IndyCars - The off-season: Series news and comment until the March 2014 kick-off

[MarkyS]

+++

.
There will be a new team at Indy this May and Pippa Mann will be their driver…

.
It appears that Clauson-Marshall Racing, the team that fielded superstar Bryan Clauson in USAC racing before his death, will put Pippa in an IndyCar for the 2019 Indy 500 - Their first effort at the Indy 500, but the 7th entry for the British driver at the great race.

.

.
The team is apparently getting their chassis / engine from AJ Foyt Enterprises and along with it goes technical assistance. That bodes well for Mann, as the AJ Foyt team has always been able to run very competitively at Indy. The Indy 500 is actually the main reason that Foyt remains in IndyCars and he devotes the majority of his attention to it.

That is going to be even more important this year, as it is expected that there will be as many as 38 entries in the 500, and only 33 qualifiers will make the start. Mann, driving for Dale Coyne Racing, and James Hinchcliffe, driving for Arrow Schmidt Peterson, were both bumped out of the race last year during qualifying.

.
.
.
Pippa Mann

.
.
.
This tie-in with AJ Foyt Enterprises is probably the best hedge against that happening to Mann, again. Confirmations expected soon.

.
.
.
M

[MarkyS]

+++

.
It’s time for the final installment of Pato O’Ward’s video series, “Behind the Visor”…

.
…wherein the 2018 Indy Lights Champion has been detailing each race of his title-winning season, with both the highs and the lows. We last left off in post # 461, the report on the race at Gateway Motorsports Park. Pato wisely took a P3, rather than push for a better result on the oval, for which he had trepidation. That left him in the series points lead, with only Portland left in the season.

.
Take a look:

.

- YouTube

.
.
.
Given that Pato’s 2019 ride with Harding Steinbrenner recently fell apart, through no fault of his, it’s a bit heartbreaking to see how enthused he was at the end of the 2018 Lights season to be a paid driver in IndyCars in 2019. We can only hope that Pato finds a way to get on the grid sometime, somewhere in 2019. IndyCar needs this marvelous talent running in races.
.
.
.
Thanks to Pato and his media handlers for this terrific series - one of the best in terms of production values we’ve ever seen.

.
.
.
M

[MarkyS]

+++

.
Dalton Kellett is returning to Indy Lights in 2019, but for Juncos Racing…

.
The very bright (undergraduate degree in Engineering Physics at Queen’s University in Ontario, Canada) Indy Lights veteran will saddle up for a 4th season of the Lights in 2019, following 3 seasons driving for Andretti Autosport. This season he will be the teammate to 2018 Indy Pro 2000 (formerly “Pro Mazda”) Champion and 2019 Asian F3 Winter Series Champion Rinus VeeKay at Juncos Racing.

.
Dalton Kellett

.
.
.
In 3 seasons of the Lights that first WIN has eluded Kellett, though he has managed a number of podiums. His best discipline are the ovals, where he has proven to be the most competitive, even earning a pole at the Freedom 100 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2018. It is his expertise on ovals that makes him the most attractive to Juncos, as Kellett is expected to strengthen the team’s effort at IMS and Gateway, helping their talented rookie VeeKay acclimate quickly.

.
Dalton on the pole at IMS in 2018

.
.

.
The 25-year-old said, “For me, consistency, podiums, and, of course, wins will be the focus this year. It’s been a long off-season, so I am ready for St. Pete and can’t wait to get back behind the wheel.”

.
.
.
Dalton and Rinus will join already CONFIRMED drivers…

Ryan Norman, Andretti Autosport
Robert Megennis [R], Andretti Autosport
Oliver Askew [R], Andretti Autosport
David Malukas [R], BN Racing
Lucas Kohl [R], Belardi Auto Racing
Zachary Claman DeMelo, Belardi Auto Racing
.
.
.

Dalton will get sponsorship from K-Line Insulators USA and Ten80 Education in the # 67 Dallara IL-15. Welcome back!

.
.
.
M

[MarkyS]

+++

.
It’s CONFIRMED!..Clauson-Marshall Racing is going to the Indy 500 with Pippa Mann…

.
The story in post # 470 has been confirmed by Tim Clauson and Richard Marshall - British IndyCar driver Pippa Mann will pilot the very successful USAC team’s first-ever full effort at the Indy 500 this May, with sponsorship from Driven2SaveLives, the Indiana donor network that the late Bryan Clauson was so much a part of.

