Motorsports
19 - Jamie Chadwick [R], Andretti Autosport

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Notable:

• Colin Kaminsky led much of the session but with about 6 minutes to go Kyffin came out on fresh Firestones and laid down two monster laps. Before anyone else could get out and challenge him Ernie Francis broke down on track near Pit-In and red-flagged the session. Simpson’s final lap is the fastest anyone has gone on the new repave, all weekend.

• Points leaders Christian Rasmussen and Nolan Siegel both had off-track excursions that cost them time, but they learned the limits.

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Kyffin Simpson - TOPS in P-1

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Indy NXT will be back on track for their P-2 session on Saturday morning. Next up, the big cars come out for their first practice…
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M

[MarkyS]

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Friday at Road America - The IndyCars come out for their P-1 practice session…

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A number of the cars came to Road America for a test about a week ago, but they were on Firestones that were not the same tire compound they will use for this race weekend, so while some things were learned this will be the first time everyone is on track and on the appropriate race-weekend tires.

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Here was the order of speed for the IndyCars P-1 practice, with times for the TOP FIVE: [R] denotes rookie

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1 - Alexander Rossi, Arrow McLaren - time of 01:41.7790s for a speed of 141.978mph

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2 - David Malukas, Dale Coyne Racing w/ HMD Motorsports - time of 01:41.8652s for a speed of 141.858mph

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3 - Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing - time of 01:41.9486s for a speed of 141.742mph

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4 - Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing - time of 01:41.9544s for a speed of 141.734mph

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5 - Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren - time of 01:41.9778s for a speed of 141.701mph

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6 - Marcus Ericsson, Chip Ganassi Racing
7 - Christian Lundgaard, Rahal Letterman Lanigan
8 - Felix Rosenqvist, Arrow McLaren
9 - Colton Herta, Andretti Autosport
10 - Marcus Armstrong [R], Chip Ganassi Racing

11 - Graham Rahal, Rahal Letterman Lanigan
12 - Devlin DeFrancesco, Andretti Steinbrenner
13 - Santino Ferrucci, AJ Foyt Enterprises
14 - Sting Ray Robb [R], Dale Coyne Racing w/ Rick Ware Racing
15 - Scott McLaughlin, Team Penske
16 - Josef Newgarden, Team Penske
17 - Will Power, Team Penske
18 - Romain Grosjean, Andretti Autosport
19 - Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Autosport
20 - Helio Castroneves, Meyer Shank Racing

21 - Agustin Canapino [R], Juncos Hollinger Racing
22 - Ryan Hunter-Reay, Ed Carpenter Racing
23 - Jack Harvey, Rahal Letterman Lanigan
24 - Benjamin Pedersen [R], AJ Foyt Enterprises
25 - Callum Ilott, Juncos Hollinger Racing
26 - Rinus VeeKay, Ed Carpenter Racing
27 - Simon Pagenaud, Meyer Shank Racing

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Notable:

• Arrow McLaren gets the TOP SPOT and all three cars in the TOP EIGHT, but Chip Ganassi gets all four cars in the TOP TEN and three cars in the TOP SIX. CGR also has the TOP rookie with Marcus Armstrong in P10 - which team is better?

• Rossi was a huge WINNER here in 2019, destroying the competition. Felix Rosenqvist WON his first race here in 2020, beating Pato O’Ward in the 2nd half of a double-header weekend. Scott Dixon has WON here twice, in 2017 and 2020. Josef Newgarden also has two WINS here, in 2018 and 2022. Will Power took the prize in 2016 and Alex Palou was WINNER in 2021.

• Team Penske has yet to display any of that winning form, slotting in P15, P16 and P17 today, but they had an excellent test here a week ago, so don’t worry, yet.

• David Malukas started off the season very strong but has faded recently with mistakes. The team made an effort to get their road course package better and it is clearly paying off.

• Christian Lundgaard is looking good in P7 and teammate Graham Rahal ain’t so bad in P11. Now, if they can get Jack Harvey out of the cellar…

• Andretti Autosport is looking lackluster with Colton Herta the only car in the TOP TEN at P9.

