The 2017 USF2000 field led by Oliver Askew steams down the front straight at Barber Motorsports Park (Photo Courtesy Of Andersen Promotions)
By Steve Wittich
The Anatomy of Cooper Tires USF2000 Champion is Part One of a multi-part preview that will get you ready for what is sure to be an exciting battle for the $401,305 scholarship and a seat in Indy Pro 2000
You can read the Indy Lights – Anatomy of a Champion here —> 2021 Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires preview – Part #1 – The Anatomy of a Champion
You can read the Indy Pro 2000 – Anatomy of a Champion here –> 2021 Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires preview – Part #1 – The Anatomy of a Champion
Averages
The USF2000 champion in 33 previous seasons averaged 5.5 wins, 5.4 poles, 8.5 podiums, and since 1997, 1.0 Did Not Finishes (DNF).
The Road To Indy Presented by Cooper Tires officially got started in 2010, and in those 11 seasons, the eventual USF2000 series champion has averaged 6.9 wins, 7.7 poles, 10.7 podiums, and 0.7 DNFs.
The 2020 season was the fourth featuring the Elite Engine powered Tatuus USF-17, and the averages for those champions is 8.5 wins, 6.3 poles, 10.5 podiums, and 0.8 DNFs
Wins
Winning races on the bottom rung of the Road To Indy Presented by Cooper Tires appear to be more critical than in the two senior Road To Indy series.
Every winner of the USF2000 championship won at least one race during their title run. Kyle Kirkwood (2018) and J.R. Hildebrand (2006) won an extraordinary dozen races in their championship seasons. Jason Lapoint (2001) and Greg Ray (1992 SCCA) only won a single race on the way to the title.
2006 USF2000 champion J.R. Hildebrand celebrates a victory at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course – one his 12 wins that season (Photo Courtesy Of Andersen Promotions)
Twelve drivers – Christian Rasmussen (2020), Kyle Kirkwood (2018), Oliver Askew (2017), Nico Jamin (2015), Sage Karam (2010), J.R. Hildebrand (2006), Jay Howard (2005), Bryan Sellers (2002), David Besnard (1998), Mike Borkowski (1994 SCCA), Chris Simmons (1993 USAC East), and Greg Moore (1992 USAC West) – all won more than 50% of the races during their respective championship seasons.
The winningest driver in a given season is the driver that wins the championship 84.8% (28 of 33 seasons) of the time.
The drivers that won championships without winning the most races are Florian Latorre (2014), Scott Hargrove (2013), Matthew Brabham (2012), Jason Lapoint (2001), and Greg Ray (1992 SCCA).
Poles
In 25 of the 33 USF2000 seasons (75.8%), the driver that wins the title starts the most races from the inside of the front row. Braden Eves, the 2019 scholarship winner, was the last driver not to collect the most podiums while still winning the championship.
In 2015, Cape Motorsports driver Nico Jamin started from the pole 13 times, the most of any other USF2000 champion. The highest percentage of pole starts by the 33 champions is 91.7% by 2010 champion Sage Karam.
Nico Jamin, the 2015 USF2000 champion celebrates on his record 13 poles. This one is in Toronto. (Photo Courtesy Of Andersen Promotions)
<Insert Random Trivia Note – In the one race that Karam didn’t start from pole – at Lucas Oil Raceway – he started from the outside of the front row. In total, Karam started on the front row in 25 Road To Indy starts across the three series.>
Podiums
Unlike big brothers, Indy Pro 2000 and Indy Lights, standing on the most podiums during a season is not the most critical factor between wins, poles, podiums, and laps led. It is still vital, though.
Twenty-six of the 33 USF2000 champions were the driver with the most trips to the podium during their title-winning season. That equates to 78.8%, a lower percentage than Indy Pro 2000 (86.4%) and Indy Lights (88.2%).
Vince Puelo (1990), David DeSilva (1993 USAC West), Jason LaPoint (2001), Florian Lattore (2014), Anthony Martin (2016), Oliver Askew (2017), and Braden Eves (2019) all took home a USF2000 championship without leading the podiums category.
However, in many cases, when the champion leads the most podiums category, they do so with authority.
In 2015, Cape Motorsports’ Nico Jamin stood on the podium 15 times in 16 races. That equates to a podium percentage of 93.8%. Jamin’s podium total and podium percentage are the highest of any USF2000 champion.