.
Here, Racer magazine’s Robin Miller interviews Tim and Richard about this effort and about Pippa’s friendship and involvment:

.

RACER: Clauson Marshall Racing Enters Indy 500

.
.
.
Neat guys, neat team, neat story…Good luck in May!

.
.
.
M

[MarkyS]

+++

.
Sage Karam will be at Indy this May for his 6th shot at the 500…

.
Announced today, the 24-year-old Indy Lights Champion (2013) will once again partner with Dreyer and Reinbold Racing to bring the # 24 Chevrolet back in the field for the 103rd running of the Indianapolis 500, again sponsored by Wix Filters.

.
Sage Karam

.
.
.
Karam, one of the Road to Indy’s most succesful drivers, has had 4 previous starts at the 500 with Dreyer and Reinbold and one start with Chip Ganassi. He has only finished one of those starts - his rookie assault on the 500 in 2014 at the age of 19, where he went from a P31 start to finish in P9, impressing everyone in the process.

In 2015 he drove the race for Chip Ganassi and TWICE topped pre-race practice sessions with astonishing speed. He started P23 but tangled with Takuma Sato early in a Turn 1 crash and ended the day P32.

In 2016 he was back with D & RR, starting the race in P23 and was running TOP TEN but once more in Turn 1 came to a bad day, trying to pass Townsend Bell, and ended the day P32, again.

In 2017 Sage was again very speedy during the race for D & RR but a dead battery took him out of contention and he ended the day in P28 from his P21 start.

Last year, Sage was once again very, very fast and TOPPED the last full day of practice. He qualified P24 and was again running great - TOP TEN - when he lost it in Turn 4 on lap 154 and hit the wall. The reason remains a mystery but a similar thing happened to Helio Castroneves and to Sebastien Bourdais in the same turn.

.
.
.
Karam and the guys at D&RR hope to parlay a successful showing at the 500 this year into more races during the season. Sage would be a great addition to any grid this season, so we wish him well.

.
.
.M

[MarkyS]

+++

.
Conor Daly gets a full season of Lamborghini Super Trofeo for PPM in 2019…

.
The 27-year-old IndyCar driver from Noblesville, Indiana has been asked to step into the # 46 Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo EVO in the Pro/Pro class for the king-makers at Precision Performance Motorsports. Conor will share the car with Brandon Gdovic, the series 2015 Champion in the Am class.

.
Conor Daly

.
.
.
A former champion in Skip Barber, Pro Mazda (now “Indy Pro 2000”) and MRF Challenge, and a WINNER of a Team USA Scholarship and the subsequent Walter Hayes Trophy, Daly is also a multiple race WINNER in Indy Lights and GP3. His experience in SportsCars include 6 races in 2015 for Performance Tech Motorsports in the PC class of the United Sports Car Championship, where he earned 3 podiums.

Said Conor, “I couldn’t be more excited to take on another new challenge in my career with Precision Performance Motorsports. The Lamborghini Super Trofeo series is incredibly competitive and I’m extremely thankful for the opportunity to jump in with Brandon and go after the championship. Lamborghini has developed one of the best looking race cars out there right now and I can’t wait to get behind the wheel for the first time!”

Brandon Gdovic

.
.
.
This is a great opportunity for Daly with a superb team. The 10-race season of Lamborghini Super Trofeo starts at Barber Motorsports Park, April 6-7, in support of the NTT IndyCar Series. The season will not conflict with Daly’s already-confirmed ride with Andretti Autosport in the 2019 Indy 500.

…
.
.
M

[MarkyS]

+++

.
Antonio Serravalle lands with a new team for Indy Pro 2000 in 2019…

.
Last year, the young Canadian karting superstar jumped right out of karts and spent the season driving for Exclusive Autosport in Pro Mazda, (now “Indy Pro 2000”) learning the PM-18 car and learning the tracks, and he’s now ready to return to the series to start kicking some butt. Antonio will drive for the family team that supported his karting career - Pserra Racing. The team will get technical support and coaching from Jay Howard Driver Development. England’s Daniel Mitchell will engineer the car.

