INDY LIGHTS PRESENTED BY COOPER TIRES
08.26.17
As the sun set over Gateway Motorsports Park, Andretti Autosport’s Indy Lights drivers took the green flag for a wild 75-lap contest to the 1.25-mile track near St. Louis. Coverage of Round 15’s action-packed event airs Monday, Aug. 28, at noon ET on NBC Sports Network.
Wrapping up the 2017 Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires season, the teams take to Watkins Glen International in Watkins Glen, New York, Sept. 2 and 3. For more information, check out AndrettiAutosport.com and IndyLights.com.
| No. 98 Deltro Energy Mazda |
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“We were starting seventh, so we knew a podium was possible. Late in the race, it really looked challenging. We came into the red flag seventh with seven laps to go. We made some good moves on the restart and got a clean line from the crash. We got up to third and I really think if we had a few more laps, we could’ve challenged for the win. I was catching and the car still felt really good and really fresh. I knew [racing two-wide] was possible from testing but I thought once you get a good, big group of fast guys, it was going to be tough. It proved wrong and you could really pass. It was a really good race, I think one of the best of the year.”
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| No. 28 K-Line Insulators USA Mazda |
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| “Overall, it’s not a bad finish to the weekend. If you had to ask me how things were going during the middle of the race, it would’ve been pretty dower, but I think with that late caution coming out we were really able to capitalize on people’s mistakes and make some moves around the outside in Turn 1 and 2. Doing that classic [Ryan] Hunter-Reay short oval high-line move off the start seems to work pretty well for this race. I think that was probably the strongest part of our race was starts and restarts. We were definitely able to make up some positions there. Race pace, we were definitely struggling there. It was a pretty nervous car the whole time. Once things settled into a rhythm, I think we needed a little bit more as far as comfort and grip overall in the car and be able to challenge for the win, but we had a consistent car under us for the whole race so thanks to the Andretti crew for putting together a good package this weekend.” |
| No. 48 Journey Mazda |
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“At the beginning of the race, the car was just a handful and we had a couple of huge moments that I was actually surprised I caught those, but I kind of just let all the other cars go by me. Then mid-race, the car started coming to me and I was able to throw down some good lap times. On the restart, the tires were down again and it was just a handful in Turn 1. Me and Nico [Jamin] spun going through there and somehow saved that. After that, there was another restart and the temperature of the tires just never came and I was really never able to catch anyone. It was a fun weekend overall. I think we just missed a little bit of a setup during the race, but I think we had a good weekend and we’ll come back stronger at Watkins Glen.”
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| No. 27 Synova Mazda |
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“I’m a bit disappointed with today’s run. We had a really strong race car. I fell down to fourth at the start and I worked my way back up to third and was catching onto [Juan] Piedrahita for second. I think I needed one or two more laps to get him and then we had the red flag. On the restart, the guy behind me was more trimmed than I was and had a good run on the outside. We both went deep in there and then all of a sudden my car broke crazy loose. I don’t know if someone hit me at the back – I’m not exactly sure what happened, but it broke loose and unfortunately I brought [Mateus] Leist with me. It’s just a race incident and it’s disappointing because we for sure had car good enough for podium and maybe better. I’m confident for Watkins Glen. Things are getting better for us now.”
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