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Alexander Rossi leads the way in P-1

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The IndyCars will be back on track on Saturday, mid-morning, in anticipation of an early afternoon qualifying session. Next up, the Blue Marble Radical Cup guys hold Race 1…

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M

[MarkyS]

+++

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Friday afternoon at Road America - The Blue Marble Radical Cup holds Race 1…

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HOLY MOLY…He DID IT! 15-year-old USF2000 driver Danny Dyszelski went from a P10 start in class and P25 overall start to the WIN in the Pro 1500 class with a P5 finish overall, beating all but 4 Platinum class cars in the 36-car field!

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Danny Dyszelski

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Dyszelski took his # 88 SR3 Pro 1500 class Radical for WISKO Racing past all 9 Pro 1500 class cars ahead of him on the grid and also past six Platinums and 4 Pro 1340s to take P5 at the end of the 16-lap event - a remarkable drive.

The WINNER in Platinum class and overall was Jon Field while P2 went to pole-sitter Steve Jenks and P3 went to Alain Derzie.

P2 in Pro 1500 class was Aurora Strauss while P3 went to Danny’s nearest points rival, Nick Persing, the class pole-sitter.

The WINNER in Pro 1340 class and 20th overall was Robert Cipriani. P2 went to Gavin Sanders and P3 went to Arul Venkatesh.

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Dyszelski’s Pro 1500 Radical for WISCO Racing - WINNA!

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The WIN is Danny’s 5th of the year and puts him a little further out front in the points chase. Dyszelski’s best Race 1 lap was a 2:11.523-second lap - considerably better than his 2:16 qually lap. That Race 1 lap should have him in a much better starting place on the grid for Race 2 on Saturday - possibly even pole position.

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This was the last on-track activity of the day.
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M

[MarkyS]

+++

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Saturday morning at Road America - USF Pro 2000 holds their 2nd qually session…

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…used to grid Race 2, which will be on Sunday.

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Here is the way USF Pro 2000 will grid for Season Round 9, with times for the TOP SIX: [R] denotes rookie

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Row 1

Pole - Christian Weir [R], TJ Speed - time of 2:01.7070s for a speed of 118.731mph

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P2 - Michael d’Orlando [R], Turn 3 Motorsport - time of 2:01.9440s for a speed of 118.500mph

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Row 2

P3 - Lirim Zendeli [R], TJ Speed - time of 2:02.1081s for a speed of 118.341mph

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P4 - Louka St. John [R], Turn 3 Motorsports - time of 2:02.4060s for a speed of 118.053mph

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Row 3

P5 - Jonathan Browne, Turn 3 Motorsport - time of 2:02.5459s for a speed of 117.918mph

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P6 - Francesco Pizzi [R], TJ Speed - time of 2:02.6346s for a speed of 117.833mph

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Row 4

P7 - Myles Rowe [R], Pabst Racing
P8 - Ricardo Escotto [R], Jay Howard Driver Development

Row 5

P9 - Salvador de Alba, Exclusive Autosport
P10 - Jackson Lee [R], Turn 3 Motorsport

Row 6

P11 - Reece Ushijima [R], Jay Howard Driver Development
P12 - Bijoy Garg, DEForce Racing

Row 7

P13 - Kiko Porto, DEForce Racing
P14 - Jace Denmark [R], Pabst Racing

Row 8

P15 - Nicholas Monteiero [R], NeoTech Motorsports
P16 - Joel Granfors [R], Exclusive Autosport

Row 9

P17 - Jordan Missig, Pabst Racing
P18 - Yuven Sundaramoorthy, Exclusive Autosport

Row 10

P19 - Jack William Miller, Miller Vinatieri Motorsports
P20 - Lindsay Brewer, Exclusive Autosport

Row 11

P21 - Charles Finelli, FatBoy Racing!
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Notable:

• This is 16-year-old Christian Weir’s 2nd career Road to Indy pole and the first for his rookie UP2K season, but his P2 from yesterday tells us it’s no fluke. He’s just fast on a fast track, and not everyone is.