.
Antonio Serravalle

.
.
.
The confident 16-year-old said, “My goals are clear. I want to win races! I know I can be the best and I have a few things on my side including my age level of experience, my mechanical knowledge, and a great team. I have been racing since I was eight years old in North America and Europe against some of the best drivers in the world. I’m positive I can be a top contender in the 2019 Indy Pro Series as I work towards my goal.”

.
Antonio made his committment just in time to be included in the list of CONFIRMED Indy Pro 2000 drivers, most of whom will be at Homestead Miami Raceway this weekend for Spring Training. They also include…

Jacob Abel [R], Abel Motorsports
Moises de la Vara [R], DEForce Racing
Kory Enders [R], DEForce Racing
Nikita Lastochkin, Exclusive Autosport
Danial Frost[R], Rxclusive Autosport
Parker Locke [R], Exclusive Autosport
Rasmus Lindh [R], Juncos Racing
Sting Ray Robb, Juncos Racing

.
.
.
There will be more…Stay tuned!

.
.
.
M

[MarkyS]

+++

.
For the next 3 days, the Road to Indy ladder system will take over Homestead-Miami Speedway…

.
Starting on Saturday the Florida track will host 2019 Spring Training for all three series that make up the Road to Indy ladder system, which trains young talent to be ready for a career in IndyCars. Saturday and Sunday will be reserved for USF2000 - the bottom rung on the ladder - and for Indy Pro 2000 - the middle rung. On Monday, the top-rung Indy Lights will have the facility to themselves.

.

.

We have the entry lists for all three series, so let’s see who is showing up, and for whom they will drive, starting with USF2000:

.
Darren Keane, Cape Motorsports

.
Reece Gold [R], Cape Motorsports

.
Braden Eves [R], Cape Motorsports

.
Matthew Round-Garrido [R], Jay Howard Driver Development

.
Christian Rasmussen [R], Jay Howard Driver Development

.

Christian Bogle [R], Jay Howard Driver Development

.
Manuel Sulaiman [R], DEForce Racing

.
Yuven Sundaramoorthy [R], Pabst Racing

.
Hunter McElrea [R], Pabst Racing

.
Colin Kaminsky, Pabst Racing

.
Bruna Tomaselli, Pabst Racing

.
Anthony Famularo [R], BN Racing

.
Nolan Siegel [R], Newman Wachs Racing

.
.
.
continued…

.
.
.
M

[MarkyS]

+++

.
For the next 3 days, the Road to Indy ladder system will take over Homestead-Miami Speedway…(part 2)…

.
USF2000 (continured)

.
Jack William Miller [R], Miller Vinatieri Motorsports

.
Eduardo Barrichello [R], Miller Vinatieri Motorsports

.
Cameron Shields [R], Newman Wachs Racing

.
Manuel Cabrera [R], Exclusive Autosport

.
.
.
Notable:

• The best-performing returning veteran here is Colin Kaminsky, but all eyes will be on the rookies Hunter McElrea and Cam Shields - the two “down under” boys who come in with terrific resumes.

• Darren Keane has not been confirmed for anyone, but his outstanding performances at the Chris Griffis Memorial Test last September make him also one to watch. If the Capes pick him up, he should be a championship contender.

• Also expected to perform wellk are Denmark’s Christian Rasmussen and American Braden Eves.

• The youngsters here are Puerto Rico’s Reece Gold and California’s Nolan Seigel - both just 14 years old.

.
.
.
Next, here are the guys for Indy Pro 2000…

.
Sting Ray Robb, Juncos Racing

.
Moises de la Vara [R], DEForce Racing

.
Rasmus Lindh [R], Juncos Racing

.
Antonio Serravalle, Pserra Racing w/Jay Howard Driver Development

.
Jacob Abel [R], Abel Motorsports

.
Danial Frost [R], Exclusive Autosport

.
Charles Finelli, FatBoy Racing!

.
Nikita Lastochkin, Exclusive Autosport

.
Parker Locke [R], Exclusive Autosport

.
.
.
Notable:

• NOT announced yet are two drivers now listed as “TBA” or, “To Be Announced” for RP Motorsport Racing. The Italian team was one of the top performng teams of 2018, so who they end up bringing will be very, very important to the season.