Fifteen drivers – Nico Jamin (2015 – 93.8%), Kyle Kirkwood (2018 – 92.9%), J.R. Hildebrand (2006 – 92.9%), Petri Suvanto (2011 – 91.7%), Sage Karam (2010 – 91.7%), Mike Borokowski (1994 SCCA – 85.7%), Ernest Sikes (1993 SCCA – 85.7%), Jay Howard (2005 – 83.3%), Oliver Askew (2017 – 78.6%), Matthew Brabham (2012 – 78.6%), Dan Wheldon (1999 – 78.6%), David Besnard (1998 – 78.6%), Chris Simmons (1993 USAC East – 77.8%), Jonathan Bomarito (2003 – 75%) and Greg Ray (1992 SCCA – 75%) – all stood on more than 75% of the available podiums.
Only twice – Jason Lapoint (2001 – 46.2%) and Zak Morioka (1997 – 41.7%) – in 33 seasons has the champion failed to podium in at least 50% of the races.
Laps led
In the 21 seasons since 1997, the eventual champion has led the most laps just over 50% of the time. Shorten that period to the 11 years since the rebirth of USF2000, and that percentage gets even smaller. Only four of the last 11 USF2000 champions have led the most laps during their title-winning season,
2018 USF2000 champion Kyle Kirkwood led 254 laps, the most of the 21 champions since 1997.
2018 USF2000 champion Kyle Kirkwood leading one his 254 laps during the 2018 Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship season (Photo Courtesy Of Andersen Promotions)
Finishing
Since 1997, five of the 21 USF2000 champions have finished every race, 13 have had one Did Not Finish (DNF), two have had a pair of DNFs, and one has had three DNFs. The last time that the USF2000 champion had more than a single DNF in a season was 2005.
Kyle Kirkwood (2018), Nico Jamin (2015), Petri Suvanto (2011), J.R. Hildebrand (2006), and Jonathan Bomarito (2003) are the drivers that have won the USF2000 championship and not had a single DNF.
Dan Wheldon, in 1999, was the only driver to win the championship while failing to finish three times, twice at Road Atlanta and once at Mosport.
Only four of the last 21 champions – Braden Eves (2019), Kyle Kirkwood (2018), Petri Suvanto (2011), and Jonathan Bomarito (2003) completed every lap on the way to a USF2000 championship.
However, all but one of the last 21 USF2000 champions did complete at least 90% of the laps during their title season. In 1997, champion Zak Morioka completed 89.2% of a possible 380 laps.
Miscellaneous
Nine of the champions since 1997 have led their championship season in wins, poles starts, podiums, and laps led. That list includes David Besnard (1998), Dan Wheldon (1999), Aaron Justus (2000), Bryan Sellers (2002), Jay Howard (2005), J.R. Hildebrand (2006), Nico Jamin (2015), Kyle Kirkwood (2018) and Christian Rasmussen (2020).
2002 USF2000 champion Bryan Sellers leads at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (Photo Courtesy Of Andersen Promotions)
Age and Experience
The average age of the 23 drivers who took part in USF2000 spring training at Barber Motorsports Park was 17.8-years-old and included nine veterans and 14 rookies.
If past seasons are any indication, there is a decent chance that one of those rookies could end up taking home the scholarship. Since 1990, 18 rookies, 11 sophomores, and four juniors have won the championship.
Since the birth of the Road To Indy Presented by Cooper Tires in 2010, rookies hold the edge by a six to five margin. The last third-year driver to win the championship was Aaron Justus in 2000.
The average age of the USF2000 champions since 1990 is 22-years old, but that does include 49-year-old Craig Taylor in 1991.
In the 11 seasons of Road To Indy action, the average age of the USF2000 champion is 19.8-years-old.
Sage Karam, who was only 15-years-old when he won the championship with Andretti Autosport in 2010, is the youngest title winner and one of 13 teenagers to take home the title.
Sixteen 20-somethings, two 30-somethings, and one 49 year old have also been champions.
Since 2015, the champion has been 19 (twice), 20 (thrice), and 21 (once) years old.
