Junior Open Wheel Talent

Team USA's Neil Alberico leads Kenneth Thirlwall at Brands Hatch during the 40th running of the Formula Ford Festival with Team Canada's Xavier Coupal close behind in the No. 23 car. (Photo: Jeff Bloxham)

F2000 Championship Series

• Kyle Connery swept the competition at Watkins Glen; bumping his win total to six while claiming Rookie of the Year honors.
• Remy Audette picked up two more podiums securing the 2011 championship, continuing his consistency. The talented Canadian finished all but one race inside the top five this season.
• Chris Livengood wrapped up a solid season with a fourth and seventh-place finish en route to third overall in the points championship.

F1600 Championship Series

• Wyatt Gooden is still looking for competition. The up-and-comer remained undefeated in F1600 competition; going 4-for-4 this season behind the wheel.
• Bill Valet won the 2011 championship with a pair of third-place finishes during the season finale.
• Ryan Leach put together a solid outing with two podiums.
• Several other up-and-coming drivers joined the fray this weekend and showed promise.

Indy Lights

• Following up on the F2000 recap, the 2010 F2000 Champion Victor Carbone found his way to victory lane in the Indy Lights season finale at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
• Series champion Josef Newgarden led laps 4-66, but fell to ninth on the final lap when his tire went down following contact with teammate Carbone’s wing.
• Stefan Wilson set the fastest lap of the race, clocking a 28.32227 while hitting 196.252 miles per hour down the straight.
• Jorge Goncalvez put together another solid race by finishing third behind Carbone and Esteban Guerrieri — his fourth top-five finish on an oval this season.

Team USA and Canada at the Formula Ford Festival

• Neil Alberico led the way for the North American contingent competing at the 40th Annual Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch by finishing third in the 20-lap “Kent” final.

• USA’s Trent Hindman and Alberico both won heat races over the weekend and Team Canada’s Xavier Coupal was equally quick finishing runner-up in his heat. In addition, Coupal earned the pole position for the final with his semi-final speed.
• Spencer Pigot struggled with tire issues and contact throughout the weekend, but held his head high and worked through adversity for a 16th-place finish in the “Duratec” final.
• Despite contact Hindman put in several impressive “through the field” drives en route to a ninth in the final (he started 22nd).
• Ivor McCullough won the Kent final and Scott Malvern won the Duratec Final at Brands Hatch.

IndyCar announced the following this afternoon:

Mazda Road to Indy teams will get a jump start on 2012 when INDYCAR hosts a two-day test open to USF2000 National Championship, Star Mazda Championship and Firestone Indy Lights teams at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s road course on Oct. 28-29. The Chris Griffis Memorial Mazda Road to Indy Open Test is dedicated to the memory of Chris Griffis, the team manager of Sam Schmidt Motorsports’ Firestone Indy Lights team, who died unexpectedly on Sept. 12.

Read the full release here.

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[Update] – View the entry list for the Chris Griffis Memorial ‘Road to Indy’ test.

DISAPPEARING ACT: Drivers take the green flag Sunday for the Kentucky 100 at Kentucky Speedway. Less than half of the starters finished the race on the 1.5-mile oval.
(Photo: Chris Jones/IndyCar.com)

It’s almost unfortunate that Stefan Wilson and Josef Newgarden were so fast Sunday at Kentucky Speedway.

The two checked out early in the race after 13 starters were dwindled to just eight following a five-car clash on the opening lap; which started following a cold-tire spin by Series’ newcomer Jacob Wilson.

When the track went back to green flag racing, Newgarden and Wilson put on a show up front, racing side-by-side, lap after lap, at speeds of nearly 190 miles per hour. Cleanly, I might add.

The remaining drivers — which was only five by races end — were left to fight for a podium spot.

Wilson, who earned his first career Indy Lights pole position earlier in the weekend, found himself in second place trailing Newgarden following the restart, but continued to pursue the top spot utilizing the high-side of the 1.5-mile oval.

On Lap 36, Wilson made the pass stick and gradually pulled away to a 3.1136 margin of victory — his first on an oval. The win catapulted Wilson into second place in the point standings. His previous victory came on the streets of Toronto.