• One of the two possibles for RP Motorsport Racing may be the 2018 USF2000 Champion, Kyle Kirkwood, who has not yet declared his home in Indy Pro 2000 for 2019. He is expected to be at Homestead on Saturday to make his announcement. He may also go with his F3 Americas team, Abel Motorsports. They brought him to the title in 2018.

• It also looks like gentleman racer Charles Finelli is returning to have another season in Indy Pro 2000 for FatBoy Racing! FatBoy Racing! has been the home to Charles and other gentleman racers for a few years, now. This year, they may also field 19-year-old Phillippe Denes and he’s no older gentleman.

• The expected speedsters in this group will be Rasmus Lindh and Kyle Kirkwood, the two best USF2000 drivers of last year, but Danial Frost may surprise everyone.

• Not testing is Kory Enders for DEForce Racing. Kory has been confirmed for 2019, so this may just be a cost-savings for DEForce.

Kyle Kirkwood - where will he land?

.
.
.
continued…

.
.
.
M

[MarkyS]

+++

.
For the next 3 days, the Road to Indy ladder system will take over Homestead-Miami Speedway…(part 3)…

.
Finally, here are the drivers showing up to test for Indy Lights on Monday:

.
Lucas Kohl [R], Belardi Auto Racing

.
Zachary Claman, Belardi Auto Racing

.
Rinus VeeKay [R], Juncos Racing

.
Robert Megennis [R], Andretti Autosport

.
Oliver Askew [R], Andretti Autosport

.
Ryan Norman, Andretti Autosport

.
Dalton Kellett, Juncos Racing

.
David Malukas [R], BN Racing

.
.

Notable:

• We are being told that it is possible the Lights will have a few announcements or confirmations over the weekend, so stay tuned.

• The fastest returning vet here is Ryan Norman, but just as fast if not faster at the recent test at Circuit of the Americas was rookie Oliver Askew. Also, look for Rinus VeeKay to be fast. The Dutch driver is not only the 2018 Indy Pro 2000 Champion but just snagged the Asian Formula 3 Winter Series Championship, too. He’s hot.

• Zachary Claman DeMelo has let the press know he wants to be known just as “Zachary Claman” and we are happy to accomodate him, from now on.

• Not here is Frenchman Julien Falchero, who has tested well many times for Andretti Autosport, though Andretti has made it known they want a 4th car in Indy Lights on the grid in 2019.

Julien Falchero

.
.
.
Testing starts on Saturday afternoon, at 12:30 EASTERN time, with the gang from USF2000, followed by Indy Pro 2000. Then later, USF2000 comes back out for their T-2 session, followed again by Indy Pro 2000 for their T-2 session.

.
.
.Let’s GO!

.
.
.
M

[MarkyS]

+++

.
There’s another new team with another new driver in USF2000 today…

.
The bottom rung of the Road to Indy ladder is once again spawning new talent in the open-wheel racing world. Two former Road to Indy teams have merged to form Team E-JAY Racing - the melding of Jay Green, who for years helmed JAY Motorsports and Neil Enerson who for years helmed Team E Racing. Their first driver will be Lucas Oil School Formula Car series race WINNER Nate Aranda, who will compete in USF2000 for 2019.

.
left to right, Jay Green and Neil Enerson, with Nate Aranda in the car

.
.
.

After being competitors for years, 2015 saw Green assist Enerson in forming the highly successful Lucas Oil School of Racing and its racing offshoot, the Lucas Oil Formula Car Series. The idea with Team E-Jay Racing is for Lucas Oil School alums to have a place to go in USF2000, after completing training and competing successfully in the Lucas Oil Formula Car series.

The 18-year-old Aranda is a native of Albuquerque, New Mexico who has only been racing for two years, but according to Enerson, shows a “natural talent” in a formula car. Aranda got training from Neil’s son, IndyCar driver RC Enerson and super-coach Jonatan Jorge. Jonatan has been the driver coach of some of the sport’s biggest stars.

.
.
.
The team will be at Homestead-Miami this weekend with Nate.

