Junior Open Wheel Talent

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.

[Continue Reading...]

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.

[Continue Reading...]

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

According to a spreadsheet that hit my inbox today, the Oct. 28-29 Chris Griffis Memorial ‘Road to Indy’ test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway has 43 cars entered between the three feeder series, with seven more entries in limbo. Those numbers seem to be in question, though, as more information arrives. Stay tuned for final numbers and updates.

Hopefully, the entries remain — or grow — when the teams begin to unload their cars this week. I’ll try to update the list below as additional information becomes available.

The USF2000 National Championship and Star Mazda Championship provided driver and team information. My Indy Lights contact hasn’t provided any information at this point. Per today’s spreadsheet:

• USF2000: Seven teams, 14 cars with four additional entries on the fence.
• Star Mazda: Five teams, 7 drivers and 13 cars with one additional entry on the fence.
• Indy Lights: 10 teams, 16 cars with three additional entries on the fence.

Make the jump to see who will be testing with whom in the USF2000 and Star Mazda ranks.

[Continue Reading...]

It was announced yesterday that Scott Hargrove has signed with JDC MotorSports for the 2012 USF2000 National Championship.

The 16-year-old Canadian tested with the team at Blackhawk Farms Raceway last month and impressed onlookers.

Hargrove spent this season in the Skip Barber Summer Series where he finished runner-up, logging four wins. Additionally, he was named Series’ Rookie of the Year.

Hargrove should be a pretty good fit for JDC; watch for the duo to have a solid season in USF2000 competition.

Trent Hindman became the first junior formula driver to commit to a 2012 program when he signed with Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing for the ’12 USF2000 National Championship today.

Hindman ran four races in the USF2000 Winterfest last year, compiling three podium finishes. This season he won the Ontario Formula Ford Championship and was named Rookie of the Year in the Skip Barber National Championship after finishing runner-up with six pole positions, three wins and nine podiums. In addition, he was chosen as one of the finalists for the 2011 Team USA Scholarship and will be competing in the Formula Ford Festival and Walter Hayes Trophy in Europe this fall.

Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing earned the 2011 USF2000 National Championship title with Finland’s Petri Suvanto behind the wheel.

It goes without saying this will be an incredibly solid combination for Hindman and CM/WTR.

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.

—

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

Spencer Pigot celebrates his second win of the 2011 USF2000 National Championship as he takes the checkered flag in Round 9 at Road America.
(Photo: John R. Hendrick/USF2000)

Spencer Pigot started the weekend just the way he wanted. Unfortunately, the same could not be said of his start in Round 9 of the USF2000 National Championship at Road America.

But, the race wasn’t over.

Pigot snared the pole position, besting championship-leader Petri Suvanto by 0.007 seconds on the high-speed Wisconsin road course. At the start of the race, Pigot was relegated to fourth place and it seemed his reign at the front might be over. Undeterred, Pigot focused on the draft and putting down consistent laps. By Lap 4, the 17-year-old standout was up to second, closing on the gearbox of  Suvanto.

Two laps later, Pigot made a bid for the lead passing Suvanto. With six of 12 laps completed, he began to pull away from the field. By the time the checkered flag waved, Pigot — having set the fastest lap of the race — had developed a 5.697-second advantage over second place earning his second USF2000 National Championship win.

“The race was a lot of fun, but a bit more fun than I would have liked after falling back to fourth,” Pigot said post race. “I had to fight hard to get past Zach [Veach] and was able to get back into the lead pretty quickly after that. I kept pushing and tried to pull away.”

Meanwhile, Suvanto had his hands full battling for second place with Wayne Boyd, Zach Veach and Chris Miller, who were all dicing for a spot inside the top-three. Boyd was quickly removed from the fight when race control issued a blocking penalty. Veach worked his way past Suvanto for second, but the Finn reclaimed his runner-up position on the white flag lap. Veach settled for third, while Miller ended his run in fourth. Timmy Megenbier rounded out the fast five.

Saturday’s Round 10 was cut short due to rain. Pigot, starting from pole, led the opening laps with Suvanto in second and Miller in third. By Lap 3, Boyd found his way past Suvanto. On the fourth lap precipitation dampened the race circuit creating havoc in the running order. Boyd took the point with Suvanto moving into second place, relegating Pigot to third. Miller dropped back to 10th.

With the track surface deemed overly wet, drivers were sent to the pits for rain tires. Due to time constraints, the drivers returned to the track for a one-lap dash to the checkered flag.

With the white flag waving on the restart, Suvanto and Pigot worked their way past Boyd. Megenbier found his way to fourth on the restart and Veach moved up three spots to round out the top-five. At the stripe, Suvanto led Pigot by 2.704 seconds, earning his fifth win of the 2011 season.

With the win, Suvanto (277 points) extends his championship lead to 39 points over Spencer Pigot (238). Zach Veach is third with 209.

The USF2000 National Championship drivers return to action on Sept. 4 at Baltimore.

USF2000 National Championship

• Round 9 Results
• Round 10 Results

For up-to-date coverage of junior formula racing, follow @JOWT on Twitter.

Timmy Megenbier navigates the undulating Mid-Ohio circuit en route to his first career podium finish aboard the No. 17 Sick Tea Racing Van Diemen.
(Photo: John R. Hendrick)

Petri Suvanto refuses to put a wheel wrong in his pursuit of the 2011 USF2000 National Championship.

The 18-year-old Finnish driver earned his fourth win of the season Sunday after sweeping both races at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, extending his lead in the 2011 Championship Class point standings.

In Round 7 — the first race of the weekend — Suvanto piloted his No. 3 Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing Van Diemen to a 6.972 second margin of victory.

Wayne Boyd, of Northern Ireland, finished runner-up with American Spencer Pigot rounding out the podium. Timmy Megenbier finished fourth after starting sixth with Zach Veach rounding out the top-five.

In Round 8, Suvanto repeated Saturday’s flawless performance by driving to a 6.454-second margin of victory; earning his fourth win of the 2011 season. Boyd, again, finished runner-up establishing himself as a clear front-runner.

The real story on Sunday was the performance of privateer Megenbier, who after a great battle with Pigot, finished third earning his first-career podium finish driving for Sick Tea Racing in the No. 17 entry. Megenbier made his way past Pigot on Lap 12 and never looked back despite battling grip on scrubbed tires.

Pigot finished fourth with Canadian Matthew DiLeo rounding out the top-five.

• USF2000 Round 7 Results
• USF2000 Round 8 Results

For up-to-date coverage of junior formula racing, follow @JOWT on Twitter.

Jonathan Scarallo has inked a deal with AcceleRace MotorSports to run the Aug. 4-6 USF2000 National Championship event at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

Scarallo, 19, will compete in the National Class piloting the squad’s No. 29 Van Diemen. Earlier this season, he ran seven races in the F2000 Championship with a best finish of fifth at Road Atlanta. He started from pole position during the first race of the weekend at the Georgia road course.

Learn more about Scarallo via his racing website: http://jonathanscarallo.com/