The Road to Indy - Indianapolis: Three chances for glory

[MarkyS]

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On Thursday and Friday of this week the two Road to Indy series will be having their own stand-alone events on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course as they do…

The Cooper Tires Indy Grand Prix

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Usually, the Road to Indy series USF2000 and Indy Pro 2000 hold their races in support of the IndyCars but this time they’re on their own as they ply their trade on the Road Course at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Each series will have three full races over the next two days. For USF2000 these will be Rounds 7, 8 and 9. For Indy Pro 2000 they will be Rounds 8, 9 and 10.

Most of both fields will come to IMS with experience on the Road Course but more than a few will be on it for the first time. The 2.439-mile, 14-turn Road Course incorporates portions of Turns 1 and 2 and the front straight of the famed IMS oval. They will run the course in the clockwise direction as opposed to when they race on the oval.

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There are two new faces we want to mention and both will be in USF2000:

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Michael Myers will come to drive the # 24 for Legacy Autosport coming from off-road ATV racing, but Myers has some excellent open-wheel credentials, as he was a Team USA Scholarship finalist in 2019, the Vice-Champion of the Lucas Oil Series in 2019 and the Champion of the Lucas Oil Winter Series in 2019, giving him some formula car experience. But Myers only practice in the Tatuus USF-17 car has been at the Mid-Ohio series test, at the end of June, so he is diving into the deep end of the pool. Myers did have the benefit of racing at Indianapolis in the online Tire Rack eSeries, this Spring, so he knows the track layout.

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Michael Myers

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Simon Sikes is also coming to Legacy Autosport by way of Marotti Autosport, helmed by Will Marotti. Simon is the current FRP F1600 Championship points leader with two venues left on their schedule, which he intends to complete. He drives a Mygale 1600 for Rice Race Prep. F1600 is one of the usual paths to USF2000 so Simon is ideally placed to make his debut this week. He has also had some testing time in the Tatuus USF-17 car recently at Putnam Park.

Said Simon, “This is the biggest opportunity of my life. I’m honored to work with such a determined and inspired man such as Will. I have always wanted to race in USF2000, and now we have set our minds to figuring out how we can run the full season together next year."

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Simon Sikes

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Simon tops an FRP F1600 podium behind his Mygale F1600

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Let’s see what these two series are all about…

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(continued…)

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M

[MarkyS]

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The two Road to Indy series we will follow this week…

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USF2000 - This is the bottom rung of the ladder - the entry point to young drivers who typically come out of karting or out of F1600 wingless formula cars. The Tatuus USF-17 is a carbon-fiber chassis with the latest in safety and performance features. The cars have wings and slicks - sometimes the first cars as such for many drivers - and a good deal of downforce and grip. They are powered by a 180 hp Elite Engines MZR 4-cylinder. Gearboxes are 6-speed sequential, with paddle-shifters on the steering wheel. Brakes are ZR24 4-piston monobloc calipers at all four wheels, by Performance Friction Brakes.

The fields are often quite large and quite eclectic, with talent coming from all over the globe. Recently, the Road to Indy nearly DOUBLED the prize for WINNING the title, with that scholarship applied to the following year, driving a season in the next step up, Indy Pro 2000.

The current points leader in USF2000 is easy to spot. He’s the guy who has WON all 6 rounds of the series held so far this season - Denmark’s wunderkind Christian Rasmussen, driving for Jay Howard Driver Development. The only question is who can finally beat this juggernaut?

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Christian Rasmussen

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Indy Pro 2000 - The next step up the ladder is more than USF2000 …More of everything, including power and grip. The chassis is essentially the same as the Tatuus USF-17 but it has more wing, more tire and more brakes and it is pushed by more power. In this iteration it becomes the Tatuus PM-18. The engine is also an Elite Engines MZR 2.0 liter but it develops a snapping 275 hp and delightfully sounds a whole lot more powerful. The Sadev gearbox is a similar 6-speed sequential unit with paddle-shifters. The brakes are a similar PFB design 4-pot calipers but slightly bigger disks. The tires are substantially bigger, with the fronts of the PM-18 the same as the rears of the USF-17 and the rears of the PM-18 much bigger than that.

The fields are typically smaller in size than USF2000 but the level of talent across the board is much higher. Most of the drivers in this series have already cut their teeth for years in other junior formula series and have great racecraft in their back pocket. The competition level is therefore higher. Almost anyone in this field is capable of podiums and most are capable of WINS.

The current points leader is Canadian Devlin DeFrancesco for Andretti Steinbrenner Racing. Devlin is coming off his first series WIN at the oval at World Wide Technology Raceway - aka Gateway. Making it even more special for him was the fact that it was only his second oval race and his first oval WIN as a driver.

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Devlin DeFrancesco

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Starting on Thursday, both series will hold a half hour practice, followed by qualifying and then Race 1 for each. Friday will be devoted to another qually session, followed by Race 2 and Race 3 for each.

