Four races, three champions to be crowned, one of whom will get the chance to compete at the 101st Indianapolis 500. Its Ed Jones v Santi Urrutia in Indy Lights. In Pro Mazda Pato O'Ward v Aaron Telitz and in USF2000, Anthony Martin has an 18 point lead over Parker Thompson.
Again the fog delayed proceedings, and the first Pro Mazda race of the day got underway at 9:55. Telitz on pole, title rival O'Ward starts second. And they touch, O'Ward spins but recovers the car well, but picked up suspension damage after the contact. Telitz is penalised with a drive through penalty and drops to 11th, one place ahead of title rival O'Ward. Deparo takes over the lead of the race. A lap with a great pass at the corkscrew, another lap with a not so great pass at the corkscrew results in Fisher and Parsons going out, FCY, the filed bunches up but Dapero holds on for the win ahead Owen and Jamin, Burton Harris takes fourth in his debut weekend ahead of the hard charging Telitz.
Couple hours to go and despite the freedom that all there series have this weekend without Indycar being present, you can feel the tension in the paddock today. It is a day which can make or break your career, drivers who have competed in various series around the world know the importance of today, same goes with the teams, 'a bundle of nerves' was one comment when asked how are you feeling?
Timings for the remaining races are USF 2000 at 12:50, Indy Lights at 14:15 and Pro Mazda at 15:35, add 8 hours for those back in the UK. A reminder you can watch all the streaming and timing right HERE
Next up is the final race in USF2000. I'll own up, I took a cart up to the corkscrew, because, y'know you have to! So in terms of knowing what went on with no signal, pass, other than Franzoni checking out and dominating I'm done. But the views, it's a must if you come here.
Couple hours to go and despite the freedom that all there series have this weekend without Indycar being present, you can feel the tension in the paddock today. It is a day which can make or break your career, drivers who have competed in various series around the world know the importance of today, same goes with the teams, 'a bundle of nerves' was one comment when asked how are you feeling?
Timings for the remaining races are USF 2000 at 12:50, Indy Lights at 14:15 and Pro Mazda at 15:35, add 8 hours for those back in the UK. A reminder you can watch all the streaming and timing right HERE
Next up is the final race in USF2000. I'll own up, I took a cart up to the corkscrew, because, y'know you have to! So in terms of knowing what went on with no signal, pass, other than Franzoni checking out and dominating I'm done. But the views, it's a must if you come here.
With the result it means that Anthony Martin from Australia takes the USF2000 title and a scholarship to take him into Pro Mazda next season. After a break for lunch the Indy Lights finale will be on track.
The tension on the grid pre race was intense, add in a waved off start for a messy mid pack, its take two... And jones has a good start, challenged by Veach who takes the lead, drops Jones to fifth, Urrutia up to second. Race settling down, as thing stand, its tied on points, Urrutia on top with extra wins this season. Third distance and Veach extending his lead, Urrutia and Kaiser are close. Jones still back in fifth, the joker is his team mate Serralles who is in fourth. In the mid pack, Dean Stone ran wide going up the hill and lost two place, no changes up top.
Half way, no changes, Veach claims the most laps led point. Will a switch call come from TC? Heading down to the pits with a few to go... tension...
Catching up from being down in the pits, I was there for the last 5 laps, the Carlin crew were hands on their heads, was a call needed but it is a horrible one to make. Last lap, Trevor Carlin comes behind his pit stall, gets his phone out, messages someone, we make eye contact and resigned smile, shrug of the shoulders. Motor racing is a team sport, you win together, you lose together. Sam Schmit approached Trevor Carlin in Victory Lane, told him you should be ashamed, but you tell me, if the roles were reversed and Negrao had to yield, you telling me that call wouldn't be made? Ed Jones is the champion for amassing the most points over a season, and will have a chance to compete in the 101st Indy 500. Santi Urrutia is a damn fine driver, a rough diamond, but he will be in Indycar.
The tension on the grid pre race was intense, add in a waved off start for a messy mid pack, its take two... And jones has a good start, challenged by Veach who takes the lead, drops Jones to fifth, Urrutia up to second. Race settling down, as thing stand, its tied on points, Urrutia on top with extra wins this season. Third distance and Veach extending his lead, Urrutia and Kaiser are close. Jones still back in fifth, the joker is his team mate Serralles who is in fourth. In the mid pack, Dean Stone ran wide going up the hill and lost two place, no changes up top.
Half way, no changes, Veach claims the most laps led point. Will a switch call come from TC? Heading down to the pits with a few to go... tension...
Catching up from being down in the pits, I was there for the last 5 laps, the Carlin crew were hands on their heads, was a call needed but it is a horrible one to make. Last lap, Trevor Carlin comes behind his pit stall, gets his phone out, messages someone, we make eye contact and resigned smile, shrug of the shoulders. Motor racing is a team sport, you win together, you lose together. Sam Schmit approached Trevor Carlin in Victory Lane, told him you should be ashamed, but you tell me, if the roles were reversed and Negrao had to yield, you telling me that call wouldn't be made? Ed Jones is the champion for amassing the most points over a season, and will have a chance to compete in the 101st Indy 500. Santi Urrutia is a damn fine driver, a rough diamond, but he will be in Indycar.
Post race I sat down with Trevor Carlin, team boss to talk about the race, championship and future plans in America
One final interview for the Soul Red Finale, and to USF2000 and the championship runner up Parker Thompson, I spoke with him about his year, his driver safety awareness program and also a radio project he is involved with.
That's a wrap on the Soul Red FInale weekend from Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, a memorable action packed weekend with so many stories from all three ladder series. A British perspective, Ed Jones, a champion representing Britain, (from Dubai, we'll settle on DuBrit) for Carlin Racing although not without controversy, but that aside, a great achievement for a team who only started racing in Indy Lights last season, are expanding to USF2000 in 2017, and... who knows what the future holds.
Previous days posts with new, stories, interviews and more...
Day One
Day Two
Previous days posts with new, stories, interviews and more...
Day One
Day Two