By Steve Wittich
After an off-season featuring extensive private team testing, the Road To Indy Presented by Cooper Tires season officially gets underway with a three-day test on the 2.3-mile, 17-turn Barber Motorsports Park natural terrain road course.
The last time that the 2.0L twin-turbocharged four-cylinder AER engines turned an official lap in anger was during a solitary March 13, 2020 practice session in St. Petersburg, Fla. That’s a way too long of a break of 358 days. It will be great to see the IL-15s back where they belong, on a race track,
The two-day Indy Pro 2000 and USF2000 test will be the first time that those two series have had official preseason testing on a track they will be returning to since a 2016 visit to the same circuit.
Questions
Can you determine the champion by who ‘wins’ testing?
The short answer to that question is no; the longer answer is a little more series-dependent.
The eventual Indy Lights champion has only led the combined timesheet in one of the nine official preseason tests since 2015. Oliver Askew, the 2019 champion, led an official preseason test at Circuit of The Americas.
The eventual champions in 2018, 2017, and 2016 finished third, third, and fifth respectively during a single preseason test in their title-winning seasons.
Aaron Telitz, at Barber Motorsports Park in 2016, is the only eventual Indy Pro 2000 champion to lead the combined timesheet during spring training.
- In 2020, Sting Ray Robb was the 5th quickest on the combined timesheet.
- In 2019, Kyle Kirkwood was the 3rd quickest on the combined timesheet.
- In 2018, Rinus VeeKay was the 8th quickest on the combined timesheet.
- In 2017, Victor Franzoni didn’t take part in spring training.
In USF2000, three of the five champions since 2016 were the drivers who topped the combined timesheet in spring training.
However, it hasn’t happened in the past two seasons. 2020 champion Christian Rasmussen was the fourth quickest in spring training, and 2019 champion Braden Eves was the third quickest.
Cape Motorsports drivers Kyle Kirkwood (2018), Oliver Askew (2017), and Anthony Martin (2016) all led the combined timesheet in spring training for their championship seasons.
Will we see record lap times?
An empathic YES, is the answer to that question. The 2.3-mile, 17-turn natural terrain road course was recently repaved.
The current track records are:
- USF2000 – 83.009 seconds set by Michael Epps (Belardi Auto Racing) during qualifying for Cooper Tires Winterfest in 2014.
- Indy Pro 2000 – 76.2967 seconds set by Parker Thompson (Exclusive Autosport) during qualifying in 2018.
- Indy Lights – 72.3865 seconds set by Spencer Pigot (Juncos Racing) during qualifying in 2015.
USF2000 basics, schedule, and entry list
The bottom rung of the Road To Indy Presented by Cooper Tires has 23 pilots taking part in spring training at Barber Motorsports Park on April 4 and April 5.
See below for a complete entry list, but here a few notes:
There are eight veterans, 14 rookies, and one driver for Exclusive Autosport that is still to be announced.
Force Indy, Joe Dooling Autosports, Turn 3 Motorsports, and Velocity Racing Development are the three teams that are making their Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship debuts in Alabama.
Cape Motorsports and DEForce Racing each have four entries, the most by any of the teams.
Eighteen of the 22 announced drivers were born in the United States. The other four drivers are made up of two New Zealanders, one Brazilian and one Canadian.
The average age of the 22 drivers is 17.7 years old, and the most senior driver is 20-years-old.
Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Spring Training Schedule
Sunday
TIME | EVENT |
---|---|
12:30pm-1:30pm | USF2000 Test Session |
2:50pm-3:50pm | USF2000 Test Session |
Monday
TIME | EVENT |
---|---|
8:30am-9:30am | USF2000 Test Session |
10:50am-11:50am | USF2000 Test Session |
2pm-2:55pm | USF2000 Test Session |
Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship 2021 Spring Training Entry List
CAR NO. | DRIVER | AGE | TEAM | HOMETOWN | RESIDENCE | LAST SERIES |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Ely Navarro – r | 16 | DEForce Racing | Las Vegas, Nev. | Fishers, Ind. | Lucas Oil Formula Car Series / karting |
2 | Thomas Nepveu – r | 16 | Cape Motorsports | Oka, Quebec, CANADA | Oka, Quebec, CANADA | F4 United States Championship / Mexican FIA NACAM Formula 4 / karting |
3 | Evan Stamer – r | 19 | Cape Motorsports | Maryville, Ill. | Glan Garbon, Ill. | Karting |
4 | Michael d’Orlando | 19 | Cape Motorsports | Hartsdale, N.Y. | Hartsdale, N.Y. | USF2000 |
5 | Spike Kohlbecker | 18 | Cape Motorsports | St. Louis, Mo. | St. Louis, Mo. | F4 United States Championship / Toyota Racing Series |
6 | Bijoy Garg | 18 | Jay Howard Driver Development | Stanford, Calif. | Atherton, Calif. | USF2000 / F4 United States Championship |
8 | Jackson Lee | 18 | Jay Howard Driver Development | Indianapolis, Ind. | Avon, Ind. | F1600 Championship Series / UK Formula Ford |
9 | Peter Vodanovich | 20 | Jay Howard Driver Development | Auckland, NEW ZEALAND | Auckland, NEW ZEALAND | Toyota Racing Series / New Zealand Toyota 86 Championship / Australian TR86 Series |
10 | Nolan Siegel | 16 | DEForce Racing | Palo Alto, Calif. | Palo Alto, Calif. | USF2000 / F4 United States Championship |
11 | Prescott Campbell | 20 | DEForce Racing | Newport Beach, Calif. | Oxford, UNITED KINGDOM | USF2000 |
12 | Kiko Porto | 17 | DEForce Racing | Recife, BRAZIL | Recife, BRAZIL | USF2000 |
16 | Kent Vaccaro | 19 | Miller Vinatieri Motorsports | Plattsburgh, N.Y. | Burlington, Vt. | USF2000 / Formula Regional Americas Championship |
22 | Yuven Sundaramoorthy | 18 | Pabst Racing | Oconomowoc, Wisc. | Guilderland, N.Y. | USF2000 |
23 | Jace Denmark | 16 | Pabst Racing | Phoenix, Ariz. | Scottsdale, Ariz. | F4 United States Championship / karting |
24 | Josh Pierson | 15 | Pabst Racing | Portland, Ore. | Wilsonville, Ore. | USF2000 |
29 | Erik Evans | 17 | Velocity Racing Development | Atlanta, Ga. | Johns Creek, Ga. | F4 United States Championship |
33 | Josh Green | 18 | Turn 3 Motorsport | Mount Kisco, N.Y. | Mount Kisco, N.Y. | USF2000 |
34 | Dylan Christie | 17 | Turn 3 Motorsport | Columbus, Ohio | Princeton, N.J. | F1600 Championship Series / SCCA F1600 |
44 | Christian Brooks | 20 | Exclusive Autosport | Santa Clarita, Calif. | Santa Clarita, Calif. | USF2000 |
63 | Trey Burke | 16 | Joe Dooling Autosports | Park Ridge, Ill. | Alvin, Texas | Lucas Oil Formula Car Series / F1600 Championship Series / 305 & 410 Winged Sprint Cars |
90 | TBA | Exclusive Autosport | ||||
91 | Billy Frazer | 18 | Exclusive Autosport | Auckland, NEW ZEALAND | Pukekohe, NEW ZEALAND | Toyota Racing Series / New Zealand Formula Ford |
99 | Myles Rowe | 20 | Force Indy | Powder Springs, Ga. | New York, N.Y. | Lucas Oil Formula Car Series |
Indy Pro 2000 basics, schedule, and entry list
The middle rung of the Road To Indy Presented by Cooper Tires has 17 drivers taking part in spring training at Barber Motorsports Park on April 4 and April 5.
See below for a complete entry list, but here a few notes:
There are six veterans and 11 rookies taking part in the two-day test.
Velocity Racing Development is a newcomer to Indy Pro 2000, while Jay Howard Driver Development and RP Motorsport are series returnees.
Juncos Racing will have three drivers taking part in the test, the most of any team.
The 17 drivers were born in eight different countries. The United States, with ten drivers, is the only country with multiple representatives.
