It was a Sunday drive upfront for Cooper Tires Indy Lights Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio Race #2, Oliver Askew. Saturday’s race winner has three straight Indy Lights wins and sixth of his rookie season.

Oliver Askew, Toby Sowery and Rinus VeeKay celebrate on the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (Photo Courtesy Of Andersen Promotions)

Andretti Autosport has now won seven Indy Lights races at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, including the last four.

After a mistake ended in the wall yesterday, the BN Racing crew was able to get the Team Pelfrey/BN Racing No. 2 rebuilt, and Englishman Toby Sowery drove to a second-place finish.

Rounding out the podium was Juncos Racing rookie Rinus VeeKay. It’s the Dutchman’s 9th podium in 13 races this season.

Despite his consistency, VeeKay lost ground to double-winner Askew, who now has a 45-point lead headed to World Wide Technology Raceway At Gateway.

The ambient temperature when the nine 2.0L turbocharged AER engines powering the Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires grid were fired was 83F. The track temperature was 110F, and the humidity was 56%.

After one pace lap, the front row of Askew and VeeKay brought the field to the green flag on the Mid-Ohio front straight.

Askew punched off first, with VeeKay dropping in behind him. Sowery looked to the inside of VeeKay, before thinking better of it and backing out.

Behind the front three, they didn’t make as wise of a choice. Robert Megennis and Dalton Kellett who started fourth and fifth went side-by-side through Turn 1, making contact that sent Kellett’s K-Line Insulator sponsored into a smoke inducing spin. Megennis was forced through the gravel trap.

Also taking avoidable action was Aaron Telitz, who went for a wild ride throughout the gravel, and David Malukas, who almost came to a stop to avoid Kellett.

Unfortunately, Kellett’s Juncos Racing No. 67 got high-sided on the curb at the exit for the quick left-hander, meaning the yellow flag came out.

The running order at the end of the first lap, under yellow, was: Askew, VeeKay, Sowery, Norman, Kohl, Malukas, Megennis, Telitz, and Kellett.

The green flag came back out to start Lap 3 with Askew grabbing the lead. Behind him, Sowery was putting intense pressure, trying to go around the outside of The Keyhole.

With the battling behind him, Askew was able to build a significant 2.6-second gap back to VeeKay.

On Lap 4, Sowery made the pass of VeeKay down the long back straight, moving up to second.

Two laps later, Megennis and Teltiz, who were battling for sixth, made contact in Turn 2. Telitz dropped to seventh, while Megennis came to pit road for repairs. The Andretti Autosport was able to make repairs, but the New Yorker was four laps down.

The incident was reviewed by race control, and no action was taken.

On Lap 8, Malukas was able to get around Kohl for the final spot in the top five.

With ten of the 30 laps gone, Askew’s lead was 2.7 seconds. VeeKay, who was 0.9 seconds back, was within push-to-pass range.

On the next lap, VeeKay set the quickest lap of the race to that point, closing to within 0.6 seconds of the Gap Guard/Rich Energy sponsored No. 2 of Sowery.

Sowery took the quick lap honors back on the next lap, the first driver to go under 73 seconds.

When Megennis came back on track, it was between Askew and Sowery, which allowed Sowery to use push-to-pass to close the gap to Askew.

Askew was 1.53 seconds ahead of Sowery when the came under the crossed flags to signify the halfway point of the race. Just outside of the 1.5-second gap to utilize push-to-pass.

VeeKay was third, with Norman and Malukas rounding out the top five.

Askew’s engineer Doug Zister must have told him to turn up the wick. The 22-year-old turned his quickest lap of the race the next lap, pulling out of push-to-pass range.

With five laps remaining, Askew’s gap upfront to Sowery had grown to 3.4 seconds. Sowery was facing pressure from VeeKay, who was utilizing the last of his 50hp push-to-pass boost to move up a spot on the podium.

VeeKay continued to put pressure on Sowery didn’t use his final two push-to-pass utilizations until the last lap. The Soul Red No. 21 was able to get within three car lengths in the Turn 4 braking zone but did not take the risk of a late lunge.

Askew crossed the line 5.2430 seconds ahead of Sowery and turned the quickest lap of the race on that final lap.