• This is a kind of weird grid. Most of the TOP SIX are fairly new to the TOP SIX and most of the typical fast guys are in the mid pack.

• Teams TJ Speed Motorsports and Turn 3 Motorsports dominate the top of the grid, with 3 spots each of the TOP SIX.

• Louka St. John continues to impress. This is yet another P4 for the UP2K newby, this weekend.

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Christian Weir - 1st UP2K pole

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This race is scheduled for Sunday morning. The next time USF Pro 2000 will be on track is for Race 1, later this afternoon. Next up, Indy NXT holds their 2nd practice.
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M

[MarkyS]

+++

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Saturday morning at Road America - Indy NXT holds their final practice…

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…before qualifying, later today.

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Here was the order of speed for the Indy NXT P-2 practice, with times for the TOP FIVE: [R] denotes rookie

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1 - Hunter McElrea, Andretti Autosport - time of 1:48.8556s for a speed of 132.748mph

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2 - Louis Foster [R], Andretti Autosport - time of 1:49.0220s for a speed of 132.546mph

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3 - Danial Frost, HMD Motorsports - time of 1:49.0523s for a speed of 132.509mph

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4 - Matteo Nannini [R], Juncos Hollinger Racing - time of 1:49.1184s for a speed of 132.429mph

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5 - Nolan Siegel [R], HMD Motorsports - time of 1:49.1310s for a speed of 132.413mph

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6 - Jacob Abel, Abel Motorsports
7 - Christian Rasmussen, HMD Motorsports
8 - Josh Green [R], HMD Motorsports
9 - Colin Kaminsky [R], Abel Motorsports
10 - Ernie Francis, Jr., HMD Motorsports / Force Indy

11 - Reece Gold [R], HMD Motorsports
12 - Josh Pierson [R], HMD Motorsports
13 - Kyffin Simpson, HMD Motorsports
14 - Jamie Chadwick [R], Andretti Autosport
15 - Christian Bogle, HMD Motorsports
16 - James Roe, Andretti Autosport
17 - Enaam Ahmed, [R], Cape Motorsports
18 - Jagger Jones [R], Cape Motorsports
19 - Rasmus Lindh, Juncos Hollinger Racing
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Notable:

• Hunter was the only car under 1:49 on time but he might have company in qualifying.

• Louie Foster has been quick all year but he’s had some rotten luck and feels the racing gods owe him. Maybe this will be the weekend they pay off.

• Most of the cars unofficially broke the track record, so in qualifying we will see a new record, as expected after the repave.

• Very early in the session Christian Rasmussen and Rasmus Lindh came together in Turn 5. Rasmussen was able to restart but Lindh needed a tow to the pits, perhaps for a fuel pressure problem that may have been the cause of his slowing on course to begin with. He never came back out.

• A number of cars went off course, exploring the limits. Matteo Nannini had the worst, as he buried the nose of his car in the tires in Turn 14, right after putting in a very fast lap. Certainly, a lost front wing.

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Hunter McElrea - TOPS in the P-2 practice

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Indy NXT will qualify for Sunday’s race just after Noon today. Next, the IndyCars hold their own P-2 practice…

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M

[MarkyS]

+++

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Saturday at Road America - The IndyCars hold their P-2 practice…

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…and it was a wild one, with no less than 6 red flags due to offs and wrecks, as the cars and drivers were searching for the new limits and finding them. This was the last chance to get information before qualifying.