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Let’s GO!!!

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M

[MarkyS]

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Thursday at Indianapolis - USF 2000 wake up the neighborhood…

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…with first a 30-minute practice session for the 21 competitors, followed by qualifying for Race 1 of the event, to be held later today.

The TOP FIVE from the practice session were, in order of speed, Kiko Porto for DEForce Racing, Jack William Miller for Miller Vinatieri Motorsports, Reece Gold for Cape Motorsports, Eduardo Barrichello for Pabst Racing, and Yuven Sundaramoorthy for Pabst Racing. The entire field was covered by an incredible 1.3 seconds - this is a tight and talented group of young drivers.

Following the practice session, which was delayed by ground fog, the kids fired up and qualified for Race 1, aka Season Round 7.

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Here is the way that USF2000 will grid for Season Round 7, with times for the TOP SIX: [R] denotes rookie

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Row 1

Pole - Kiko Porto [R], DEForce Racing - time of 01:25.6283s for a speed of 102.541mph

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P2 - Reece Gold, Cape Motorsports - time of 01:25.7272s for a speed of 102.423mph

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Row 2

P3 - Eduardo Barrichello [R], Pabst Racing - time of 01:26.0572s for a speed of 102.030mph

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P4 - Jack William Miller, Miller Vinatieri Motorsports - time of 01:26.0932s for a speed of 101.987mph

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Row 3

P5 - Christian Rasmussen, Jay Howard Driver Development - time of 01:26.1379s for a speed of 101.934mph

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P6 - Josh Green [R], Cape Motorsports - time of 01:26.2308s for a speed of 101.824mph

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Row 4

P7 - Matthew Round-Garrido, Pabst Racing
P8 - Yuven Sundaramoorthy, Pabst Racing

Row 5

P9 - Michael d’Orlando [R], Cape Motorsports
P10 - Nolan Siegel, Jay Howard Driver Development

Row 6

P11 - Christian Brooks [R], Exclusive Autosport
P12 - Cameron Shields, Legacy Autosport

Row 7

P13 - Bijoy Garg [R], Jay Howard Driver Development
P14 - Simon Sikes [R], Legacy Autosport

Row 8

P15 - Max Kaeser [R], Miller Vinatieri Motorsports
P16 - Michael Myers [R], Legacy Autosport

Row 9

P17 - Wyatt Brichacek [R], Jay Howard Driver Development
P18 - Prescott Campbell [R], Exclusive Autosport

Row 10

P19 - Josh Pierson [R], Exclusive Autosport
P20 - Christian Bogle, Jay Howard Driver Development

Row 11

P21 - Kyle Dupell, Cape Motorsports

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Notable:

• This is Brazilian Kiko Port’os 4th Road to Indy race, yet the F4 USA veteran is showing the WINNING skill he showed in that series,

• Reece Gold turned 16 years old just yesterday, and the sophomore is celebrating with his 5th front row start of the year. Gold has been driving up front all season - easily the best Cape Motorsports driver.

• The 3rd spot on the grid was covered by four guys within 0.2 seconds of each other - remarkable parity of speed - but the guy who pulled it out was 2nd generation driver Edurado “Dudu” Barrichello. The 18-year-old had his father Rubens Barrichello in the stands to see it.

• The series points leader, Christian Rasmussen, was in a non-characteristic P5 after qualifying. Is the “great Dane” finally ready to be beaten? He’s still very, very fast.

• New guys on the grid Simon Sikes and Michael Myers did well for their 1st qually session, settling into the back half of the grid but not at the tail end of it. Good job.

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Kiko Porto - 1st Road to Indy pole

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The race will be run following IP2K qualifying. Next up, Indy Pro 2000 come out for practice and qualifying…

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M

[MarkyS]

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Thursday at Indianapolis - USF 2000 wake up the neighborhood…

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…with first a 30-minute practice session for the 21 competitors, followed by qualifying for Race 1 of the event, to be held later today.

The TOP FIVE from the practice session were, in order of speed, Kiko Porto for DEForce Racing, Jack William Miller for Miller Vinatieri Motorsports, Reece Gold for Cape Motorsports, Eduardo Barrichello for Pabst Racing, and Yuven Sundaramoorthy for Pabst Racing. The entire field was covered by an incredible 1.3 seconds - this is a tight and talented group of young drivers.

Following the practice session, which was delayed by ground fog, the kids fired up and qualified for Race 1, aka Season Round 7.