The average age of the 17 drivers is 19.4 years old. The youngest driver is reigning F4 United States Championship Powered By Honda champion Hunter Yeany, who will start the season as a 15-year-old. No driver is over 22 years old, and the test includes five teenagers and a dozen twenty-somethings
Indy Pro 2000 Spring Training Schedule
Sunday
TIME | EVENT |
---|---|
1:40pm-2:40pm | Indy Pro 2000 Test Session |
4pm – 5pm | Indy Pro 2000 Test Session |
Monday
TIME | EVENT |
---|---|
9:40am-10:40am | Indy Pro 2000 Test Session |
12:50pm-1:50pm | Indy Pro 2000 Test Session |
3:05pm-4pm | Indy Pro 2000 Test Session |
2021 Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires Spring Training Entry List
CAR NO. | DRIVER | AGE | TEAM | HOMETOWN | RESIDENCE | LAST SERIES |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Christian Rasmussen – r | 20 | Jay Howard Driver Development | Copenhagen, DENMARK | Copenhagen, DENMARK | USF2000 |
3 | James Roe – r | 22 | Turn 3 Motorsport | Dublin, IRELAND | Indianapolis, IND | Formula Regional Americas Championship |
5 | Wyatt Brichacek – r | 20 | Jay Howard Driver Development | Noblesville, Ind. | Johnstown, Colo. | USF2000 |
7 | Cameron Shields – r | 20 | DEForce Racing | Toowoomba, AUSTRALIA | Palm Desert, Calif. | USF2000 |
11 | Hunter Yeany – r | 15 | Velocity Racing Development | Charlottesville, Va. | Virginia Beach, Va. | F4 United States Championship / Formula Regional Americas Championship |
18 | Hunter McElrea | 21 | Pabst Racing | Los Angeles, Calif. | Gold Coast, AUSTRALIA | Indy Pro 2000 |
20 | Flinn Lazier – r | 21 | Legacy Autosport | Vail. Colo. | Vail, Colo. | SCCA Formula Atlantic |
21 | Kyffin Simpson – r | 16 | Juncos Racing | BARBADOS | CAYMAN ISLAND | F4 United States Championship / Formula Regional Americas Championship |
22 | Manuel Sulaiman | 20 | Juncos Racing | Mexico City, MEXICO | Puebla, MEXICO | Indy Pro 2000 |
27 | Colin Kaminsky | 21 | Pabst Racing | Joliet, Ill. | Homer Glen, Ill. | Indy Pro 2000 |
40 | Jack William Miller – r | 17 | Miller Vinatieri Motorsports | Westfield, Ind. | Carmel, Ind. | USF2000 |
42 | Artem Petrov – r | 21 | Exclusive Autosport | Saint Petersburg, RUSSIA | Saint Petersburg, RUSSIA | Indy Pro 2000 |
51 | Jacob Abel – r | 20 | Abel Motorsports | Louisville, Ky. | Louisville, Ky. | Indy Pro 2000 / Formula Regional Americas Championship |
55 | Reece Gold – r | 16 | Juncos Racing | Miami, Fla. | Miami, Fla. | USF2000 |
74 | Enzo Fittipaldi – r | 19 | RP Motorsport | Miami, Fla. | Davidson, N.C. | FIA Formula 3 Championship |
77 | Enaam Ahmed – r | 21 | RP Motorsport | London, UNITED KINGDOM | London, UNITED KINGDOM | FIA Formula 3 Championship |
91 | Braden Eves | 21 | Exclusive Autosport | Gahanna, Ohio | New Albany, Ohio | Indy Pro 2000 |
Indy Lights basics, schedule, and entry list
The top rung of the Road To Indy Presented by Cooper Tires has 13 drivers taking part in spring training at Barber Motorsports Park on April 6.
See below for a complete entry list, but here a few notes:
The baker’s dozen pilots include only three veterans and ten rookies.
Welcome Global Racing Group and Pserra Racing / AS Promotions as new teams to Indy Lights and welcome back championship-winning team Carlin.
A pair of tents will have four cars, each taking part in the test. Andretti Autosport/Andretti Steinbrenner Autosport and HMD Motorsports/Global Racing Group w/HMD Motorsports are the leaders in that category.