.
.
.
M

[MarkyS]

+++

.
Legacy Autosport is expanding and bringing Jose Sierra back on the grid…

.
Announced today, the new USF2000 team Legacy Autosport will not only bring the French / British phenom Alexandre Baron to race, but he will have a teammate in Mexican Jose Sierra - something of a phenom himself.

.
Jose Sierra

.
.
.
The 19-year-old had a typical start in karts with great success, rising to the national title in 2014. He moved into cars at the age of 15, driving in F4 in both Mexico and France, taking two Vice-Championships in 2016 and 2017. In 2018 Jose drove for DEForce Racing in USF2000, earning 6 TOP TENS, 2 podiums and a pole at St.Pete. (The other pole that weekend was taken by his new teammate, Alex Baron, who went on to dominate the race).

.
"Pepe" Sierra takes the pole in the season opener in 2018

.
.
.

Said Jose, “I’m very excited to start the season in St. Pete! It has been a long winter and we’ve work hard to be able to start the season. I want to thank Legacy Autosport for the opportunity. I’m sure Alex and I, and the team, are going to fight for wins this year.”

.
.
.
Jose and Alex will be joining the other CONFIRMED drivers in USF2000, including…

Anthony Famularo [R], BN Racing
Reece Gold [R], Cape Motorsports
Braden Eves [R], Cape Motorsports
Manuel Sulaiman [R], DEForce Racing
Manuel Cabrera [R], Exclusive Autosport
Christian Bogle [R], Jay Howard Driver Development
Christian Rasmussen [R], Jay Howard Driver Development
Matthew Round-Garrido [R], Jay Howard Driver Development
Jason Reichert [R], Marotti Racing
Jack William Miller [R], Miller Vinatieri Motorsports
Eduardo Barrichello [R], Miller Vinatieri Motorsports
Nolan Siegel [R], Newman Wachs Racing
Cameron Shields [R], Newman Wachs Racing
Hunter McElrea [R], Pabst Racing
Colin Kaminsky, Pabst Racing
Yuven Sundaramoorthy [R], Pabst Racing
Bruna Tomaselli, Pabst Racing

.
.
.
If Legacy can back them up, then Jose and Alex have a great shot at success in 2019. They are that good. Rather than come to Homestead-Miami for Spring Training, Legacy is testing at Hallett Motor Racing Circuit in Oklahoma.

.
.
.
M

[MarkyS]

+++

.
Saturday at Homestead-Miami…USF2000 does Test 1 of the weekend…

.
The first test of Spring Training at Homestead-Miami Speedway for the Road to Indy were the kids from USF2000, coming out in good weather - cloudy but dry, temps in the low 80s. We have the results!

Here was the order of speed for the USF2000 T-1 session, with times for the TOP FIVE: [R] denotes rookie

.
1 - Braden Eves [R], Cape Motorsports - time of 1:25.4257s for a speed of 93.134mph

.

2 - Manuel Sulaiman [R], DEForce Racing - time of 1:25.6172s for a speed of 92.925mph

.
3 - Cameron Shields [R], Newman Wachs Racing - time of 1:25.8038s for a speed of 92.723mph

.
4 - Colin Kaminsky, Pabst Racing - time of 1:25.8356s for a speed of 92.689mph

.
5 - Christian Rasmussen [R], Jay Howard Driver Development - time of 1:26.0147s for a speed of 92.496mph

.
6 - Yuven Sundaramoorthy [R], Pabst Racing
7 - Reece Gold [R], Cape Motorsports
8 - Hunter McElrea [R], Pabst Racing
9 - Anthony Famularo [R], BN Racing
10 - Matthew Round-Garrido [R], Jay Howard Driver Development

11 - Bruna Tomaselli, Pabst Racing
12 - Eduardo Barrichello [R], Miller Vinatieri Motorsports
13 - Jack William Miller [R], Miller Vinatieri Motorsports
14 - Nolan Siegel [R], Newman Wachs Racing
15 - Nate Aranda [R], Team E-Jay Racing
16 - Darren Keane, Cape Motorsports
17 - Christian Bogle [R], Jay Howard Driver Development
18 - Manuel Cabrera [R], Exclusive Autosport

.
.
.
Notable:

• No surprises on top. These are all fast guys.

• Darren Keane for Cape Motorsports only put in 5 laps, and we don’t yet know why, but hopefully he will put in a good test this afternoon.