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Here is the way that USF2000 will grid for Season Round 7, with times for the TOP SIX: [R] denotes rookie

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Row 1

Pole - Kiko Porto [R], DEForce Racing - time of 01:25.6283s for a speed of 102.541mph

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P2 - Reece Gold, Cape Motorsports - time of 01:25.7272s for a speed of 102.423mph

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Row 2

P3 - Eduardo Barrichello [R], Pabst Racing - time of 01:26.0572s for a speed of 102.030mph

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P4 - Jack William Miller, Miller Vinatieri Motorsports - time of 01:26.0932s for a speed of 101.987mph

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Row 3

P5 - Christian Rasmussen, Jay Howard Driver Development - time of 01:26.1379s for a speed of 101.934mph

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P6 - Josh Green [R], Cape Motorsports - time of 01:26.2308s for a speed of 101.824mph

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Row 4

P7 - Matthew Round-Garrido, Pabst Racing
P8 - Yuven Sundaramoorthy, Pabst Racing

Row 5

P9 - Michael d’Orlando [R], Cape Motorsports
P10 - Nolan Siegel, Jay Howard Driver Development

Row 6

P11 - Christian Brooks [R], Exclusive Autosport
P12 - Cameron Shields, DEForce Racing

Row 7

P13 - Bijoy Garg [R], Jay Howard Driver Development
P14 - Simon Sikes [R], Legacy Autosport

Row 8

P15 - Max Kaeser [R], Miller Vinatieri Motorsports
P16 - Michael Myers [R], Legacy Autosport

Row 9

P17 - Wyatt Brichacek [R], Jay Howard Driver Development
P18 - Prescott Campbell [R], Exclusive Autosport

Row 10

P19 - Josh Pierson [R], Exclusive Autosport
P20 - Christian Bogle, Jay Howard Driver Development

Row 11

P21 - Kyle Dupell, Cape Motorsports

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Notable:

• This is Brazilian Kiko Port’os 5th Road to Indy race, yet the F4 USA veteran is showing the WINNING skill he showed in that series,

• Reece Gold turned 16 years old just yesterday, and the sophomore is celebrating with his 5th front row start of the year. Gold has been driving up front all season - easily the best Cape Motorsports driver.

• The 3rd spot on the grid was covered by four guys within 0.2 seconds of each other - remarkable parity of speed - but the guy who pulled it out was 2nd generation driver Edurado “Dudu” Barrichello. The 18-year-old had his father Rubens Barrichello in the stands to see it.

• The series points leader, Christian Rasmussen, was in a non-characteristic P5 after qualifying. Is the “great Dane” finally ready to be beaten? He’s still very, very fast.

• New guys on the grid Simon Sikes and Michael Myers did well for their 1st qually session, settling into the back half of the grid but not at the tail end of it. Good job.

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Kiko Porto - 1st Road to Indy pole

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The race will be run following IP2K qualifying. Next up, Indy Pro 2000 come out for practice and qualifying…

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M

[MarkyS]

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Thursday at Indianapolis - Indy Pro 2000 comes out to practice and qualify…

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…for Race 1 of the event, to be held later today. Like USF2000, the IP2K gang got 30 minutes to practice, followed by a qually session for the 15 entrants. In that practice the TOP FIVE guys were in order of speed Hunter McElrea for Pabst Racing, Devlin DeFrancesco for Andretti Steinbrenner, Sting Ray Robb for Juncos Racing, Parker Thompson for DEForce Racing and Braden Eves for Exclusive Autosport - all thoroughbreds, though McElrea has rarely been this fast, this year, but Hunter’s pedigree is unimpeachable.He SHOULD be this fast.

Following practice the gang held qualifying for Season Round 8, to be held later today.

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

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Row 1

Pole - Artem Petrov [R], Juncos Racing - time of 01:20.2731s for a speed of 109.382mph

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P2 - Sting Ray Robb, Juncos Racing - time of 01:20.3378s for a speed of 109.294mph

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Row 2

P3 - Parker Thompson, DEForce Racing - time of 01:20.3427s for a speed of 109.287mph

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P4 - Danial Frost, Turn 3 Motorsports - time of 01:20.4340s for a speed of 109.163mph

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Row 3

P5 - Hunter McElrea [R], Pabst Racing - time of 01:20.4366s for a speed of 109.159mph

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P6 - Braden Eves [R], Exclusive Autosport - time of 01:20.6535s for a speed of 108.866mph

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Row 4

P7 - Colin Kaminsky [R], Pabst Racing
P8 - Devlin DeFrancesco [R], Andretti Steinbrenner Racing

Row 5

P9 - Jacob Loomis [R], BN Racing with Team Benik
P10 - Antoine Comeau, Turn 3 Motorsport

Row 6

P11 - Moises de la Vara, DEForce Racing
P12 - Nate Aranda [R], Juncos Racing

Row 7

P13 - Bob Kaminsky, Pabst Racing
P14 - Manuel Sulaiman [R], DEForce Racing

Row 8

P15 - Kory Enders, DEForce Racing

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Notable:

• This is Artem’s first Road to Indy pole and next to him will be his teammate Sting Ray Robb. Juncos Racing has long and justifiably enjoyed a great reputation in Indy Pro 2000 for producing champions. With talent like these guys it gets easier to maintain.

• A half-second separated the top seven drivers, and the top nine were within one second.

• Points leader Devlin DeFrancesco was uncharacteristically slow in this session. Devlin is coming off his first series WIN at Gateway - an oval - but he is known for his twisty circuit prowess.