Five of the Indy Lights entries were born in the United States, with the other eight representing seven different flags, all born outside of the United States.
The average age of the 13 drivers is 21.3 years old. The test will include four teenagers, eight twenty-somethings, and one 30-year-old.
Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires Spring Training Schedule
Tuesday
TIME | EVENT |
---|---|
10:30am-12:30pm | Indy Lights Test Session |
1:30pm-4:30pm | Indy Lights Test Session |
Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires 2021 Spring Training Entry List
CAR NO. | DRIVER | AGE | TEAM | HOMETOWN | RESIDENCE | LAST SERIES |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 | Sting Ray Robb | 19 | Juncos Racing | Payette, Idaho | Payette, Idaho | Indy Pro 2000 (2020) |
5 | Alex Peroni | 21 | Carlin | Hobart, AUSTRALIA | Tranmere, AUSTRALIA | FIA Formula 3 Championship (2020) |
7 | Christian Bogle | 20 | Carlin | Covington, La. | Covington, La. | USF2000 (2020) |
11 | Antonio Serravalle | 18 | Pserra Racing / AS Promotions | Toronto, Ontario, CANADA | Unionville, Ontario, CANADA | Formula Regional Americas Championship (2020) |
17 | Devlin DeFrancesco | 21 | Andretti Steinbrenner Autosport | Toronto, Ontario, CANADA | Miami, Fla. | Indy Pro 2000 (2020) |
24 | Benjamin Pedersen | 21 | Global Racing Group w/ HMD | Copenhagen, DENMARK | Seattle, Wash. | BRDC British Formula 3 Championship (2020) / Euroformula Open (2020) / Formula Regional Americas Championship (2020) |
26 | Linus Lundqvist | 22 | Global Racing Group w/ HMD | Stockholm, SWEDEN | Indianapolis, Ind. | Formula Regional Americas Championship (2020) |
27 | Robert Megennis | 21 | Andretti Autosport | New York, N.Y. | New York, N.Y. | Indy Lights (2019) / European Le Mans Series (2020) / Intercontinental GT Challenge (2020) / IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (2021) |
28 | Kyle Kirkwood | 22 | Andretti Autosport | Jupiter, Fla. | Jupiter, Fla. | Indy Pro 2000 (2019) / IMSA Prototype Challenge (2020) / IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (2020 & 2021) |
51 | Toby Sowery | 24 | Juncos Racing | Cambridge, UNITED KINGDOM | Cambridge, UNITED KINGDOM | Indy Lights (2019) |
59 | Nikita Lastochkin | 30 | HMD Motorsports | Moscow, RUSSIA | Los Angeles, Calif. | Indy Pro 2000 (2019) |
68 | Danial Frost | 19 | Andretti Autosport | SINGAPORE | Miami, Fla. | Formula Regional Americas Championship (2020) / Asian Le Mans Series (2020) |
79 | David Malukas | 19 | HMD Motorsports | Chicago, Ill. | Chicago, Ill. | Formula Regional Americas Championship (2020) |
Don’t miss any of the Road To Indy Presented by Cooper Tires action:
- download the Road To Indy TV app from the Apple App Store or on Google Play to get video, audio, timing & scoring, news from TSO Ladder and much more – you can also get Road To Indy TV via Apple TV, Amazon Video, Roku or Microsoft Xbox One
- live timing – Road To Indy TV – Indy Lights – Pro Mazda – USF2000 – IndyCar Race Control
- on twitter – TSO Ladder – Team Cooper Tire – Road To Indy TV – Indy Lights – Indy Pro 2000 – USF2000
- on all social media channels via the #TeamCooperTire and #RoadToIndy hashtags
A note about our presenting sponsor.
Once again, a huge thank you to Cooper Tires for coming back to be the presenting sponsor of TSO Ladder for the fourth season. Without them, we would not be able to bring you our extensive Road To Indy Presented by Cooper Tires coverage. If you require tires, I highly recommend them. Our family has the Discover ® AT3 4S on our SUV and CS5 Grand Touring on our car.
Cooper Tires 2021 Spring Promotion runs through April 12 and has some great bargains. Click here to learn more and find out where to purchase your Coopers.