GRAND PRIX OF ST. PETERSBURG
RACE TWO REPORT
After a tough start to the 2016 season during yesterday’s Race 1, Dean Stoneman, Dalton Kellett and Shelby Blackstock fought hard to put the Andretti Autosport team back on top this morning on the streets of St. Petersburg.

The Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires season will return to Phoenix International Raceway for Round Three on Saturday, April 2 at 3:30 p.m. ET.

Dean Stoneman
No. 27 Stellrecht Mazda

  • Started today’s 45-lap race from the 13th position
  • Battled the entire race and advanced to claim a sixth-place finish

“Today we had a solid, consistent race. We earned decent points toward the championship in both races this weekend after a poor qualifying session. I worked hard with the team last night and we found a solution which improved the car this morning. We showed good pace today starting from 13th and gaining positions to sixth. It is still about learning the tire, it’s a long race using only one set of tires. The Andretti Autosport team has done a great job. Thanks go to my sponsor, Stellrecht. It has been a good weekend, we learned a lot, and it is great working with this team.”
Dalton Kellett
No. 28 K-Line Insulators Mazda

  • Started from 14th
  • The Canadian was competitive inside the top eight and pushing to advance when the No. 28 spun and fell back; Kellett was able to make up ground for a top-10 finish

“The start of Race 2 was very exciting and I was able to make up a couple spots off the start into Turn 1. Going into Turn 4 a few cars got together and I was able to sneak by and that move put me well inside the top 10. I was running consistently behind my teammate, Dean Stoneman, for the first third of the race and then I spun going into Turns 13 and 14. That was unfortunate, but it was just a mistake on my part and take that and learn from it for the next race. After that incident I was able to get back in and running and I was able to catch back up to the pack ahead of me. The cars ahead were fighting and battling hard, a couple of the other drivers got into it and I was able to make up a couple spots and finish P10. Overall I think the weekend was successful in the sense that I gained a lot of experience and I learned a lot during my first Indy Lights race. I’m looking forward to getting back at it in Phoenix.”
Shelby Blackstock
No. 51 Starstruck Mazda

  • Started today’s Race 2 from the sixth position
  • Fell victim to an on-track incident on the opening lap resulting in front wing damage and forcing the American driver to pit for a new front wing; recorded a 11th-place finish

“Overall it was a pretty painful weekend for the No. 51 machine. We found pace in both races, but unfortunately we just didn’t have the luck we were hoping for in the races. I had a good start in Race Two, but ended up getting into an incident in the brake zone in Turn 4. Just bad luck all around, but the good news is that we found pace in the car. We still need to do a little bit more fine tuning to find the last bit to move further up on the grid for qualifying, but overall great progress from the Starstruck team. Thanks to the whole Andretti Autosport crew for their hard work this weekend, hopefully we’ll come back strong in Phoenix.”