• Bob Kaminsky is the father of Pabst Racing’s Colin Kaminsky. Bob is a veteran driver who drove in the Pro Mazda National Championship class in 2017, collecting 5 WINS in class, so the guy has the stuff. He’s driving now for the pure enjoyment of it.

• Manuel Sulaiman was putting in slow laps to verify an engine change, way off the pace, and Kory Enders put in no time at all, for unknown reasons. Both would normally not inhabit the bottom of the grid.

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Artem Petrov

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The IP2K gang will race later today. Next up, USF2000 hold Race 1. The grid for that race is in post # 4…

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M

[MarkyS]

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Thursday at Indianapolis - USF2000 crowns a new series WINNER in Race 1…

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…and it is popular rookie driver Dudu Barrichello. The 2nd generation driver was very emotional after crossing the line for his first WIN in front of his dad, racing great Rubens Barrichello. Just missing out on his first WIN was Cape Motorsports sophomore Reece Gold, who finished on the podium for the sixth race in a row. Finishing P3, from pole, was DEForce Racing rookie Francisco “Kiko” Porto. The Brazilian was making his fifth career USF2000 start.

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Dudu Barrichello gets emotional after first WIN

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On the opening lap the huge field did the near impossible and got through treacherous Turn 1 without incident but by Turn 2 points-leader Christian Rasmussen for Jay Howard Driver Development got sideways, falling from his P5 start through the field to end up P13. Just missing the spinning Dane was Barrichello, who took to the grass to avoid him. Jack William Miller for Miller Vinatieri was able to go around the outside of Reece Gold and Barrichello in Turn 7 to move up to P2 from his P4 start, but on lap 2 Jack had to go down the escape route as the top four cars entered Turn 1 at the same time. Jack would never recover.

For several laps Kiko led a parade, with Reece in P2, Barrichello in P3, Josh Green for Cape Motorsports in P4 and Nolan Siegel for JHDD in P5. Coming back hard was Christian Rasmussen, who recovered to P6 by halfway. With five laps left, Gold had caught up to Porto, putting pressure on the Brazilian into Turn 1 and Turn 7, but was not able to get by him. That let Barrichello back into the fight. On the 12thg lap, the three cars entered Turn 1 together, but Reece went in too deep, allowing Kiko to maintain the lead while Dudu got into P2.

On the penultimate lap the younger Barrichello made a classic over and under move in Turn 1 to take the lead from Porto. The move caught Porto off guard and he was then eaten up by Gold in Turn 7. As they battled Dudu was able to get enough of a gap to make it safely to the end as Josh Green closed in on the Gold/Porto fight.

Dudu dedicated the race to his mom.

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Notable:

• Post race Barrichello opined that the car of Reece Gold had more pace than his own, so he was delighted to see that Reece was held up battling Porto for the P2 spot. He was abvle to cross the line 0.2 seconds ahead of Gold, and the top four were vcovered by only 1.1 seconds.

• Christian Rasmussen finished the Race in P6 and maintains his points lead, though it was eaten into.

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Eduardo “Dudu” Barrichello

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Your happy podium - That’s Reece Gold in P2 on the left, Eduardo Barrichello in P1 in the middle, and Kiko Porto in P3 on the right:

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On Friday the kids will qualify for Race 2 in the morning, hold that race and then later hold race 3, to be gridded based on the lap times from Race 2.Next, the Indy Pro 2000 gang go for Race 1. the grid for that race is in post # 5…

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M

[MarkyS]

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Thursday at Indianapolis - The Indy Pro 2000 gang hold Race 1 of the event…

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…and it turned out to be a great birthday for IP2K veteran Sting Ray Robb, as the now-19-year-old gifted himself with his 2nd series WIN, driving for Juncos Racing. P2 for the day was Pabst Racing’s rookie Hunter McElrea while P3 went to Canadian ace Parker Thompson for DEForce Racing. The race ended early due to a very violent crash.

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Pride of Payette, Idaho, Sting Ray Robb

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The start of the race was ragged as the front group got off okay but in the middle pack there was contact as the drivers starting on the inside of rows five, six, and seven got stacked up as they came to the green flag. Taken out was Bob Kaminsky for DEForce Racing, Jacob Loomis for BN Racing and Moises de la Vara for DEForce Racing, though Moi was able to rejoin a lap down. Turn 3 Motorsport veteran Danial Frost, who started the race from P4, locked up in the braking zone and washed out into the grass, falling down the order. A full course caution was called.

The green flag came back out to start Lap 4, with pole-sitter Artem Petrov for Juncos Racing punching off early in Turn 10 and pulling a big gap on the rest of the field. (He would later be penalized for the early start). On the long run down the front straight, McElrea in P4 was able to get right on the gearbox of Thompson in P3, with the Kiwi taking the Canadian on the inside of Turn 1. On the same lap Devlin DeFrancesco for Andretti Steinbrenner and Colin Kaminsky for Pabst Racing both tried to outbrake each other and mowed the lawn in Turn 7. They both came back on the track and were immediately engaged in a battle with Antoin Comeau for Turn 3, Frost, Kory Enders for DEForce, and Nate Aranda for Juncos Racing.