“[Newgarden and I] fought for quite a few laps,” Wilson said. “I’m quite glad we had that battle because it took up the majority of the race; better than just having a lonely race out front.  It was fun to race side-by-side, not just lead from the front and go out and win, but to drop back into second and get back by him.”

While Newgarden would have enjoyed a race win, he was content with a runner-up finish. The podium finish (his 10th of the year)  clinched the 2011 Indy Lights championship for the Tennessee native. He was so consistent this year that all he needed to do was start the race in order seal the championship.

Jorge Goncalvez was able to pick up the final podium spot, besting Brandon Wagner and Bryan Clauson who finished fourth and fifth, respectively. Just a few laps before the finish, Duarte Ferreira was parked by race control for repeatedly blocking and changing lines on the race track. Prior to the penalty, Ferreira set the fastest lap of the race.

Check out the Indy Lights Kentucky 100 Box Score.

The Firestone Indy Lights championship will return to action on Oct. 16 for the season-finale at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

For up-to-date news and views on junior formula racing follow @JOWT on Twitter or follow on Facebook.

The following was posted on O2 Racing’s Facebook page Tuesday, Sept. 27.

Today, O2 Racing and team owner Mark Olson filed its lawsuit in Indiana State Court (Marion County Superior Court) against INDYCAR for Defamation, for Breach of Contract, and for Violation of Indiana’s Deceptive Franchise Practices Act.

The lawsuit stems from O2′s withdrawal from competition at Milwaukee and subsequent suspension by INDYCAR. It will be interesting to see how this all unfolds. Regardless of the end result, this is a truly tragic situation for both parties. Stay tuned for updates.

For up-to-date news and views on junior formula racing follow @JOWT on Twitter or follow on Facebook.

Take a ride with Team E’s Rusty Mitchell as he pilots the squad’s Indy Lights car around the Baltimore Street Circuit. Enjoy.

Jacob Wilson has signed with Belardi Auto Racing for the final two Indy Lights events of the 2011 season.

The 21-year-old sprint car driver passed his Indy Lights rookie test Thursday afternoon at Kentucky Speedway; running 225 miles in the No. 19 Belardi machine.

Wilson is set to compete next weekend at Kentucky before capping off the 2011 season at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He has been busy this season competing in the USAC Silver Crown Series, National Pavement Sprint Car Series, and the Xtreme Sprint Series.

Wilson — who, next weekend, will become the fifth driver with the last name of Wilson to compete in Indy Lights — is scheduled to join Anders Krohn and Jorge Goncalvez under the Belardi Auto Racing tent.

Mike Larrison was injured during last weekend’s Indy Lights rookie test at Kentucky Speedway. Details of the crash and Larrison’s condition have not been released.

Larrison, 29, was planning to make his Indy Lights debut with Andretti Autosport on Oct. 16 during the season finale at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Check back for more information as additional details become available. We wish Larrison the best in his road to recovery.

Update: Indy Car released its medical update this week with more information on Larrison’s condition. According to INDYCAR Medical Director Dr. Michael Olinger, Larrison sustained a L2 lumbar spine fracture — which will not require surgery — following a single-car incident in Turn 4. In addition to his back injury, he also fractured his left heel which will require surgery.

Sprint car driver Mike Larrison is scheduled to test an Indy Lights car at Kentucky this week in an effort to attain his rookie license.

The test comes as preparation for the Indy Lights season-finale at Las Vegas Motor Speedway where Larrison is scheduled to pilot the No. 26 Andretti Autosport entry.

Larrison, who was named Xtreme Sprint Series ‘Most Improved Driver’ in 2010, is currently ranked 11th in the 2011 driver standings.

Fellow sprint car driver Jacob Wilson is also expected to compete at the Las Vegas finale aboard a Belardi Auto Racing machine. His deal has yet to be confirmed.

Check out the video highlights from last weekend’s New Hampshire 100, courtesy of IndyCar.com.

Rusty Mitchell will return to the Indy Lights series for the final four races of the 2011 season, beginning with the Aug. 14 stop at New Hampshire MotorSpeedway.

Mitchell drove for Team E at both Long Beach and Indianapolis Motor Speedway, logging a best finish of seventh. The talented Texan will be looking to put together a full-time Indy Lights campaign in 2012.