Tables
Number of wins by the USF2000 champion
| YEAR | DRIVER | WINS |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Christian Rasmussen | 9 |
| 2019 | Braden Eves | 6 |
| 2018 | Kyle Kirkwood | 12 |
| 2017 | Oliver Askew | 7 |
| 2016 | Anthony Martin | 7 |
| 2015 | Nico Jamin | 10 |
| 2014 | Florian Latorre | 3 |
| 2013 | Scott Hargrove | 4 |
| 2012 | Matthew Brabham | 4 |
| 2011 | Petri Suvanto | 5 |
| 2010 | Sage Karam | 9 |
| 2006 | J.R. Hildebrand | 12 |
| 2005 | Jay Howard | 9 |
| 2004 | Bobby Wilson | 4 |
| 2003 | Jonathan Bomarito | 5 |
| 2002 | Bryan Sellers | 8 |
| 2001 | Jason Lapoint | 1 |
| 2000 | Aaron Justus | 5 |
| 1999 | Dan Wheldon | 6 |
| 1998 | David Besnard | 8 |
| 1997 | Zak Morioka | 2 |
| 1996 | Steve Knapp | 4 |
| 1995 | Jeret Schroeder | 4 |
| 1994 USAC | Clay Collier | 3 |
| 1994 SCCA | Mike Borkowski | 4 |
| 1993 East | Chris Simmons | 7 |
| 1993 West | David DeSilva | 2 |
| 1993 SCCA | Ernest Sikes | 4 |
| 1992 East | Chris Simmons | 3 |
| 1992 West | Greg Moore | 4 |
| 1992 SCCA | Greg Ray | 1 |
| 1991 | Craig Taylor | 4 |
| 1990 | Vince Puelo | 4 |
Number of poles by the USF2000 champion
| YEAR | DRIVER | POLES |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Christian Rasmussen | 8 |
| 2019 | Braden Eves | 4 |
| 2018 | Kyle Kirkwood | 5 |
| 2017 | Oliver Askew | 8 |
| 2016 | Anthony Martin | 9 |
| 2015 | Nico Jamin | 13 |
| 2014 | Florian Latorre | 10 |
| 2013 | Scott Hargrove | 6 |
| 2012 | Matthew Brabham | 6 |
| 2011 | Petri Suvanto | 5 |
| 2010 | Sage Karam | 11 |
| 2006 | J.R. Hildebrand | 10 |
| 2005 | Jay Howard | 5 |
| 2004 | Bobby Wilson | 4 |
| 2003 | Jonathan Bomarito | 3 |
| 2002 | Bryan Sellers | 7 |
| 2001 | Jason Lapoint | 3 |
| 2000 | Aaron Justus | 8 |
| 1999 | Dan Wheldon | 5 |
| 1998 | David Besnard | 8 |
| 1997 | Zak Morioka | 2 |
| 1996 | Steve Knapp | 7 |
| 1995 | Jeret Schroeder | 1 |
| 1994 USAC | Clay Collier | 6 |
| 1994 SCCA | Mike Borkowski | 4 |
| 1993 East | Chris Simmons | 6 |
| 1993 West | David DeSilva | 3 |
| 1993 SCCA | Ernest Sikes | 1 |
| 1992 East | Chris Simmons | 1 |
| 1992 West | Greg Moore | 3 |
| 1992 SCCA | Greg Ray | 1 |
| 1991 | Craig Taylor | 3 |
| 1990 | Vince Puelo | 3 |
Number of podiums by the USF2000 champion
| YEAR | DRIVER | PODIUMS |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Christian Rasmussen | 10 |
| 2019 | Braden Eves | 8 |
| 2018 | Kyle Kirkwood | 13 |
| 2017 | Oliver Askew | 11 |
| 2016 | Anthony Martin | 11 |
| 2015 | Nico Jamin | 15 |
| 2014 | Florian Latorre | 8 |
| 2013 | Scott Hargrove | 9 |
| 2012 | Matthew Brabham | 11 |
| 2011 | Petri Suvanto | 11 |
| 2010 | Sage Karam | 11 |
| 2006 | J.R. Hildebrand | 13 |
| 2005 | Jay Howard | 10 |
| 2004 | Bobby Wilson | 9 |
| 2003 | Jonathan Bomarito | 9 |
| 2002 | Bryan Sellers | 10 |
| 2001 | Jason Lapoint | 6 |
| 2000 | Aaron Justus | 9 |
| 1999 | Dan Wheldon | 11 |
| 1998 | David Besnard | 11 |