• Both Christian Bogle and Manu Cabrerra put in no time.

Christain Bogle (left) and Manuel Cabrera

.
.
.
Next up, the Indy Pro 2000 field takes to the track for their first test of the day…

.
.
.
M

[MarkyS]

+++

.
Saturday at Homestead-Miami…Indy Pro 2000 come out for their first test of the weekend…

.
…and there were a few surprises right off the bat. Biggest of these is to see 2018 Vice-Champion Parker Thompson in a car for Abel Motorsports. Parker was angling to get a ride in Indy Lights with Team Pelfrey last September at the Chris Griffis Memorial Test. That he is here doesn’t necessarily say that deal is undone, but it might mean he is trying to WIN the title in 2019 in Indy Pro 2000, to get the scholarship for Indy Lights in 2020. Time will tell, but if indeed Parker is back, he is an immediate title contender in Indy Pro 2000.
.
Parker Thompson

.
.
.

In addition, 2018 USF2000 Champion Kyle Kirkwood has CONFIRMED that he has landed at RP Motorsport Racing for his rookie season of Indy Pro 2000. This bodes well for the team and for Kirkwood, as RPMR was one of the better-performing teams in 2018, despite being rookies in the series. In Kirkwood, they have one of the most dominant champions in years, WINNING 12 of 14 races in USF2000. Kirkwood was also the F3 Americas Champion in 2018, WINNING 15 of 17 races - a PHENOMENAL talent.

.
Kyle Kirkwood

.
.
.
Next, RP Motorsport Racing also announced that their 2nd car in Indy Pro 2000 will be driven by Damiano Fioravanti, a 22-year-old from Rome who has previously driven for RPMR in Euroformula Open and World Series Formula V8 3.5, where he collected WINS and podiums for the team. In 2018 Damiano drove in International GT Open for Ombra Racing, collecting a WIN, 4 podiums and 2 poles.

.
Damiano Fioravanti

.
.
.
continued…

.
.
.
M

[MarkyS]

+++

.
Saturday at Homestead-Miami…Indy Pro 2000 come out for their first test of the weekend…(part 2)…

.
The Indy Pro 2000 field consisted of 12 cars, though only 11 of them answered the bell for the first test of the day.

Here was the order of speed for the Indy Pro 2000 T-1 session, with times for the TOP FIVE: [R] denotes rookie
.

1 - Nikita Lastochkin, Exclusive Autosport - time of 1:20.7784s for a speed of 98.492mph

.
2 - Parker Thompson, Abel Motorsports - time of 1:20.8092s for a speed of 98.454mph

.
3 - Moises de la Vara [R], DEForce Racing - time of 1:21.3802s for a speed of 97.763mph

.

4 - Kyle Kirkwood [R], RP Motorsport Racing - time of 1:21.4123s for a speed of 97.725mph

.
5 - Jacob Abel [R], Abel Motorsports - time of 1:21.4845s for a speed of 97.638mph

.
6 - Damiano Fioravanti [R], RP Motorsport Racing
7 - Antonio Serravalle, Pserra Racing w/Jay Howard Driver Development
8 - Sting Ray Robb, Juncos Racing
9 - Rasmus Lindh [R], Juncos Racing
10 - Parker Locke [R], Exclusive Autosport

11 - Charles Finelli, FatBoy Racing!
12 - Danial Frost [R], Exclusive Autosport

.
.
.
Notable:

• The TOP THREE are all returning veterans and they are showing their strength and experience. Parker Thompson held the top spot for much of the session with Nikita right below him, but the Moscow native jumped to the top in the final minutes of the session.

• Impressive is rookie Jacob Abel, who is driving for the family team, Abel Motorsports. Abel Motorsports was the team that brought Kyle Kirkwood to the F3 Americas title in 2018. Jacob was Kyle’s teammate at the time.

• Danial Frost put in no time, but we haven’t been told why not.

Danial Frost

.
.
.
Indy Pro 2000 will come out for the 2nd test later, today. Next up, the kids from USF2000 come out for their 2nd test…

.
.
.
M

[MarkyS]

+++

.
Saturday afternoon at Homestead-Miami…USF2000 comes our for the 2nd test of the day…

.
Following a quick break after the Indy Pro 2000 guys did their Test 1 of the day, the kids in USF2000 came out for their 2nd test of the weekend.