Cooper Tires Indy Lights Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio Race #2 – unofficial results

By Steve Wittich

For the fifth time this season, Oliver Askew stood on the top step of an Indy Lights podium. It’s the fourth time the 22-year-old won from the pole. It’s Askew’s 13th career pole.

It’s the sixth Indy Lights win at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for Andretti Autosport. It’s the Indianapolis, Indiana based team’s 54th Indy Lights victory.

For the fourth time this season, Ryan Norman finished on the podium. For much of the race, it looked like it might be the third straight Andretti Autosport one-two-three finish at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

Unfortunately for the team, Megennis was passed by Rinus van Kalmthout (VeeKay) for the final spot on the podium.

The Dutchman, who started sixth after experiencing an issue with the floor of the car in qualifying, ended up collecting his eight Indy Lights podium. It’s his 30th career Road To Indy Presented by Cooper Tires podium.

After getting out of his Index Invest sponsored No. 28, Askew said: “It was a big day for us! It was a big points day.”

The gap between Askew and VeeKay at the top of the Indy Lights championship grew from 25 points to 34 points.

When the command to fire the turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder engines powering the nine Indy Lights entries for the Cooper Tires Indy Lights Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio Race #1 were fired at 1:28 pm. That was a little late, as the track crew and AMR INDYCAR Safety Team were working on an issue just off the track at the exit of Turn 9.

The ambient temperature was 82F, and the track temperature was 114F. The sky was full of fluffy clouds, and the wind had picked up to a heavy breeze from the West South West.

The all-Andretti front row of Askew and Megennis led the field to the green flag on the front-straight.

The pair crossed the start/finish line together; racing towards Turn 1 before Megennis dropped in to follow Askew though the high-speed left-hander.

Norman was able to get ahead of Sowery, but the BN Racing/Team Pelfrey driver was able to regain the

Aaron Telitz, who started seventh, spun the No. 4 at the exit of Turn 5 on the first lap, falling to the back of the field.

At the end of the first lap, Askew’s lead over Megennis was 0.9 seconds. The remainder of the running order at the end of the first lap was Sowery, Norman, VeeKay, Kellett, Malukas, Kohl and Telitz.

For the first time this weekend, Indy Lights took to the 2.258-Mile, 13-Turn Mid-Ohio Road Course after the Stadium SUPER Trucks, and most drivers spent the first lap with their cars at 45 degrees.

After the race, Askew said that it took about six laps before he became more comfortable.

The second lap was no less exciting than the first lap. Norman got by Sowery for the final spot of the podium in Turn 4. Sowery was following Norman as they got to Turn 9 when he lost the rear end of the Gap Guard / Rich Energy sponsored No. 2, spinning 360 degrees before continuing.

Just after that, Kellett went for a wild ride, bouncing through the gravel and grass on the outside of the final corner.

Both drivers were able to continue, with Sowery working hard working his way by Kohl, Kellett, and Malukas to move back to fifth.

Megennis was able to remain within the margin for the push to pass through the first nine laps. At the one-third pole, Askew’s lead had grown to 1.5563 seconds over Megennis, just outside of the push-to-pass zone.

Ryan Norman completed the all Andretti Autosport podium.

Just after the leaders crossed the start/finish line, Sowery had another wild ride. This time the No. 2 dropped a wheel at the exit of Turn 11, hooking to the left and making significant contact with the tire barriers on driver’s left.

Telitz came to pit road during the yellow, which wasn’t a huge surprise. Before the race, team owner Brian Belardi told us that he expected the team to use the race as a test session. The reason? The team is struggling with its road course set-up.

The veteran came to pit road numerous times in final two-thirds of the race. Did it work? By the end of the race, the Outlaw Energy sponsored No. 4 had turned the sixth quickest lap of the race. One spot higher than Telitz qualified.

The running order when the green flag came back out on Lap 14 was Askew, Megennis, Norman, VeeKay, Malukas, Kohl, Kellett, Telitz, and Sowery.

Askew got a good jump on Megennis, who was facing immediate pressure from Norman. Malukas took a look at making a move on VeeKay but was not able to get through Turn 1 quick enough.