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Here was the order of speed for the IndyCars P-2 practice, with times for the TOP FIVE: [R] denotes rookie

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1 - Alexander Rossi, Arrow McLaren - time of 01:40.9112s for a speed of 143.199mph

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2 - Colton Herta, Andretti Autosport - time of 01:41.0584s for a speed of 142.991mph

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3 - Felix Rosenqvist, Arrow McLaren - time of 01:41.2572s for a speed of 142.710mph

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4 - David Malukas, Dale Coyne Racing w/ HMD Motorsports - time of 01:41.3010s for a speed of 142.648mph

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5 - Marcus Armstrong [R], Chip Ganassi Racing - time of 01:41.3488s for a speed of 142.581mph

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6 - Santino Ferrucci, AJ Foyt Enterprises
7 - Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren
8 - Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Autosport
9 - Scott McLaughlin, Team Penske
10 - Rinus VeeKay, Ed Carpenter Racing

11 - Christian Lundgaard, Rahal Letterman Lanigan
12 - Josef Newgarden, Team Penske
13 - Jack Harvey, Rahal Letterman Lanigan
14 - Benjamin Pedersen [R], AJ Foyt Enterprises
15 - Graham Rahal, Rahal Letterman Lanigan
16 - Devlin DeFrancesco, Andretti Steinbrenner
17 - Helio Castroneves, Meyer Shank Racing
18 - Callum Ilott, Juncos Hollinger Racing
19 - Ryan Hunter-Reay, Ed Carpenter Racing
20 - Sting Ray Robb [R], Dale Coyne Racing w/ Rick Ware Racing

21 - Simon Pagenaud, Meyer Shank Racing
22 - Romain Grosjean, Andretti Autosport
23 - Marcus Ericsson, Chip Ganassi Racing
24 - Agustin Canapino [R], Juncos Hollinger Racing
25 - Will Power, Team Penske
26 - Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing
27 - Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing

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Notable:

• Many cars spinning off with the first being Colton Herta, off and back on in Turns 6 and 7. Colton would go off again later in Canada Corner. Next, Alex Palou went off at Turn 14 and had a huge slap sideways into the tires, ending his session, though he was okay. Marcus Ericsson went off and on in Turn 14. Somin Pagenaud went off in Turn 14 to end the session.

• The big one happened when Scott Dixon failed to see Will Power as they both negotiated Canada Corner and Scott drove into Power, piling them both into the hard concrete wall. Power was so incensed he grabbed Dixon and almost looked ready to clock him. Dixon says he never saw Will and owned the whole thing. Whether the cars can be ready for qualifying is the question.

• Another example here of Alexander Rossi’s comfort and prowess with this track. Another good session for David Malukas and a great effort by Santino Ferrucci, though like Herta, he also went off a few times.

• A very good session for Arrow McLaren with all three cars in the TOP SEVEN. Because of the other problems for Chip Ganassi drivers Marcus Armstrong well carried the team flag as the best rookie and the best for CGR.

• Rahal Letterman Lanigan did comparatively well with 11th, 13th and 15th.

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Alexander Rossi - another TOPS for the Californian.

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The incident between Power and Dixon:

NTT INDYCAR SERIES

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The IndyCars will come out to qualify later today. Next up, USF2000 holds Race 1 of the weekend. The grid for this is in post # 6…
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M

[MarkyS]

+++

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Saturday at Road America - USF2000 holds Race 1 of the weekend…

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…and taking his 3rd WIN of the season for Wisconsin-based team Pabst Racing was Simon Sikes, from a P2 start. P2 went to the newest driver for Pabst, Jacob Douglas from his P6 start while P3 went to Nikita Johnson for VRD Racing from his P12 start.

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On the opening lap pole-sitter Lochie Hughes for Jay Howard Driver Development stayed in the lead until Turn 5 when he was attacked by both Simon Sikes and P3 Mac Clark for DEForce Racing. By Turn 6 Lochie was in P3 and Simon was leading. Danny Dyszelski for VRD Racing dropped fromP11 to P13, Max Garcia for Pabst dropped from P7 to P10 and Eliott Cox for Sarah Fisher Hartman went from P10 to P7. On lap 2 Sam Corry for VRD Racing passed Jorge Garciarce for DEForce Racing for the P4 spot. Ethan Ho for DC Autosport took P7 from Eliott Cox and Chase Gardner for Exclusive Autosport took P14 from teammate Jack Jeffers. Zack Ping for VRD and Avery Towns for Exclusive collided in Turn 1 and brought out a full-course caution. On the lap 5 restart Max Taylor for VRD passed Eliott Cox for P7 and Nikita Johnson followed though to P8. As the front pack entered Turn 5 Max Garcia and Lochie Hughes collided. By the time they were in Turn 6 Lochie had rear wing damage and Max had no front wing. Both began to drop positions. Another caution flew to retrieve Garcia’s’ front wing. Simon set Fastest Lap out front.