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

.
1 - Manuel Sulaiman [R], DEForce Racing - time of 1:24.5835s for a speed of 94.061mph

.
2 - Braden Eves [R], Cape Motorsports - time of 1:24.6568s for a speed of 93.979mph

.
3 - Darren Keane, Cape Motorsports - time of 1:248975s for a speed of 93.713mph

.
4 - Christian Rasmussen [R], Jay Howard Driver Development - time of 1:25.0114s for a speed of 93.587mph

.
5 - Hunter McElrea [R], Pabst Racing - time of 1:25.3393s for a speed of 93.228mph

.
6 - Matthew Round-Garrido [R], Jay Howard Driver Development
7 - Bruna Tomaselli, Pabst Racing
8 - Yuven Sundaramoorthy [R], Pabst Racing
9 - Reece Gold [R], Cape Motorsports
10 - Colin Kaminsky, Pabst Racing

11 - Cameron Shields [R], Newman Wachs Racing
12 - Jack William Miller [R], Miller Vinatieri Motorsports
13 - Nate Aranda [R], Team E-Jay Racing
14 - Eduardo Barrichello [R], Miller Vinatieri Motorsports
15 - Nolan Siegel [R], Newman Wachs Racing
16 - Anthony Famularo [R], BN Racing
17 - Christian Bogle [R], Jay Howard Driver Development
18 - Manuel Cabrera [R], Exclusive Autosport

.
.
.
Notable:

• The rookie class is strong, as expected, and the TOP FIVE have only Darren Keane as a veteran, but we knew that once Keane got his T-1 session problem sorted out, he would be there.

• The “Speed Boys” at Pabst Racing have to be happy, putting all 4 of their drivers in the TOP TEN. We are especially impressed with Bruna Tomaselli, who showed flashes of speed last year, driving for Team Pelfrey. She’s got a good shot now, hangin’ with the “Boys”.

• We’re also impressed with 14-year-old Reece Gold from San Juan, Puerto Rico - TOP TEN in both tests. Cape Motorsports can ferret out talent and they may have something, here.

• Manu Cabrera again put in no time. He’s now lost a day and has only Sunday.

left to right, Bruna Tomaselli, Reece Gold

.
.
.
Next, the Indy Pro 2000 guys hold their final test of the day…

.
.
.
M

[MarkyS]

+++

.
Saturday afternoon at Homestead- Miami…The Indy Pro 2000 guys hold their final session…

.
…of the day, and the top performers were a good mix of veterans and rookies.

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

.
1 - Kyle Kirkwood [R], RP Motorsport Racing - time of 1:20.3721s for a speed of 98.990mph

.
2 - Sting Ray Robb, Juncos Racing - time of 1:204022s for a speed of 98.953mph

.
3 - Antonio Serravalle, Pserra Racing w/Jay Howard Driver Development - time of 1:20.5496s for a speed of 98.7712mph

.
4 - Rasmus Lindh [R], Juncos Racing - time of 1:20.5600s for a speed of 98.759mph

.
5 - Parker Thompson, Abel Motorsports - time of 1:20.6113s for a speed of 98.696mph

.
6 - Moises de la Vara [R], DEForce Racing
7 - Nikita Lastochkin, Exclusive Autosport
8 - Jacob Abel [R], Abel Motorsports
9 - Damiano Fioravanti [R], RP Motorsport Racing
10 - Parker Locke [R], Exclusive Autosport

11 - Charles Finelli, FatBoy Racing!
12 - Danial Frost [R], Exclusive Autosport

.
.
.
Notable:

• The two rookies in the TOP FIVE, Kirkwood and Lindh, were expected, as was veteran Parker Thompson, but Sting Ray and Antonio were not, necessarily. Both drivers came straight from karting to Pro Mazda, skipping USF2000, and they obviously took advantage of their rookie year to learn…a lot!

• Danial Frost again put in no time. much like Manuel Cabrera in USF2000, the day was effectively lost to him. Hopefully, he will be on track on Sunday.
  .
  .
  .
  On Sunday, both series will hold three more test sessions each - a very busy day that will tell us a lot.