On lap 6 Petrov led, with Robb, McElrea and Thompson behind and closing. Robb caught Artem in Turn 7, tucking in behind Petrov, who braked a little too deep, allowing Robb to complete the pass for the lead by the time they got to Turn 10. On the next lap Hunter got another great run down to Turn 1 and took Artem for the P2 spot. On Lap 12, Thompson was right on Petrov’s gearbox as they made the run south towards Turn 7. Once again, Petrov missed his braking point allowing Thompson and Braden Eves for Exclusive Autosport to move past him, but Artem rebounded on the front straight to reclaim P4 from Eves.

Eves was slow over the next two laps and reported a vibration to his crew. He was quickly passed by Devlin DeFrancesco for Andretti Steinbrenner and Danial Frost was next upon him. Eves and Frost went side-by-side through Turns 10 and 11, with Eves on the inside in Turn 11. Just as Frost got by him, it appeared that something in on the rear of Braden’s car broke. Eves spun 180 degrees to the left, sending the flipping the car violently into the air. It came down directly on the roll hoop, bounced off the asphalt, pinwheeling and once again smashing down on the roll hoop for a second time. The race was ended two laps early under yellow.

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Notable:

• This is Sting Ray’s 2nd WIN this year, and as is often the case, once a guy gets his first WIN, others seem to follow. He has learned how to WIN - something a lot harder to do than just learn how to race.

• Braden was taken first to the infield care center and then to IU Health Methodist Hospital for observation. The word at this time is he is "awake, stable and undergoing further evaluation.”

• Artem was penalized after the event for his early start on lap 4 and he went from a P4 finish to a P10 finish, which hurts his point battle significantly.

• With Artem’s loss came Devlin DeFrancesco’s gain, as the points leader went from P5 to P4.

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Sting Ray Robb for the 2nd WIN of his IP2K career.

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Your happy podium - That’s Hunter McElrea in P2 on the left, Sting Ray Robbin P1 in the middle and Parker Thompson in P3 on the right:

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That’s it for Thursday. The track comes alive on Friday for another qualification for each series and two races for each after that.

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M

[MarkyS]

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Friday at Indianapolis - USF2000 kicks off a day of racing excellence…

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The most junior of the three series that make up the Road to Indy were the first to take to the track this morning with a qualifying session to grid Race 2, Season Round 8 of the 3-race event, and Francisco “Kiko” Porto for DEForce Racing made sure everyone knew that his first pole yesterday was no fluke.

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Here is the way that USF2000 will grid for Season Round 8, with times for the TOP SIX: [R] denotes rookie

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Row 1

Pole - Kiko Porto [R], DEForce Racing - time of 01:24.7519s for a speed of 103.601mph

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P2 - Eduardo Barrichello [R], Pabst Racing - time of 01:24.7909s for a speed of 103.554mph

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Row 2

P3 - Jack William Miller, Miller Vinatieri Motorsports - time of 01:24.8093s for a speed of 103.531mph

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P4 - Christian Rasmussen, Jay Howard Driver Development - time of 01:24.9100s for a speed of 103.408mph

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Row 3

P5 - Reece Gold, Cape Motorsports - time of 01:24.9754s for a speed of 103.329mph

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P6 - Christian Brooks [R], Exclusive Autosport - time of 01:24.9909s for a speed of 103.310mph

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Row 4

P7 - Nolan Siegel, Jay Howard Driver Development
P8 - Michael d’Orlando [R], Cape Motorsports

Row 5

P9 - Yuven Sundaramoorthy, Pabst Racing
P10 - Cameron Shields, DEForce Racing

Row 6

P11 - Matthew Round-Garrido, Pabst Racing
P12 - Max Kaeser [R], Miller Vinatieri Motorsports

Row 7

P13 - Josh Green [R], Cape Motorsports
P14 - Simon Sikes [R], Legacy Autosport

Row 8

P15 - Prescott Campbell [R], Exclusive Autosport
P16 - Wyatt Brichacek [R], Jay Howard Driver Development

Row 9

P17 - Bijoy Garg [R], Jay Howard Driver Development
P18 - Kyle Dupell, Cape Motorsports

Row 10

P19 - Josh Pierson [R], Exclusive Autosport
P20 - Christian Bogle, Jay Howard Driver Development

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Notable:

• 17-year-old Kiko Porto comes from F4 United States where he secured three WINS and a great deal of popularity among fans, but he never got a pole. Now he already has TWO in his 6 race starts in USF2000. With Dudu next to him it becomes an all-Brazilian front row.

• Points leader Christian Rasmussen had five poles in six races coming to Indianapolis, but so far, he hasn’t even cracked the front row here.