On the lap 7 restart Lochie pitted for a new rear wing. In Turn 5 Jorge Garciarce in P4 banged with P2 Mac Clark as Sam Corry in P3 went off to avoid them. By Turn 6 Jorge was in P10, Mac was in P16 and Sam was in P18. Another caution flew to collect parts. On the lap 9 restart action in Kettle Bottoms saw Chase Gardner pass Eliott Cox for P3 and Nikita Johnson took P5 from Evagoras Papasavvas for JHDD. Lochie Hughes recovered to P11 as Simon reset Fastest Lap out front. On lap 10 Nikita took P4 from Eliott Cox and Ethan Ho for DC Autosport took P8 from Max Garcia. Lochie took P10 from Jorge Garciarce and Maxwell Jaimeson for DEForce followed through to P11. Simon again set a Fastest Lap.

On lap 11 Nikita took P3 from Chase and Max Taylor took P6 from Evagoras. Lochie took P9 from Jorge Garciarce. On lap 12, the final lap, Jorge reclaimed P9 from Lochie and Mac Clark set the last Fastest Lap as Simon Sikes took the WIN by 4.38 seconds over Jacob Douglas who was 1.7 seconds ahead of Nikita Johnson.

Lots of carnage for the first open wheel race of the weekend

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Notable:

• This is Simon’s third WIN of the season and 4th podium in a row. It puts him back in the points lead over Lochie Hughes for the moment.

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Your happy podium - That’s Jacob Douglas in P2 on the left, Simon Sikes in P1 in the middle and Nikita Johnson in P3 on the right:

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The 2nd race of the weekend for USF2000 will be later today. Next up, Indy NXT qualifies…

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M

[MarkyS]

+++

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Saturday afternoon at Road America - Indy NXT qualifies…

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…for their Sunday race, and Kyffin Simpson takes the pole for HMD Motorsports.

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Here is the way Indy NXT will grid for Season Round 6, with times for the TOP SIX: [R] denotes rookie

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Row 1

Pole - Kyffin Simpson, HMD Motorsports - time of 01:49.1028s for a speed of 132.448mph

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P2 - Colin Kaminsky [R], Abel Motorsports - time of 01:49.4151s for a speed of 132.070mph

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Row 2

P3 - Reece Gold [R], HMD Motorsports - time of 01:49.4828s for a speed of 131.988mph

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P4 - Nolan Siegel [R], HMD Motorsports - time of 01:49.5238s for a speed of 131.938 mph

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Row 3

P5 - Louis Foster [R], Andretti Autosport - time of 01:49.5239s for a speed of 131.938mph

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P6 - Jacob Abel, Abel Motorsports - time of 01:49.5634s for a speed of 131.891mph

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Row 4

P7 - Christian Rasmussen, HMD Motorsports
P8 - Danial Frost, HMD Motorsports

Row 5

P9 - Jamie Chadwick [R], Andretti Autosport
P10 - James Roe, Andretti Autosport

Row 6

P11 - Josh Pierson [R], HMD Motorsports
P12 - Matteo Nannini [R], Juncos Hollinger Racing

Row 7

P13 - Hunter McElrea, Andretti Autosport
P14 - Josh Green [R], HMD Motorsports

Row 8

P15 - Ernie Francis, Jr., HMD Motorsports / Force Indy
P16 - Christian Bogle, HMD Motorsports

Row 9

P17 - Enaam Ahmed, [R], Cape Motorsports
P18 - Jagger Jones [R], Cape Motorsports

Row 10

P19 - Rasmus Lindh, Juncos Hollinger Racing

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Notable:

• This is Kyffin’s first Indy NXT pole. His previous best was a P4 start.