.
.
.
M

[MarkyS]

+++

.
IndyCar driver Scott Hargrove collects a podium at Circuit of the Americas…

.
In the first 2019 race of the SRO Blancpain World Challenge America series, Road to Indy ace driver Scott Hargrove brought the Wright Motorsports # 58 Porsche 911 GT3 R to a P3 at Circuit of the Americas.Taking over the car from co-driver Patrick Long mid-race, Hargrove passed Toni Vilander in the R. Ferri Motorsport Ferrari 488 GT3 to get on the podium.

.
The # 58 Wright Motorsports Porsche GT3 R at COTA today

.
Scott Hargrove

.
.
.
The WINNERS of the race were Maxime Soulet and Rodrigo Baptista in the # 3 K-PAX Racing Bentley Continental GT3 while the sister car, the # 9 Bentley driven by pole-sitter Andy Soucek and Alvaro Parente, was P2.

.
.
.
The series will hold a second 90-minute race at COTA on Sunday.

.
.
.
M

[MarkyS]

+++

.
Moments we love…

.
Today in Adelaide, Australia, IndyCar driver Simona de Silvestro learned how to fly her Kelly Racing Nissan Altima L33 Supercar in the first race of the Superloop Adelaide 500

.
Take a look:
.

https://twitter.com/supercars/status/1101751960204529664

.
Simona de Silvestro

.
.
.

Track limits?? It seems to us that her tires were only and ever on the track at any time. We love it.
.
.
.

M

[MarkyS]

+++

.
Sunday morning at Homestead-Miami…Spring Training continues…

.
It’s warm and humid at Homestead Miami Speedway and it’s going to be partly cloudy all day but no rain is forecast to spoil the show, as Spring Training for all three series that make up the Road to Indy ladder system take to the track for the final time before the season starts. Today, USF2000 and Indy Pro 2000 continue to steal the scene as the Indy Lights await their turn on Monday.

First out this morning are the kids from USF2000, with their 3rd of five tests scheduled for the weekend.

.
Here was the order of speed for the USF2000 T-3 session, with times for the TOP FIVE: [R] denotes rookie

.
1 - Darren Keane, Cape Motorsports - time of 1:24.5314s for a speed of 94.119mph

.
2 - Braden Eves [R], Cape Motorsports - time of 1:24.6882s for a speed of 93.945mph

.
3 - Manuel Sulaiman [R], DEForce Racing - time of 1:24.7157s for a speed of 93.914mph

.
4 - Christian Rasmussen [R], Jay Howard Driver Development - time of 1:24.7997s for a speed of 93.821mph

.
5 - Eduardo Barrichello [R], Miller Vinatieri Motorsports - time of 1:24.8646s for a speed of 93.749mph

.
6 - Cameron Shields [R], Newman Wachs Racing
7 - Yuven Sundaramoorthy [R], Pabst Racing
8 - Reece Gold [R], Cape Motorsports
9 - Matthew Round-Garrido [R], Jay Howard Driver Development
10 - Hunter McElrea [R], Pabst Racing

11 - Bruna Tomaselli, Pabst Racing
12 - Anthony Famularo [R], BN Racing
13 - Colin Kaminsky, Pabst Racing
14 - Manuel Cabrera [R], Exclusive Autosport
15 - Jack William Miller [R], Miller Vinatieri Motorsports
16 - Nate Aranda [R], Team E-Jay Racing
17 - Nolan Siegel [R], Newman Wachs Racing

.
.
.
Notable:

• The TOP FIVE traded the top spot all through the session, with Darren securing it with about 4 minutes to go. Keane was the only driver to crack 94 miles per hour in this session. This is Eduardo’s first crack into the TOP FIVE.

• Cape Motorsports has to be delighted to have two of their drivers battling for the P1 spot, and then to have 14-year-old Reece Gold once again make TOP TEN is gravy on top.

• We’re delighted to see everyone turning laps, including Manu Cabrera, who was in the pits all day, yesterday. He put in 16 laps in this session.

• Christian Bogle for Jay Howard Driver Development was only scheduled for Saturday and won’t be out today.

Christian Bogle

.
.
.
Next, the Indy Pro 2000 guys come out for their 3rd session of the weekend…

.
.
.
M