INDY LIGHTS PRESENTED BY COOPER TIRES
ROYAL PURPLE SYNTHETIC OIL GRAND PRIX OF INDIANAPOLIS SUPPORTING THE LUPUS FOUNDATION OF AMERICA
RACE TWO REPORT
05.12.18
The clouds rolled in over Indianapolis Motor Speedway today as Andretti Autosport Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires drivers took to the road course one last time for Race 2 of the Royal Purple Grand Prix of Indianapolis.
The second race of the double-header weekend was an intense battle for position throughout the entire field. Aggressive passing and strategy was seen throughout the entire race, but it was sophomore Indy Lights driver, Colton Herta, who chased the checkered flag all the way to victory.
The Indy Lights stable will now switch their focus to their last race for the month of May – the Freedom 100. The four drivers will take to the iconic oval at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 25 at 12:30 p.m. ET.

No. 98 ANDRETTI-STEINBRENNER RACING /  CURB MAZDA
  • STARTED 2nd // FINISHED 1st
  • CHAMPIONSHIP: 3rd (114 pts.)
  • OF NOTE: Made contact with Aaron [Telitz] early in the race falling back to P4. Herta battled back up the field to P2 before passing Santi [Urrutia] with three laps remaining, taking the lead and earning his second win of the season.
“The race today was crazy! We didn’t know what to expect going into it and I knew it was going to be tough starting on the outside [of the grid], so I tried to slot in with Aaron [Telitz] and move my way forward. To come away with the win in the end is amazing and to win twice at Indianapolis Motor Speedway is just spectacular.”

No. 48 JOURNEY MAZDA
  • STARTED 5th // FINISHED 5th
  • CHAMPIONSHIP: 5th (85 pts.)
  • OF NOTE: Fought for position between Victor [Franzoni] and teammate Dalton [Kellet] before ending the day with a fifth-place finish.
“We’re not very happy with how Race 2 turned out. From the beginning we were just lacking pace and couldn’t get the car under me. We showed good pace in qualifying which is a takeaway today, but overall it just wasn’t our race. We will come back strong for the Freedom 100.”

No. 28 K-LINE INSULATORS, USA MAZDA
  • STARTED 7th // FINISHED 6th
  • CHAMPIONSHIP: 7th (72 pts.)
  • OF NOTE: After moving up to P5, Dalton spun out on Lap 3, falling to the back of the field. Kellett ends the weekend from sixth.
“Today was definitely a step up from yesterday. The weekend kind of derailed after testing on Thursday – we didn’t do the best in qualifying and trying to fight from the back is never easy when the field is this close, but I still managed to battle with Aaron [Telitz] and my teammate Ryan [Norman]. I was happy that we had some clean racing and we were able to figure some things out in the second race. Overall it’s not the weekend we were hoping for but I think we learned a lot and it was a valuable weekend for the No. 28 crew moving ahead on the road courses. I’m looking forward to getting on track in a couple weeks for the Freedom 100 – that’s the highlight race of the year.”

No. 27 Riverina CDMX Mexico City MAZDA
  • STARTED 1st // FINISHED 7th
  • CHAMPIONSHIP: 1st (130 pts.)
  • OF NOTE: Starting from the pole, Patricio was passed on Lap 2 by Santi [Urrutia]. Catching a flat tire later in the race forced O’Ward to pit and fall to the back of the field ending the weekend from seventh.
“The start of the race was fine and after I fell back to P2, I tried to stay with Santi [Urrutia]. Today wasn’t as bad as yesterday, but we struggled both races. I took the defensive line going into Turn 1 and locked up the front left [tire] and it cut into the core of the tire. Going into Turn 7 I caught a flat tire and came into pit lane to change the tire but I had already fallen to the back and pretty much watched the end of the race from there. It wasn’t our weekend, but I’d much rather take the win in two weeks than to take it this weekend.”