At the half-way point of the 30-lap race, Askew’s lead was 1.5 seconds and a lap later, Megennis had fallen out of push-to-pass range.

On Lap 18, Norman looked to the outside of Megennis in Turn 4. The rookie held off the veteran, which allowed VeeKay to get back into the picture.

On the next lap, Norman was able to complete the pass with the same move same spot, moving the Three Chord sponsored No. 48 to the second spot.

Askew’s lead over Norman when they began Lap 22 was 1.5874, with Askew turning his quickest lap of the race.

On Lap 23, VeeKay went to the outside of Megennis in Turn 4, but the New Yorker drove a perfect defensive line through Madness to hold onto the spot.

Two laps, later the Soul Red No. 21 got a better ruin off The Keyhole, easily making an inside pass in Turn 4.

With four laps remaining, Askew’s lead had grown to 2.9668 over Norman. Norman had 2.5 seconds over VeeKay, who was still pushing hard.

On Lap 28, the reigning Indy Pro 2000 driver turned his quickest lap of the race.

Askew, who had just turned the quickest lap of the race, took the white flag with a 4.2-second lead. That fastest lap of the race was over two-tenths quicker than any other driver.

Cooper Tires Indy Lights Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio Race #1 Unofficial Results

The second Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires race of the weekend at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course gets the green flag at 12:45 pm on Sunday.

By Steve Wittich

Rinus van Kalmthout (VeeKay) and Oliver Askew can’t seem to get away from each other. The Juncos Racing rookie Veekay was the quickest, but by a slim 0.0486 seconds over fellow rookie Askew.

VeeKay’s quickest lap, his 17th of the 25 he completed in the session was timed at 72.136 seconds.

The top five drivers were all within a half-second of VeeKay, and all nine entries were covered by a second.

The third-straight Road To Indy practice session, a 45-minute Indy Lights practice, began promptly at 10:20 am.

Early in the session, it was Juncos Racing veteran Kellett that led the way, but by the half-way point, he had been superseded at the top of the timing screens by his teammate VeeKay. The remainder of the top five at that point were: Askew, Kellett, Robert Megennis and Ryan Norman.

With 15-minutes left in the session, the red flag was unfurled from the flag stand on the front straight. The No. 5 Belko Trading/Kohltrade/IVI Vision piloted by Lucas Kohl ended up stuck in the gravel in “China Beach.” The AMR INDYCAR Safety Team was able to get him back on the pavement, and the Brazilian was able to drive back to pit road.

The green flag came out with nine-minutes remaining, and all nine drivers took to the 2.258-Mile, 13-Turn Mid-Ohio Road Course in an attempt to go quicker. The only driver to accomplish that was David Malukas, who ended the session with the fourth quickest time.

The nine drivers were able to complete 207 laps. Kellett turned 27 laps, the most of any drivers.

Cooper Tires Indy Lights Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio Practice #1 Results

The top rung of the Road To Indy Presented by Cooper Tires qualify at 2:30 pm this afternoon.

An exciting Indy Lights qualifying session that had three drivers hold the provisional pole in the final few minutes ended with Aaron Telitz grabbing his third career Indy Lights pole. It’s the 13th career Road To Indy pole for Rice Lake, Wisc. driver and the third time that Telitz will start on the inside of the front row in Toronto.

It’s the fifth pole on the streets of Exhibition Place for a Belardi Auto Racing driver.

After leading the most of the session, VeeKay had to settle for the outside front row, his sixth front row start of the season.

The second row consists of a pair of Andretti Autosport teammates, with Oliver Askew and Ryan Norman both ending up less than three-tenths behind pole winner Telitz.

After a 22-hour break, the Indy Lights series hit the 1.786-mile, 11-turn Exhibition Place street circuit for their first qualifying session of the weekend. The skies were sunny with an ambient temperature of 69 F and a track temperature of 81F.

Drivers went out on used tires for the first half of the session with Askew, Teltiz, and VeeKay all spending time holding onto the provisional pole.

At the half-way mark of the 30-minute session, the field was on pit road making adjustments and bolting on fresh Cooper Tire slicks. A lap by 65.1092 seconds by VeeKay led the way. He was followed in the top five by points leader Oliver Askew, Malukas, Telitz, and Ryan Norman.

