I woke up to an improved forecast this morning which shows any rain should be gone before 10 am. Some qualifying might be affected, but the races should be dry.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2021 6:30 AM – 3:00 PM TECH OPEN – USF2000 & INDY PRO 2000 (CLOSED FROM 12:00 PM -1:00 PM) 7:00 AM – 1:30 PM TECH OPEN – INDY LIGHTS 7:30 AM – 1:00 PM CREDENTIALS OPEN – MAIN GATE 8:00 AM – 8:30 AM USF2000 QUALIFYING 2 (20 MIN GREEN IN 30 MIN WINDOW) 8:45 AM – 9:15 AM INDY LIGHTS QUALIFYING 2 9:30 AM – 10:00 AM INDY PRO 2000 QUALIFYING 2 (20 MIN GREEN IN 30 MIN WINDOW) 10:15 AM – 10:40 AM SBRS QUALIFYING 2 11:00 AM – 11:40 AM USF2000 RACE 2 12:00 PM – 12:50 PM INDY LIGHTS RACE 2 1:10 PM – 2:00 PM INDY PRO 2000 RACE 2 2:15 PM – 2:40 PM SBRS RACE 2
The Road to Indy tv app will have the action live today.
Kyle Kirkwood takes a 15 point lead into the final weekend for Indy Lights
The Road to Indy goes to Mid Ohio this weekend for double headers in each series- USF 2000, Indy Pro 2000, and Indy Lights. While the USF 2000 series looks to be firmly in Kiko Porto’s grasp, there are close battles for the top spots and the scholarships that come with them in both Indy Pro and Indy Lights. Indy Lights carries the added importance of a bit of a budget to take to an Indycar team.
In Indy Pro 2000, Christian Rasmussen leads Braden Eves by 18 points. Kyle Kirkwood holds a 15 point advantage over David Malukas in Indy Lights. Both drivers are expected to be in Indycar next season.
The track is open to spectators for a $20 admission for the weekend. Tickets are only available at the gate. The paddock is open to spectators.
Skip Barber Racing School is also racing at Mid Ohio Saturday and Sunday.
The schedule:
MID-OHIO SPORTS CAR COURSE (V1) SEPTEMBER 30 – OCTOBER 3, 2021 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2021 5:00 PM RTI TEAMS LOAD-IN
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2021 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM TECH OPEN – USF2000 & INDY PRO 2000 (CLOSED FROM 12:00 PM -1:00 PM) 9:00 AM – 9:20 AM SBRS TEST SESSION 1 10:00 AM – 10:20 AM SBRS TEST SESSION 2 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM TECH OPEN – INDY LIGHTS 11:00 AM – 11:20 AM SBRS TEST SESSION 3 12:00 PM – 12:20 PM SBRS TEST SESSION 4 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM CREDENTIALS OPEN – MAIN GATE 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM TIRE SCANNING – USF2000, INDY PRO 2000, INDY LIGHTS 2:20 PM – 2:45 PM SBRS PRACTICE 1 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM INDY LIGHTS PRACTICE 1 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM INDY PRO 2000 PRACTICE 1
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2021 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM TECH OPEN – USF2000 & INDY PRO 2000 (CLOSED FROM 12:30 PM -1:30 PM) 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM TECH OPEN – INDY LIGHTS (CLOSED FROM 11:30 AM -12:30 PM) 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM CREDENTIALS OPEN – MAIN GATE 8:00 AM – 8:25 AM SBRS PRACTICE 2 8:40 AM – 9:10 AM USF2000 PRACTICE 1 9:25 AM – 10:05 AM INDY LIGHTS QUALIFYING 1 10:20 AM – 10:50 AM INDY PRO 2000 QUALIFYING 1 (20 MIN GREEN IN 30 MIN WINDOW) 11:05 AM – 11:30 AM SBRS QUALIFYING 1 11:45 AM – 12:15 PM USF2000 QUALIFYING 1 (20 MIN GREEN IN 30 MIN WINDOW) 1:00 PM – 1:50 PM INDY LIGHTS RACE 1 2:05 PM – 2:55 PM INDY PRO 2000 RACE 1 3:10 PM – 3:35 PM SBRS RACE 1 3:50 PM – 4:30 PM USF2000 RACE 1
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2021 6:30 AM – 3:00 PM TECH OPEN – USF2000 & INDY PRO 2000 (CLOSED FROM 12:00 PM -1:00 PM) 7:00 AM – 1:30 PM TECH OPEN – INDY LIGHTS 7:30 AM – 1:00 PM CREDENTIALS OPEN – MAIN GATE 8:00 AM – 8:30 AM USF2000 QUALIFYING 2 (20 MIN GREEN IN 30 MIN WINDOW) 8:45 AM – 9:15 AM INDY LIGHTS QUALIFYING 2 9:30 AM – 10:00 AM INDY PRO 2000 QUALIFYING 2 (20 MIN GREEN IN 30 MIN WINDOW) 10:15 AM – 10:40 AM SBRS QUALIFYING 2 11:00 AM – 11:40 AM USF2000 RACE 2 12:00 PM – 12:50 PM INDY LIGHTS RACE 2 1:10 PM – 2:00 PM INDY PRO 2000 RACE 2 2:15 PM – 2:40 PM SBRS RACE 2
Indy Lights Standings:
Pos.
