Junior Open Wheel Talent

Michael Johnson will drive a hand controlled JDC MotorSports entry in the 2012 USF2000 National Championship. (photo: FlatOutNation.com)

Although many had already labeled the signing “confirmed” for the past several months, it was officially announced yesterday that Michael Johnson will indeed join JDC MotorSports for the 2012 USF2000 National Championship.

What makes this signing special?

Well, it’s special for a number of reasons but mainly because Johnson — who was paralyzed in a motorcycle racing incident in 2005 — will become the first driver to pilot a specially equipped hand-controlled race car in the Mazda Road to Indy. His journey will begin next week, Feb. 6-7, when JDC opens competition at the USF2000 Winterfest at Sebring International Raceway.

The 19-year-old Michigan native has embarked on an incredible journey since that ill-fated day on August 13, 2005 — the day of the accident that left him paralyzed from the mid-chest down. Two years later he was back racing. First in karts and later in the Skip Barber Racing Series formula car.

Last season, Johnson ran the full Skip Barber Summer Series and showed everyone how much natural ability he has. Not to mention work ethic. He scored three wins and seven podium finishes en route to third-place in the final standings.

“I’m so psyched to be competing in the USF2000 Championship with [team principal] John Church and JDC MotorSports!” Johnson said in a team release. “My journey to compete in open-wheel racing has required unique attention, and I want to thank all the people who supported the efforts to get us on the Mazda Road to Indy. INDYCAR and the USF2000 series have been supportive in working with us to make this happen. Many thanks to John and the entire JDC Motorsports team who made a miracle happen with the preparation of the car, and when we go racing next week in the Winterfest it will be a dream come true.”

Johnson has already completed nine full-day tests with the Minnesota-based squad in preparation for the upcoming Winterfest and National Championship.

Team owner John Church is equally excited to have Johnson joining an already-impressive lineup which includes teammates Scott Hargrove, Neil Alberico, and Zac Silver.

“I cannot even tell you how excited the entire team is to add Michael to our 2012 roster,” Church said. “Obviously this is a unique program, and during testing Michael has shown us that he will be up to the task and be competitive in our run for the championship in 2012.”

Eric Filgueiras
(photo: Robinson Motor Sports)

Eric Filgueiras has worked out a deal to drive for Robinson Motor Sports in the 2012 USF2000 National Championship, competing in the National Class aboard the No. 12 Formula Enterprise machine.

For now, the contract is only for the season-opener at Sebring International Raceway.

The announcement comes one day before Filgueiras turns 18 years-old. Happy Birthday, Eric.

This should be a pretty good combination. Filgueiras has been very impressive in karts and further developed his skill in Formula 500 competition.

In addition, he’s had a pretty active F2000 testing schedule this off-season. Last fall, the Florida native participated in the Mazda Road to Indy Scouting Combine. RMS is a two-time National Champion in the SCCA Formula Enterprises class.

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

Trent Hindman signed with Cliff Dempsey Racing for the 2012 Formula Renault BARC Championship, according to a release sent out this morning.

The New Jersey native plans to run all but one Renault race this season due to a scheduling conflict with his USF2000 National Championship campaign.

Said Hindman, “While the gaps in the USF2000 schedule are going to allow me to get to most of the Formula Renault races, unfortunately I’m going to miss Donington the weekend of August 17-18. When BARC updated the schedule it was moved from the end of June to the same weekend as the USF2000 triple header at Road America. USF2000 is my priority so I will be stateside that weekend.”

Running both USF2000 and the Formula Renault BARC Championship will certainly be good for Hindman’s experience, but it will also present a set of unique challenges associated with travel. Competing in multiple championships is nothing new for the 16-year-old, though. Hindman started 2011 in the USF2000 Winterfest and later focused on the Ontario Formula Ford Championship and Skip Barber National Championship. Then, last fall, he traveled to Europe (where he first worked with Cliff Dempsey) as a recipient of the Team USA Scholarship to compete in the Formula Ford Festival and Walter Hayes Trophy.

It will be fun to watch his progress in both series this year and see how he adjusts to the cars. The Formula Renault BARC Championship gets underway on April 7-8 at Snetterton.

The USF2000 National Championship today released its 14-race 2012 schedule.

While the number of races is higher in 2012, the championship will be run over seven weekends; a nice move by officials to reduce travel expenses for both teams and drivers. Factoring in the Winterfest, drivers will have the opportunity to compete in 20 USF2000 races in 2012.

Here’s a look at the current schedule:

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ArmsUp Motorsports announced today that Luigi Biangardi will pilot the team’s No. 15 car in the 2012 USF2000 National Championship.

Biangardi, 15, joins the Wisconsin-based team following a six-race debut in USF2000 last season while driving for Belardi Auto Racing. He finished the season with four top-10 finishes, including a season-best fourth at Baltimore. Prior to USF2000, Biangardi competed in Skip Barber regional and national races. In just his second national race, he finished fourth (Road America).