• Jack William Miller already has two podiums on the season. The sophomore never showed the skill or maturity in his rookie season which would lead one to believe he would be a consistent TOP FIVE talent…but here he is, and consistently good.

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Kiko Porto

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Up next, USF2000 go for Race 2…

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M

[MarkyS]

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Friday at Indianapolis - Dudu Barrichello makes it two for two…

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Rookie Eduardo Barrichello only led two laps yesterday on his way to his first WIN but today the Pabst Racing “Speed Boy” led all 15 laps of Race 2 for the USF2000 series to take his 2nd WIN in a row. Coming home in P2, his second podium in the last three races and 3rd for the season was Jack William Miller for Miller Vinatieri while P3 went to Christian Brooks for Exclusive Autosport - a breakthrough podium for this talented Californian.

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Edurado does it again for the Pabst "Speed Boys"

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Pole-sitter Kiko Porto for DEForce Racing got a decent start, with Barrichello dropping in behind him. From P4, Christian Rasmussen for Jay Howard Driver Development also got a good start, and with P3 starter Jack William Miller, made it 4 wide going into Turn 1. It was Barrichello that was the first driver to get to Turn 2, followed by Rasmussen and Miller, leaving Porto to drop to P4 after one corner. As they got to Turn 7, Miller made a daring pass on Rasmussen to move into P2 while Christian Brooks passed Reece Gold for Cape Motorsports to take over P4, as Kiko dropped further to P6.

On lap 2 Brooks was past Rasmussen to take over P3 and the podium was effectively set for the rest of the race. On Lap 4, Rasmussen, Gold, and Porto were fighting for the P4 spot, with Porto getting by Gold to take over the P5 spot. Gold then lost places to his teammate Michael d’Orlando and to Nolan Siegel for JHDD to fall to eighth.

For several laps Dudu kept about a second and a half between him and Jack, with Brooks also about a second and a half behind Jack in 3rd, but Rasmussen wanted the P3 spot and closed. As he did Porto closed on him and took Rassmussen in Turn 1 to move into P4. With two laps remaining, Barrichello held a 1.2-second advantage over Miller, who was closing every lap. Behind Miller, Brooks, Porto, Rasmussen, Gold, and d’Orlando were nose to tail battling over the final podium spot.

Barrichello was able to hold on, crossing the ‘yard of bricks finish line a slim 0.5 seconds ahead of Miller. Further back, Brooks held on for third, with the four drivers behind him all covered by less than two seconds.

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Notable:

• Both Jack William Miller and Christian Brooks have been TOP FIVE drivers all year. In the case of Brooks he has been unable to get his first podium until now, but look for the Santa Clarita off-roader to visit it more often.

• Points leader Christian Rasmussen came in P5 and lost some of his prodigious lead in the points to Barrichello, who is now 2nd in the points.

• Barrichelloo not only WON the race but also put in Fastest Lap, which puts him on the pole for Race 3. Second fastest was Christian Rasmussen, putting him on the front row with Dudu.

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Your happy podium - That’s Jack William Miller in P2 on the left, Eduardo Barrichello in P2 in the middle and Christian Brooks in P3 on the right:

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Next up, Indy Pro 2000 qualify for Race 2, Season Round 9…

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M

[MarkyS]

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Friday at Indianapolis - Indy Pro 2000 hold their qualifying for Race 2…

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…and on the pole was Race 1 WINNER Sting Ray Robb for Juncos Racing, proving the old axiom that success breeds success.

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

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Row 1

Pole - Sting Ray Robb, Juncos Racing - time of 01:19.2808s for a speed of 110.751mph

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P2 - Artem Petrov [R], Juncos Racing - time of 01:19.3593s for a speed of 110.641mph

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Row 2

P3 - Danial Frost, Turn 3 Motorsports - time of 01:19.5438s for a speed of 110.384mph

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P4 - Devlin DeFrancesco [R], Andretti Steinbrenner Racing - time of 01:19.6507s for a speed of 110.236mph

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Row 3

P5 - Hunter McElrea [R], Pabst Racing - time of 01:19.6532s for a speed of 110.233mph

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P6 - Parker Thompson, DEForce Racing - time of 01:19.7658s for a speed of 110.077mph

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Row 4

P7 - Manuel Sulaiman [R], DEForce Racing
P8 - Colin Kaminsky [R], Pabst Racing

Row 5

P9 - Jacob Loomis [R], BN Racing with Team Benik
P10 - Kory Enders, DEForce Racing

Row 6

P11 - Moises de la Vara, DEForce Racing
P12 - Nate Aranda [R], Juncos Racing

Row 7

P13 - Antoine Comeau, Turn 3 Motorsport
P14 - Bob Kaminsky, Pabst Racing

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Notable:

• With both Sting Ray and Artem Petrov on the front row, Juncos Racing is reminding everyone of what a powerhouse team they have been in Indy Pro 2000 over the years.