| 1997 | Zak Morioka | 5 |
| 1996 | Steve Knapp | 6 |
| 1995 | Jeret Schroeder | 5 |
| 1994 USAC | Clay Collier | 7 |
| 1994 SCCA | Mike Borkowski | 6 |
| 1993 East | Chris Simmons | 7 |
| 1993 West | David DeSilva | 5 |
| 1993 SCCA | Ernest Sikes | 6 |
| 1992 East | Chris Simmons | 5 |
| 1992 West | Greg Moore | 5 |
| 1992 SCCA | Greg Ray | 6 |
| 1991 | Craig Taylor | 6 |
| 1990 | Vince Puelo | 5 |
Number of laps led by the USF2000 champion (1997 to present)
| YEAR | DRIVER | LAPS LED |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Christian Rasmussen | 200 |
| 2019 | Braden Eves | 79 |
| 2018 | Kyle Kirkwood | 254 |
| 2017 | Oliver Askew | 160 |
| 2016 | Anthony Martin | 124 |
| 2015 | Nico Jamin | 161 |
| 2014 | Florian Latorre | 57 |
| 2013 | Scott Hargrove | 82 |
| 2012 | Matthew Brabham | 71 |
| 2011 | Petri Suvanto | 124 |
| 2010 | Sage Karam | 215 |
| 2006 | J.R. Hildebrand | |
| 2005 | Jay Howard | |
| 2004 | Bobby Wilson | 66 |
| 2003 | Jonathan Bomarito | 93 |
| 2002 | Bryan Sellers | 143 |
| 2001 | Jason Lapoint | 32 |
| 2000 | Aaron Justus | 181 |
| 1999 | Dan Wheldon | 150 |
| 1998 | David Besnard | 198 |
| 1997 | Zak Morioka | 22 |
Number of DNFs by the USF2000 champion (1997 to present)
| YEAR | DRIVER | POLES |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Christian Rasmussen | 8 |
| 2019 | Braden Eves | 4 |
| 2018 | Kyle Kirkwood | 5 |
| 2017 | Oliver Askew | 8 |
| 2016 | Anthony Martin | 9 |
| 2015 | Nico Jamin | 13 |
| 2014 | Florian Latorre | 10 |
| 2013 | Scott Hargrove | 6 |
| 2012 | Matthew Brabham | 6 |
| 2011 | Petri Suvanto | 5 |
| 2010 | Sage Karam | 11 |
| 2006 | J.R. Hildebrand | 10 |
| 2005 | Jay Howard | 5 |
| 2004 | Bobby Wilson | 4 |
| 2003 | Jonathan Bomarito | 3 |
| 2002 | Bryan Sellers | 7 |
| 2001 | Jason Lapoint | 3 |
| 2000 | Aaron Justus | 8 |
| 1999 | Dan Wheldon | 5 |
| 1998 | David Besnard | 8 |
| 1997 | Zak Morioka | 2 |
| 1996 | Steve Knapp | 7 |
| 1995 | Jeret Schroeder | 1 |
| 1994 USAC | Clay Collier | 6 |
| 1994 SCCA | Mike Borkowski | 4 |
| 1993 East | Chris Simmons | 6 |
| 1993 West | David DeSilva | 3 |
| 1993 SCCA | Ernest Sikes | 1 |
| 1992 East | Chris Simmons | 1 |
| 1992 West | Greg Moore | 3 |
| 1992 SCCA | Greg Ray | 1 |
| 1991 | Craig Taylor | 3 |
| 1990 | Vince Puelo | 3 |
Percentage of laps completed by the USF2000 champion (1998 to present)
| YEAR | DRIVER | % LAPS COMPLETED |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Christian Rasmussen | 93.2% |
| 2019 | Braden Eves | 100.0% |
| 2018 | Kyle Kirkwood | 100.0% |
| 2017 | Oliver Askew | 95.7% |
| 2016 | Anthony Martin | 97.5% |
| 2015 | Nico Jamin | 99.7% |
| 2014 | Florian Latorre | 95.0% |
| 2013 | Scott Hargrove | 95.5% |
| 2012 | Matthew Brabham | 98.3% |
| 2011 | Petri Suvanto | 100.0% |
| 2010 | Sage Karam | 94.3% |
| 2006 | J.R. Hildebrand | 97.3% |
| 2005 | Jay Howard | 89.4% |
| 2004 | Bobby Wilson | 98.9% |