Telitz was the first driver to go faster after getting their Coopers up to the proper operating temperature, turning a lap within three-tenths of VeeKay. On the next lap, the Belardi Auto Racing veteran moved to within four-hundredths of VeeKay.

With seven minutes remaining in the session, Telitz grabbed the provisional pole, with the first lap in the 64-second range.

Askew, on his 18th lap of the session, moved past VeeKay to move to second on the timing screen.

VeeKay, who was the last driver to move to fresh tires, jumped back to second on his 20th lap of the session with just under three minutes remaining.

On the next lap, the Soul Red No. 21 moved to the top of timing screen, giving the reigning Indy Pro 2000 driver the provisional pole by a slime nine-hundredths over Telitz.

Further down the order, Malukas, Ryan Norman and Toby Sowery were trading the fourth through sixth spots amongst themselves, with Norman ending up with the outside row two starting spot.

Just before the checkered flag came out, Telitz jumped back to the provisional pole.

Indy Lights Qualifying #1 – Unofficial Results

The first of two Cooper Tires Grand Prix Presented by Allied Building Products races of the weekend is scheduled to get the green flag at 12:45 pm.

Championship points leader Oliver Askew ended the lone Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires session on top of the timing screens, but not by much.

The top four drivers, from three different teams, were within four-hundredths of Askew’s lap of 66.555 seconds. Askew’s closest championship competitor Rinus van Kalmthout (VeeKay) had the second quickest time, ending up less than one-hundredth ahead of Aaron Telitz (Belardi Auto Racing) and Ryan Norman (Andretti Autosport).

“It was a good first session – we ended up P1,” said the Andretti Autosport rookie. “I think there is still a little left in the car but we were on pace right away so we didn’t have many issues at all. The track is very green right now and we’re going to be about three seconds quicker in qualifying tomorrow, so it is going to be hard to make the right decision for the car. Luckily, these guys at Andretti Autosport have a ton of experience from years prior so we’re probably going to have to rely on that more than anything to keep up with the changing track positions. I feel good, the car feels good and I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”

Eight of the nine drivers were within a half-second of Askew.

The final Road To Indy practice session of the weekend began on time at 10:50 am. The skies were overcast, the ambient temperature was 72F, and the track temperature was 85F.

The USF2000 and Indy Pro 2000 drivers that we had a chance to chat with after their sessions told us that the track wasn’t as green as they thought it would be, telling us that they did have to adjust their braking points a little and take extra care over the concrete sections.

The early leaders in the session were Dalton Kellett and Aaron Telitz.

With 15-minutes gone in the session, the Gap Guard / Rich Energy sponsored No. 2 of Toby Sowery spun in front of the field at the exit of Turn 8. All the drivers were able to avoid the Brit, and he kept it off the wall and was able to continue, keeping the session green.

At the half-way point of the 40-minute session, it was Telitz, with a lap of 67.090 seconds led the way. Kellett, VeeKay, Megennis, and Askew made up the remainder of the top five.

Drivers began the day with carry-over tires, but at the half-way point had started to come in for fresh Cooper Tire slicks.

We had a chance to watch the onboard from Ryan Norman’s Three Chord sponsored No. 48 and two things stood out. The first is just how bumpy, especially Turn 4 and 5, certain sections of the 1.786-mile, 11-turn Exhibition Place street circuit are. And second, the amount of correction required when going from the asphalt to concrete and back to pavement.

With 12-minutes remaining, VeeKay was able to turn a lap that was three-thousandths quicker than Telitz. The duo were the only drivers with laps under 67 seconds with at the three-quarter point of the session.

With seven minutes left, Telitz jumped back to the top of the timing screen.

Points leader Askew and his teammate Norman, along with VeeKay, all went quicker with three minutes left in the session, with all but one driver turning their fastest lap at the end of the session.

The entire 40-minute session was run under the green flag, and the nine drivers were able to complete 251 laps.

Indy Lights Practice # 1 Results

The final rung of the Road To Indy Presented by Cooper Tires is done for the day. They will qualify for their first race of the weekend at 8:40 am on Saturday morning.