• Not on the grid is Braden Eves for Exclusive Autosport. Braden suffered a tremendous crash near the end of Race 1 on Thursday. Taken to the hospital, Braden was eventually diagnosed with broken vertebrae in his neck. He is expected to make a full recovery, but will be out for months.

Braden Eves

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Sting Ray Robb - on the pole

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The race followed this qualifying…

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M

[MarkyS]

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Friday at Indianapolis - Indy Pro 2000 race and Sting Ray repeats!..

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Sting Ray Robb for Juncos Racing is having the best week of his lengthy Indy Pro 2000 career, with two WINS and now two poles, as the pride of Payette, Idaho takes his 2nd WIN in two days - his 3rd of his career. Coming in P2 was Devlin DeFrancesco for Andretti Steinbrenner, doing all he could to keep his points lead. P3 went to the other Juncos Racing threat, Russia’s Artem Petrov.

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Sting Ray for the WIN…again

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At the green flag, pole-sitter Robb got a significant jump, getting to Turn 1 first and keeping the lead. DeFrancesco, who started fourth, was able to move up to the second spot in the treacherous corner, passing Artem and P3 starter Danial Frost for Turn 3 Motorsports. Parker Thompson for DEForce Racing was also able to eclipse Frost to take over P4. On Lap 2, in Turn 1, P6 Hunter McElrea for Pabst Racing and P7 Manuel Sulaiman for DEForce Racing made contact, with the Mexican driver going through the grass. He would remain in the grass, out of the race, as the track stayed green.

Robb was able to put a 1.3 second gap to Devlin, who had only a 0.7-second gap to third place Petrov. Thompson and Frost rounded out the rest of the top five. By the halfway point of the 20-lap race, Robb’s gap to DeFrancesco had grown to 1.8 seconds, with DeFrancesco, Petrov, and Thompson separated by only 1.3 seconds. For the rest of the race Robb continued to open the gap while everyone else battled for the P2 spot.

Robb put in Fastest Lap of the race and he crossed the line more than 2 seconds on Devlin, who just beat Artem to the line. Thompson just missed nipping Artem at the stripe.

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Notable:

• Sting Ray’s Birthday was Thursday, making this a 2nd present, but certainly well-earned. Robb is driving perfectly and fast at the same time. His Fastest Lap in this race puts him on pole for Race 3, later today.

• Hunter McElrea put in the 2nd fastest lap, putting him on the front row for Race 3 with Robb.

• Devlin put in the 3rd fastest lap, and his P2 finish proves he is not going down easily. He remains in the points lead, but barely. There are no less than TWO Juncos Racing guys coming after him.

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Your happy podium - That’s Devlin DeFrancesco in P2 on the left, Sting Ray Robb in P1 in the middle and Artem Petrov in P3 on the right:

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Next up, USF2000 hold Race 3 of the event…

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M

[MarkyS]

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Friday at Indianapolis - The grid for USF2000, Race 3…

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The grid for each Race 3 of this event was made by examining the lap speeds of each series’ Race 2. The guy with the Race 2 Fastest Lap is on the pole in Race 3, with everyone else lining up based on the speed of their fastest Race 2 laps.

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Here is the way that USF2000 will grid for Season Round 9: [R] denotes rookie

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Row 1

Pole - Eduardo Barrichello [R], Pabst Racing

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P2 - Christian Rasmussen, Jay Howard Driver Development

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Row 2

P3 - Jack William Miller, Miller Vinatieri Motorsports

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P4 - Michael d’Orlando [R], Cape Motorsports

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Row 3

P5 - Reece Gold, Cape Motorsports

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P6 - Kiko Porto [R], DEForce Racing

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Row 4

P7 - Christian Brooks [R], Exclusive Autosport
P8 - Nolan Siegel, Jay Howard Driver Development

Row 5

P9 - Simon Sikes [R], Legacy Autosport
P10 - Bijoy Garg [R], Jay Howard Driver Development

Row 6

P11 - Matthew Round-Garrido, Pabst Racing
P12 - Prescott Campbell [R], Exclusive Autosport

Row 7

P13 - Cameron Shields, DEForce Racing
P14 - Josh Green [R], Cape Motorsports

Row 8

P15 - Yuven Sundaramoorthy, Pabst Racing
P16 - Max Kaeser [R], Miller Vinatieri Motorsports

Row 9

P17 - Wyatt Brichacek [R], Jay Howard Driver Development
P18 - Kyle Dupell, Cape Motorsports

Row 10

P19 - Christian Bogle, Jay Howard Driver Development
P20 - Josh Pierson [R], Exclusive Autosport

Row 11

P21 - Michael Myers [R], Legacy Autosport

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Eduardo Barrichello

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And…the race…

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M

[MarkyS]

+++

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Friday afternoon at Indianapolis - USF2000 holds their final race…

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…and the WINNER of Season Round 9 was Floridian teenager Reece Gold, who earned his breakthrough maiden victory this afternoon for Cape Motorsports, after knocking on the door all season. P2 went to Christian Brooks of Exclusive Autosport in his 2nd podium of the day while P3 went to Kiko Porto for DEForce Racing in what was also his 2nd podium of the day.