Watch for steady progress from both Biangardi and ArmsUp Motorsports in 2012.

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

Photo: Jakob Ebrey

Earlier today, Neil Alberico signed with JDC MotorSports adding considerable depth to the 2012 USF2000 National Championship field.

The California native will run the upcoming USF2000 Winterfest with the team, beginning Feb. 6, in preparation for the upcoming season.

Alberico, 19, had a tremendous karting career and has parlayed that skill-set to open-wheel car racing. Quickly, I might add.

In 2009 — his first full season in cars — he won 10 races en route to the Formula Mazda Bondurant Championship. Last season, he moved to Europe where he faced intense competition from talented drivers in the MSA British Formula Ford Championship.

In Europe, he earned his first top-10 in just his second race. It was one of many (20, to be more accurate). He competed in both the British Formula Ford Championship and the Formula Ford Eurocup.

His performances earned him the opportunity to compete for the prestigious Team USA Scholarship this fall. Again, he delivered. Alberico and fellow 2012 USF2000 entrant Trent Hindman received scholarships to represent the U.S. in the Formula Ford Festival and the Walter Hayes Trophy.

He finished third at Brands Hatch during the 40th running of the FFF and earned a heat-race win at Silverstone in the WHT.

Alberico will be a fun driver to watch this season. With his formula ford experience, guidance from JDC, and a solid group of teammates he is considered a favorite, by many, to win the 2012 title. Certainly, he will put up a good fight.

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

Shelby Blackstock signed with Andretti Autosport to compete in the 2012 USF2000 National Championship and Winterfest.

Blackstock, 21, showed good pace in both Skip Barber regional and national competition in 2011. He finished fifth in the National Championship with two podium finishes (2nd-LRP, 3rd-Road Atlanta) and set the fast lap of the race on three occasions.

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

STORM BREWING: USF2000 drivers test at Iowa Speedway in 2010. The event marked the first time the entire 'Road to Indy' development ladder raced together at one venue.
(Photo: Ryan - JuniorOpenWheelTalent.com)

Are you looking to keep track of who’s racing with whom in the Mazda Road to Indy development ladder?  Well, you’re in luck.

Make the jump to read about each of the USF2000 National Championship drivers who committed early for the 2012 season.

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2011 Road to Indy Scouting Combine
(Photo: IndyCar.com)

Following two days of evaluation, Bobby Kelley emerged as the top driver among 10 karters invited to the inaugural Road to Indy scouting combine held at Andersen RacePark in Palmetto, Fla.

The invitees, while talented, were relatively callow in terms of car experience. For many, this was their first exposure to car racing. Aside from on-track activities, the group was exposed to business seminars, and evaluated in mock interviews.

Despite a rain delay on the opening day of competition all drivers were able to adapt to the USF2000 car prior to evaluation with the help of engineer Mike Reggio (Belardi Auto Racing) and driver coach Gerardo Bonilla. On the final day, the racers took to the track for a five-lap qualifying simulation with instructions to lock down one flying lap. Following qualifying, the drivers were sent back out for a 10-lap race simulation where they were judged on consistency.

The panel included Jeremy Shaw, Anders Krohn, John Doonan, and Tony George Jr. All four felt that Kelley had both speed and the ability to steadily hit his marks with ease.

“Bobby stood out among the participants in the scouting combine, and he quickly demonstrated his ability to get up to speed in a short period of time,” George said.  “Bobby was not only consistent, but he was fast. We are excited to present him with this opportunity to compete in a USF2000 event this season. Hopefully this program will give him the experience he needs to progress his career into open-wheel racing.”

As a prize for winning the combine, Kelley, 19, who is a regular in the International Karting Federation (IKF), will compete in the season-opening USF2000 National Championship doubleheader on the Streets of St. Petersburg in March. It will mark his first open-wheel race.

Kelley has previously competed in three NASCAR S2 division races —  featuring sportsman late model cars – logging a best finish of second at Toyota Speedway in Irwindale. Similar to his upcoming debut in the USF2000 ranks, Kelley’s ability to get behind the wheel of a stock car came as a prize for his performance in the Ron Sutton Winner’s Circle Shootout.

The Riverside, Calif., native adapted to the USF2000 car and Andersen RacePark circuit with relative ease and credits his adaptability to his time in go-karts.

“Karting helped me in many ways to prepare for the combine,” Kelley said. “The braking and accelerating points [in USF2000] were very similar to a kart. I believe the most difficult part of the combine was getting familiar with the grip level of the USF2000 car. The car could be misleading at times, but I was able to quickly adjust as I knew I did not have a lot of time to prove myself on the track to the judges. It was fun to see how far I could actually push the car.”

Make the jump to see the full list of drivers invited to the 2011 Mazda Road to Indy Scouting Combine.

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The USF2000 National Championship released its six-race 2012 USF2000 Winterfest schedule this morning. The six events will be held over two tripleheader weekends.

Feb. 6-7: Sebring International Raceway

Feb. 11-12: Palm Beach International Raceway

To read the official release, click here.

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