• This is Colin Kaminsky’s best Indy NXT start, too. His previous best was a P7.

• This matches Reece Gold’s previous best start.

• This is the first time Abel Motorsports has both cars in the first three rows.

• Matteo Nannini was in a P2 start when he went off course in Turn 1, brought out a red flag and thus lost his best lap. He will start P12 instead.

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Kyffin Simpson with his P1 badge for the car.

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Here are some qualifying highlights:

QUALIFYING HIGHLIGHTS // INDY NXT BY FIRESTONE GRAND PRIX AT ROAD AMERICA

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The Indy NXT race is scheduled for Sunday, after the IndyCar Warm-Up and before the IndyCar race. Next, the IndyCars qualify…

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M

[MarkyS]

+++

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Saturday afternoon at Road America - the IndyCars are qualified…

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…and on the pole will be Colton Herta for Andretti Autosport.

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Here is the way the IndyCars will grid for Season Round 8, with times for the TOP SIX: [R] denotes rookie

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Row 1

Pole - Colton Herta, Andretti Autosport - time of 01:40.1945s for a speed of 144.223mph

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P2 - Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren - time of 01:40.3643s for a speed of 143.979mph

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Row 2

P3 - Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing - time of 01:40.4930s for a speed of 143.795mph

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P4 - Josef Newgarden, Team Penske - time of 01:40.9530s for a speed of 143.140mph

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Row 3

P5 - Alexander Rossi, Arrow McLaren - time of 01:41.1854s for a speed of 142.811

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P6 - Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Autosport - No Time / No Speed

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Row 4

P7 - Christian Lundgaard, Rahal Letterman Lanigan
P8 - Marcus Armstrong [R], Chip Ganassi Racing

Row 5

P9 - Marcus Ericsson, Chip Ganassi Racing
P10 - Benjamin Pedersen [R], AJ Foyt Enterprises

Row 6

P11 - Santino Ferrucci, AJ Foyt Enterprises
P12 - Devlin DeFrancesco, Andretti Steinbrenner

Row 7

P13 - David Malukas, Dale Coyne Racing w/ HMD Motorsports
P14 - Graham Rahal, Rahal Letterman Lanigan

Row 8

P15 - Rinus VeeKay, Ed Carpenter Racing
P16 - Felix Rosenqvist, Arrow McLaren

Row 9

P17 - Callum Ilott, Juncos Hollinger Racing
P18 - Scott McLaughlin, Team Penske

Row 10

P19 - Romain Grosjean, Andretti Autosport
P20 - Simon Pagenaud, Meyer Shank Racing

Row 11

P21 - Agustin Canapino [R], Juncos Hollinger Racing
P22 - Will Power, Team Penske

Row 12

P23 - Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing
P24 - Jack Harvey, Rahal Letterman Lanigan

Row 13

P25 - Sting Ray Robb [R], Dale Coyne Racing w/ Rick Ware Racing
P26 - Helio Castroneves, Meyer Shank Racing

Row 14

P27 - Ryan Hunter-Reay, Ed Carpenter Racing
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Notable:

• This is Colton’s first pole of the season and the first for the driver since Toronto in 2022. it is his 10th IndyCar pole. He did it despite spinning off three times today - once, during qualifying.

• Christian Lundgaard just missed making the Fast Six for RLL and Graham Rahal just missed making the Fast Twelve. Things are a little better for RLL.

• Santino Ferrucci and Benjamin Pedersen both made the Fast Twelve for AJ Foyt Enterprises - the first time for that team in a very long time. This P10 is Benjamin’s best qually yet.