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Another new WINNER, Reece Gold for Cape Motorsports

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The final USF2000 race of the week saw Dudu Barrichello for Pabst Racing once again take off into the lead from pole. Behind, P2 starter Christian Rasmussen for Jay Howard Driver Development was inadvertently hit in the back by P4 starter Michael d’Orlando for Cape Motorsports in Turn 1. As those two plummeted down the order, Barrichello led P3 starter Jack William Miller for Miller Vinatieri, with Gold slotting into P3 ahead of Christian Brooks. On lap 3 Miller used the draft to close right up onto Barrichello’s tail as they headed toward Turn 1. Barrichello instinctively defended the inside line in the braking area, whereupon Miller executed perhaps the best pass of the weekend as he drove all the way around the outside to claim the lead. A little later on the same lap, in Turn 7, Gold also made a successful move on Barrichello, dropping him to P3, just ahead of Brooks.

Miller led for the rest of the race up until the final lap, when under pressure from Reece, he left his braking a fraction too late at Turn 1 and slid straight on into the escape road. Gold slipped through into the lead and then completed the lap to secure an emotional victory. Brooks capped his excellent two days by inheriting P2, and although Miller crossed the finish line in third, he was relegated to fourth, behind Porto, by the stewards for an unsafe return to the race track in Turn 2 following his run into the gravel trap.

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Notable:

• Eduardo Barrichello finished the race in P5 while Christian Rasmussen ended the race last, in P21. It all helped Reece Gold take over 2nd place in the points and close in on Christian.

• Gold now has 6 podiums on the year, including the WIN. He just turned 16 years old 3 days ago.

• While a USF2000 rookie last season, Reece was one of the youngest ever Lucas Oil Formula Car series Champions, taking that title at 14 in 2018. The kid can boogie.

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Reece Gold

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Your happy podium - That’s Christian Brooks in P2 on the left, Reece Gold in P1 in the middle and Kiko Porto in P3 on the right:

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

1. Christian Rasmussen, 244

2. Reece Gold, 194

3. Eduardo Barrichello, 187

4. Christian Brooks, 150

5. Michael d’Orlando, 145

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The next outings for USF2000 should be at Mid-Ohio, in support of the IndyCar double-header there, hopefully to be held next week, but nothing is 100% confirmed, yet.

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Next, Indy Pro 2000 hold Rcae 3 of the event…

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M

[MarkyS]

+++

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Friday afternoon at Indianapolis - Sting Ray Robb is nearly PERFECT for the event…

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…as in Race 3 the teen collected his 3rd WIN in the three starts, with three Fastest Laps and two out of three poles for the whole race week. Emerging P2 was Pabst Racing “Speed Boy” Hunter McElrea while P3 went to Juncos Racing’s other ace, Artem Petrov.

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3 for three for Sting Ray

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On the first lap, Robb barely survived a three-wide moment under braking for Turn 1 with P2 starter Hunter McElrea and P3 starter Devlin DeFrancesco for Andretti Autosport. but once he had emerged in the lead, there was no catching him as he romped to his third victory in the last three starts. On the same lap Devlin tried to get past Hunter in Turn 7, but ended up in the grass, dropping several positions in the process.

Like Robb, McElrea had no real problem keeping the gap back to Artem Petrov, now in P3, but he could not make up any ground on Sting Ray. The trio held station for the rest of the 25-lap event. Devlin ended the race in P8 and as a result lost his points lead to Robb.

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Notable:

• This is Sting Ray’s 3rd WIN in a row and 4th WIN in 6 races. He’s on that proverbial post maiden-win roll. Many thought a 4th year in Indy Pro 2000 was a mistake, but he is now positioned to take the title, and should he do so, will be in the revived Indy Lights series next season - paid for.

• Hunter Is also on a roll of his own. After struggling for much of the season, he’s come alive and now has 4 second-place finishes in his last six starts.

• This is Artem Petrov’s 5th podium of the year, including his two WINS. He maintains 3rd in the points.

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Your happy podium - That’s Hunter McElrea in P2 on the left, Sting Ray Robb in P1 in the middle and Artem Petrov in P3 on the right:

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

1. Sting Ray Robb, 256

2. Devlin DeFrancesco, 240

3. Artem Petrov, 207

4. Danial Frost, 199

5. Hunter McElrea, 184

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Like USF2000, the next outings for Indy Pro 2000 should be at Mid-Ohio, in support of the IndyCar double-header there, hopefully to be held next week, but nothing is 100% confirmed, yet. For USF2000 it would be another triple-header while IP2K would do a double-header.

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That’s it for Indianapolis, however, and it was a great event, with big swings in fortunes for some and big changes in the championships - all one could ask for.

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M