Category: USF2000

News and commentary on the USF2000 National Championship in the Mazda Road to Indy

USF2000 – Winterfest PBIR Schedule

Doug Patterson

The final three races for the 2012 USF2000 Cooper Tire Winterfest take place this weekend at the Palm Beach International Raceway. Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing dominated the first three rounds at Sebring International Raceway earlier in the week, as they swept the podium in each race. Spencer Pigot leads the mini-championship thanks to his two wins in Race 1 and 2, and his second-place finish in Race 3. Teammate Matthew Brabham is right behind him with two seconds in Races 1 and 2 and a win in Race…

Read More

Mazda Road to Indy – Juncos Racing and the Chilean Connection

Doug Patterson

The way into the Mazda Road to Indy program was broadened this week by Juncos Racing team principal Ricardo Juncos. In a recent trip to Chile, he was able to secure a deal that will give the Chilean Formula 3 champion the opportunity to come to the US, fully supported, and race for Juncos Racing in the Mazda Road to Indy program. As of now, Juncos Racing participates in the Star Mazda Championship Presented by Goodyear and the Firestone Indy Lights series, and presumably the incoming driver would be placed…

Read More

USF2000 – Cape Motorsports Dominates at Sebring

Doug Patterson

Looks as though Race #1 of the USF2000 Cooper Tires WinterFest was no fluke! The Cape Motorsports trio of Spencer Pigot, Matthew Brabham, and Trent Hindman swept the podium in all three races held at Sebring International Raceway! Today, Races #2 and #3 were held, and the trio performed just as strongly as they did yesterday. There was one exception, Matthew Brabham. Matthew finished Race #1 in P2, nearly three seconds adrift of race winner Spencer Pigot. During Race #2, he set the fast lap of the race with a…

Read More

USF2000 – Cape Motorsports Sweeps the Winter Fest Race 1 Podium

Doug Patterson

The Cooper Tires Winter Fest, a six-race mini-series that preludes the Cooper Tires Presents the USF2000 National Championship Powered by Mazda, began today with qualifying for Race #1 taking place this morning and the race itself taking place late this afternoon. Cape Motorsports dominated the 20-car field with a podium sweep and Spencer Pigot leading flag to flag. In second was Matthew Brabham, son of the famous sportscar driver, Geoff Brabham, and grandson to the famous Formula 1 three-time World Driver Champion. (no pressure, though). Rounding out the podium was…

Read More

USF2000 – Former Supermoto rider Michael Johnson Joins JDC MotorSports

Doug Patterson

I’ve been slow in posting this driver announcement, and I’m sure that if you follow the Mazda Road to Indy program at all, you’ve heard of Michael Johnson’s signing with JDC MotorSports and that he’s a paraplegic. I was curious about Mr. Johnson’s story and wanted to do some digging and find out more about his story. As many of you know, I’m a big fan not only of auto racing, but also of motorcycle racing. This is why I find Mr. Johnson’s early career so fascinating. Thanks to the…

Read More

USF2000 – Season Finale Announced for Virginia International Raceway

Doug Patterson

As we speculated in our article announcing the Cooper Tires Presents the USF2000 National Championship Powered by Mazda 2012 schedule, and as we discussed on this week’s podcast, the season finale will be held at the Virginia International Raceway on September 14 and 15 in support of the American Le Mans Series. The 4.1-mile, 21-turn Grand West Course will be a perfect fit for the USF2000 cars, and with the new upgrades bringing the venue up to FIA Grade Two spec, VIR is poised to move into a position of…

Read More

USF2000 – 2012 Race Schedule

Doug Patterson

The Cooper Tires Presents the USF2000 National Championship Powered by Mazda 2012 event schedule was finally released today, the last of the three Mazda Road to Indy series to do so. There will be two more races this season bringing the total up from 12 to 14, but there will be same number of event weekends, seven, but the USF2000 teams, like me being a teacher in real life, will get the summer off. Currently, no races are schedule for either June or July. “We can’t wait to showcase the…

Read More

USF2000 – Scouting Combine Notes: Wednesday

Mike Shaw

Wednesday morning arrives with a cool chill in the air for Florida, and the drivers entered the race shop walking lightly on their feet. The knowledge that all their competition efforts were behind them seemed lost on the young faces, while the gravity of the results yet to be announced distorted both time and space as the 10 hopeful karters mingled about. The herd of cars and vans departed by 9:30AM and headed to a Star Mazda team race shop across town. The fact that race car drivers were unleashed…

Read More

USF2000 – Bobby Kelley Wins Scouting Combine

Doug Patterson

Below is the official press release from INDYCAR and USF2000 announcing young driver, Bobby Kelley, as the overall winner of the Mazda Road to Indy Scouting Combine being held at Dan Andersen’s racing complex in Palmetto, FL. For now, I’ll leave you to read USF2000’s statement, but come back later this evening as our partners from AcceleRace Motorsports will have their final thoughts and deep insights about the success of the combine and the talent that was displayed over the past few days. Official release from INDYCAR and USF2000 After…

Read More

USF2000 – Scouting Combine Notes: Tuesday

Mike Shaw

The weather in Florida cooperated this morning (albeit much cooler temp’s) and allowed the rest of the talented field of Karting Champions to finish their practice/orientation laps at the Andersen Karting Facility by mid-morning. The drivers that weren’t able to complete laps on Monday (due to rain) had obviously been watching the other competitors on-track. The skill levels and determination had definitely stepped-up from Monday, and the buzz of competitiveness hung in the air like static electricity. Everyone seemed to have much better starts from pit lane today as sleep…

Read More