• After their shunt in Canada Corner during the P-2 practice, Will Power’s car was rebuilt but Scott Dixon had to go to a back-up car and neither one of them were contenders. Power was especially incensed and went off on Road America for having rough ground off the track. He then flailed into Romain Grosjean for their close call during the P-2 practice. Calm Will Power of 2022 has disappeared.

• At the end of the Fast Twelve Kyle Kirkwood’s Honda engine expired on him - luckily after the checkered flag for the Fast Twelve had flown, so he made it into the Fast Six but could not actually participate in it. He will get a new mill for the race and start P6.

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Here are some of the qualifying highlights:

QUALIFYING HIGHLIGHTS // 2023 SONSIO GRAND PRIX AT ROAD AMERICA

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The IndyCars will have a P-3 practice - the Warm-Up - in the morning and then race in the afternoon. Next, USF Pro 2000 holds Race 1 of the weekend. The grid for this is in post # 7…
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M

[MarkyS]

+++

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Saturday afternoon at Road America - USF Pro 2000 holds Race 1 of the weekend…

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…and taking the WIN was Michael d’Orlando for Turn 3 Motorsports from pole. P2 went to Myles Rowe for Pabst Racing from his P4 start while P3 went to Jordan Missig for Pabst from a P14 start.

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Lap 1 was waived off, so the race started on lap 2. Myles quickly passed P3 Reece Ushijima for Jay Howard Driver Development and then Christian Weir for TJ Speed to take over P2. Reece followed Myles to reclaim P3. Yuven Sundaramoorthy for Exclusive Autosport and Jackson Lee for Turn 3 Motorsports collided in Turn 3 with Yuven going off and on while Jackson lost his front wing. A full course caution was called to retrieve it and Lee pitted for a new wing. On the lap 4 restart Myles took leader d’Orlando in Turn 5 with Reece Ushijima following into P2. Christian Weir got shoved outside and dropped from P4 all the way to P16. As the train entered the Kink at Turn 11 Bijoy Garg for DEForce Racing and Lirim Zendelli for TJ Speed collided. Lirim soldiered to the pits to retire but Bijoy was out. on the spot. Another Caution was called to retrieve him.

On the Lap 7 restart Reece passed Myles in Turn 1 to take the lead as Jordan Missig passed Michael d’Orlando for P3. In Turn 5 d’Orlando was able to reclaim P3. Francesco Pizzi for TJ Speed took P10 from Joel Granfors for Exclusive. On lap 9 Myl;es mounted a pass on Reece to reclaim the lead in Turn 5. d’Orlando and Missig followed through as Reece dropped to P4. Myles then set Fastest Lap trying to gap the field. Kiko Port for DEForce dropped from P5 to P9. On lap 10 as the scrum came to Turn 1 Joel Granfors went inside Salvador de Alba for Exclusive and shoved him over into Jack William Miller. Sal went off with a missing wing, while Miller continued. Another caution was called to get Sal and his Wing.

On the lap 12 restart Joel was summoned to the pits for a drive-thru penalty. As the leaders approached Turn 5 d’Orlando went after Myles for the lead. They fought through to Turn 6 where Michael took the lead with Jordan Missig following through to P2. On lap 12 Myles reclaimed P2 from Jordan as Michael set fastest Lap in an escape attempt. On lap 14 Myles set his own Fastest Lap trying to chase him down. Rowe was able to close the gap to a car length but d’Orlando made no mistakes and opened no doors as the pair crossed the finish line with only 0.82 seconds between them. Jordan came home 2.9 seconds behind Myles.

A hard fought race with a little too much carnage.
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Notable:

• This is Michael d’Orlando’s fIrst WIN of the season, though he has been close a few times, only to have rotten luck thwart him. The speed is there, if he can execute.

• With his P2 Myles extends a substantial lead in the points over 2nd place Joel Granfors who finished in P15 today.