| 2003 | Jonathan Bomarito | 100.0% |
| 2002 | Bryan Sellers | 96.8% |
| 2001 | Jason Lapoint | 90.5% |
| 2000 | Aaron Justus | 98.7% |
| 1999 | Dan Wheldon | 92.8% |
| 1998 | David Besnard | 98.1% |
| 1997 | Zak Morioka | 89.2% |
Number of season-long categories – wins, poles, podiums, and laps led – that the USF2000 champion led or tied for the lead. (1997 to present)
| YEAR | DRIVER | DRIVER’S TEAM | CATEGORIES LED |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Christian Rasmussen | Jay Howard Driver Development | 4 |
| 2018 | Kyle Kirkwood | Cape Motorsports | 4 |
| 2015 | Nico Jamin | Cape Motorsports | 4 |
| 2006 | J.R. Hildebrand | Cape Motorsports | 4 |
| 2005 | Jay Howard | Aiken Racing | 4 |
| 2002 | Bryan Sellers | Cape Motorsports | 4 |
| 2000 | Aaron Justus | Cape Motorsports | 4 |
| 1999 | Dan Wheldon | Primus Racing | 4 |
| 1998 | David Besnard | Primus Racing | 4 |
| 2017 | Oliver Askew | Cape Motorsports | 3 |
| 2011 | Petri Suvanto | Cape Motorsports | 3 |
| 2010 | Sage Karam | Andretti Autosport | 3 |
| 2004 | Bobby Wilson | Cape Motorsports | 3 |
| 2003 | Jonathan Bomarito | PR1 Motorsports | 3 |
| 2016 | Anthony Martin | Cape Motorsports | 2 |
| 2013 | Scott Hargrove | Cape Motorsports | 2 |
| 2012 | Matthew Brabham | Cape Motorsports | 2 |
| 1997 | Zak Morioka | Hayes Motorsports | 2 |
| 2019 | Braden Eves | Cape Motorsports | 1 |
| 2014 | Florian Latorre | Cape Motorsports | 1 |
| 2001 | Jason Lapoint | Richard Morgan Racing | 0 |
Age of USF2000 champions (1990 to present)
| YEAR | DRIVER | AGE |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Christian Rasmussen | 20 |
| 2019 | Braden Eves | 20 |
| 2018 | Kyle Kirkwood | 19 |
| 2017 | Oliver Askew | 20 |
| 2016 | Anthony Martin | 21 |
| 2015 | Nico Jamin | 19 |
| 2014 | Florian Latorre | 17 |
| 2013 | Scott Hargrove | 18 |
| 2012 | Matthew Brabham | 18 |
| 2011 | Petri Suvanto | 18 |
| 2010 | Sage Karam | 15 |
| 2006 | J.R. Hildebrand | 18 |
| 2005 | Jay Howard | 24 |
| 2004 | Bobby Wilson | 22 |
| 2003 | Jonathan Bomarito | 21 |
| 2002 | Bryan Sellers | 20 |
| 2001 | Jason Lapoint | 24 |
| 2000 | Aaron Justus | 26 |
| 1999 | Dan Wheldon | 22 |
| 1998 | David Besnard | 21 |
| 1997 | Zak Morioka | 18 |
| 1996 | Steve Knapp | 32 |
| 1995 | Jeret Schroeder | 25 |
| 1994 USAC | Clay Collier | 19 |
| 1994 SCCA | Mike Borkowski | 19 |
| 1993 East | Chris Simmons | 20 |
| 1993 West | David DeSilva | 27 |
| 1993 SCCA | Ernest Sikes | |
| 1992 East | Chris Simmons | 19 |
| 1992 West | Greg Moore | 17 |
| 1992 SCCA | Greg Ray | 26 |
| 1991 | Craig Taylor | 49 |
| 1990 | Vince Puelo | 31 |
Sage Karam, the youngest USF2000 champion gets some advice from Marco Andretti before a win at the Iowa Speedway in 2010 (Photo Courtesy Of Andersen Promotions)
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A note about our presenting sponsor.
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