If the first official Cooper Tires USF2000 Powered by Mazda test session is any indication (and it likely won’t be), be prepared to expect the unexpected in 2016. The 2015 championship series was dominated by Cape Motorsports with /WTR and sophomore drivers, while the first test session saw four rookie drivers among the top six and Pabst Racing along with Team Pelfrey take the top six spots on the time-sheet.

Leading the way was Pabst Racing’s Jordan Lloyd, who contested the first four USF2000 races with John Cummiskey Racing in 2015 before returning home to Australia and dominating the CAMS Jayco Australian Formula 4 Championship. He was joined in the top five by 14 year-old rookie Jordan Cane (Team Pelfrey), sophomore Yufeng Luo (Pabst Racing), sophomore Garth Rickards (Pabst Racing) and rookie Robert Megennis (Team Pelfrey).

The only red flag of the session occurred when rookie Lucas Kohl had an off-track excursion. The John Cummiskey Racing crew was able to get the dirt and grass cleared from the radiators and the Roberto Moreno mentored driver was able to get back out on track.

Complete Cooper Tires USF2000 Powered by Mazda time-sheet:

Place Car No. Driver Quick Lap Difference
1 21 Jordan Lloyd 1:24.166 0.000
2 81 Jordan Cane 1:24.389 0.2228
3 23 Yufeng Luo 1:24.764 0.5982
4 22 Garth Rickards 1:24.916 0.7501
5 80 Robert Megennis 1:24.956 0.7893
6 82 TJ Fischer 1:25.115 0.9482
7 33 Ayla Agren 1:25.181 1.0144
8 2 Parker Thompson 1:25.235 1.0687
9 34 Lucas Kohl 1:25.303 1.1371
10 92 Cameron Das 1:25.632 1.4659
11 72 Tazio Ottis 1:25.764 1.5980
12 83 James Munro 1:25.823 1.6571
13 3 Nakita Lastochkin 1:26.447 2.2809
14 18 Dakota Dickerson 1:26.567 2.4003
15 20 Clint McMahan 1:28.015 3.8483
16 17 Felipe Ortiz 1:29.253 5.0865
17 8 Anthony Martin 9:41.520 497.3536

Over the past three seasons the Pro Mazda presented by Cooper Tire championship has been a back and forth affair between Team Pelfrey and Juncos Racing, and it appears that will continue in 2016. The two powerhouse teams held down the top seven spots at the top of Pro Mazda time sheet.

The field in 2016 might not have the optimal quantity, but it sure doesn’t lack in quality. The top six drivers were all covered by all eight-tenths of a second. Team Pelfrey rookie Aaron Telitz led the way over Weiron Tan (Team Pelfrey), Pato O’Ward (Team Pelfrey), Nicolas Dapero (Juncos Racing), Will Owen (Juncos Racing), and Garett Grist (Juncos Racing).

The entire one session went green with only a couple of off-track excursions.

Complete Pro Mazda presented by Cooper Tire time-sheet:

Place Car No. Driver Quick Lap Difference
1 82 Aaron Telitz 1:20.868 0.000
2 81 Weiron Tan 1:21.266 0.3985
3 80 Pato O’Ward 1:21.279 0.4118
4 31 Nicolas Dapero 1:21.439 0.5710
5 23 Will Owen 1:21.754 0.8862
6 5 Garett Grist 1:21.766 0.8987
7 0 Jake Parsons 1:22.618 1.7502
8 3 Jake Edison 1:23.036 2.1688
9 19 Jorge Cevallos 1:24.084 3.2168
10 37 Jay Horak* 1:25.197 4.3295
11 2 Nico Jamin 2:24.270 63.4021