Driver
Points
1
Kyle Kirkwood – R
488
2
David Malukas
473
3
Linus Lundqvist – R
403
4
Benjamin Pedersen – R
322
5
Danial Frost – R
304
6
Devlin DeFrancesco – R
294
7
Robert Megennis
285
8
Toby Sowery
Indy Pro 2000 Standings:
Pos.
Driver
Points
1
Christian Rasmussen – R
392
2
Braden Eves
374
3
Hunter McElrea
347
4
Reece Gold – R
337
5
Artem Petrov
329
6
Jacob Abel
259
7
Kyffin Simpson – R
231
8
Manuel Sulaiman
214
USF2000 Standings:
Pos.
Driver
Points
1
Kiko Porto
368
2
Michael d’Orlando
319
3
Yuven Sundaramoorthy
295
4
Josh Pierson
266
5
Christian Brooks
257
6
Josh Green
229
7
Spike Kohlbecker – R
210
8
Jace Denmark – R
203
Your favorite blogger will be heading to Mid Ohio early Saturday morning. I will be going, too.
Andersen Adds USF Juniors
Dan Andersen has added another entry level series, USF Juniors, to the Road to Indy. Andersen believes USF 2000 is attracting drivers above the true entry level and wants to provide a lower starting point for young drivers. The series will be sanctioned by USAC and will have 16-18 races, all on road courses.
Indy Lights Moves to Penske Entertainment
Sunday will be the last Indy Lights race under the auspices of Andersen’s road to Indy. Starting in2022, Indy Lights will become part of Indycar. The move is to create a greater connection between Indycar teams and the step just below it. More Indycar teams are expected to field teams in the series, which has struggled in recent years to have respectable car count.
Dan Andersen saved Indy Lights a couple of years by putting a lot of his own money into the series. The car counts have improved. I wish to thank Andersen for his hard work on the Road to Indy and for keeping Indy Lights running.
Paretta Autosport, the all female team which began last July as part of Indycar’s Race for Equality and Change, today announced Rocket Pro TPO as the main sponsor for their one off Indianapolis 500 entry. 500 veteran Simona De Silvestro will drive the car. The team is expected to participate in the open test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway April 8 and 9.
“Having Rocket Pro TPO come onboard as our primary sponsor for this year’s Indy 500 is a perfect partnership,” said Beth Paretta, CEO/team principal of Paretta Autosport. “We are both huge proponents of highlighting the power of women, while also using technology and speed to be the best at what we do. I cannot wait for what we will be able to accomplish as a team – both on and off the track.”
Rocket Pro is a division of Rocket Mortgage. The press release also noted,
“Together, Rocket Pro TPO, Paretta and De Silvestro will partner on the ‘Rocket Accelerator’ multimedia campaign. The group will use unique and innovative ways to amplify women in the mortgage lending and racing spaces by showcasing female leaders who are thriving in these industries.”
Paretta Autosport has a technical partnership with Team Penske.
Notes
Single day tickets for the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg went on sale today.
Fans will be allowed to view next week’s open test at IMS from the turn 2 mounds.
The Road to Indy has Spring Training at barber motorsports today. Good news for the return of Indy Lights- 13 cars are entered for the tes.
The new documentary by David Porteous presents a light hearted look at Fat Boy Racing, a team in the Indy Pro 200 level of the Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires. Some on the team have bigger dreams, but mostly they have fun pursuing their hopes. Charles Finnelli, hopes to move to Indy lights and then on to the Indianapolis 500. There is a lot packed into this brief film.
The documentary is free on You Tube at the following link:
The Pit Window by Mike Silver 