• This is Jordan Missig’s 1st podium but he looked fast and racy today, coming through a lot of positions and maybe he is on a roll.
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  Your happy podium - That’s Myles Rowe on the left in P2, Michael d’Orlando in the middle in P1 and Jordan Missig in P3 on the right:

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USF Pro 2000 will hold Race 2 on Sunday, first thing in the morning. The grid for that race is in post # 12…

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Next up, USF 2000 closes out their weekend with Race 2. the grid for that is in Post # 9…

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M

[MarkyS]

+++

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Saturday afternoon at Road America - USF2000 closes out their weekend with Race 2…

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…and giving tit for tat, Lochie Hughes for Jay Howard Driver Development WINS from his P3 start. P2 went to Mac Clark for DEForce Racing from pole and P3 went to Max Garcia for Pabst Racing from a P4 start.

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As Mac Clark led the field into Turn 1 Lochie pounced on points-rival Simon Sikes for Pabst Racing and took P2 away from him. Sam Corry for VRD Raving lost his front wing in Turn 1. He soldiered on and finally lost control as he entered the Kink at Turn 11, slapping the wall and bringing out a full course caution to retrieve him. In the lap Evagoras Papsavvas for Jay Howard went from P10 to P7 and Jack Jeffers for Exclusive Autosport from P21 to P15. Mac had also set Fastest Lap in the lead. On the lap 4 restart Lochie took the lead from Mac in Turn 5 while Max pushed Simon off in Turn 5 to take P3 while Simon dropped to P8. At the start of lap 5 Eliott Cox for Sarah Fisher Hartman and Evagoras Papasavvas collided, with Eliott losing a front wing and Evagoras going out. Another caution was called to retrieve him. Eliott pitted for a new wing.

On the lap 7 restart Jorge Garciarce for DEForce racing passed Max Garcia in Turn 5 while Jacob Douglas for Pabst Racing passed Nikita Johnson for VRD Racing to claim P5. Simon Sikes took P7 away from Danny Dyszelski for VRD. Mac Clark reset Fastest Lap but Eliott Cox was the one on the move, going from P18 to P9. On lap 8 Simon took P6 from Nikita Johnson as Eliott Cox set the newest Fastest Lap. On lap 9 it fell apart for Simon Sikes as first Nikita Johnson reclaimed P6 and then Ethan Ho for DC Autosport and Eliott Cox both followed through to leave Sikes in P9. Danny Dyszelski set a new Fastest Lap.

On lap 10 Sikes and Cox battled in Turn 5 with Sikes reclaiming P8 and Cox dropping all the way to P16. On lap 11 Max Garcia moved into P3 past Jorge Garciarce while Nikita Johnson took P5 from Jacob Douglas. Chase Gardner for Exclusive passed Simon Sikes for P8. On lap 12, the final lap, Ethan Ho passed Sikes for P9, leaving Simon with a P10 finish. Lochie crossed the finish line only a car-length ahead of Mac Clark who was even less than thhat ahead of Max Garcia.

A great battle with a lot of passing and close racing up front.

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Notable:

• Lochie came into the weekend with a 3-point lead on Simon. Each one of them got a WIN and a P10 over the weekend, leaving them virtually the same in the points chase - only 3 points apart. They are also escaping the rest of the field to make it a two-man contest. The battle moves on to Mid-Ohio.

• Max Garcia missed the first two races at St. Pete, not being old enough to drive, but he is so obviously talented that one wonders where he might be in the hunt, had he done the whole season. He is currently 11th.
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Your happy podium - That’s Mac Clark in P2 on the left, Lochie Hughes in P1 in the middle and Max Garcia in P3 on the right:

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With these results, here are the TOP FIVE in points leaving Elkhart Lake:

1 - Lochie Hughes, 249
2 - Simon Sikes, 246
3 - Nikita Johnson, 209
4 - Mac Clark, 172
5 - Evagoras Papasavvas, 152

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The next outings for USF2000 will be at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for Season Rounds 11, 12 and 13. They will be joined with USF Pro 2000 once again, in support of the IndyCar race, June 28-July 2.

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Next up, the Blue Marble Radical Cup holds Race 2 of their weekend…

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