Pro Mazda: A nation rejoices with Urrutia, who secures title

“Viva, Santi.” “Viva, Uruguay!”

A compact but vocal crowd welcomed Santiago Urrutia into Victory Lane at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca following Race 1 of the Allied Building Products Pro Mazda Grand Prix of Monterey.

The new Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires champion exited the Team Pelfrey car waving the white and blue Uruguayan flag to kick off the celebration that stretched into his homeland.

Urrutia, who was trending on Twitter in Uruguay, is the country’s first motorsports champion, and the clincher came a day after marking the 16th anniversary of the death of countryman Gonzalo Rodriguez, who died from injuries sustained in a practice crash Sept. 11, 1999, during the CART race weekend at the 2.238-mile, 11-turn road course.

Urrutia, another promising talent, will receive a Mazda scholarship of $590,300 to advance to Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires in 2016.

Urrutia, who started and finished second to Garret Grist of Juncos Racing, maintained a 2.5-second advantage over Neil Alberico through the initial 16 laps of the 30-minute timed race, which would have meant all Urrutia would have to do is start Race 2 on Sept. 13 to secure the title.

But Alberico spun at the exit of the racetrack’s signature Corkscrew and stopped on the right-hand side of the course. The DNF provided more than the points Urrutia needed.

“It is special to win the championship at this track. I’m sure ‘Gonza’ was here today. He is a hero in Uruguay; he’s my hero, too,” Urrutia said.

“I am grateful for everything he did for the sport in Uruguay. We are only three million people and he worked hard to get to Indy car. I am giving the helmet to his foundation in Uruguay and I hope to one day be the second driver from Uruguay to race in Indy car.”

He’ll take the next step in 2016 on the Mazda Road to Indy development ladder.

“I can’t explain how happy I am. This is not only work this year with Team Pelfrey but last year and the past years. I just have to say thanks to everyone.”

Urrutia tested with Team Pelfrey only a few weeks before the first race on the streets of St. Petersburg, Fla., in late March. His moved to the top of the standings after a victory in early May on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.

“I didn’t think I would be fighting for the championship in my rookie year,” said Urrutia, who competed in the GP3 Series in 2014.

Urrutia will start from the pole in Race 2 on Sunday. Grist swept the Race 1 points (30 base points for the win, plus one bonus point each for pole, leading the most laps and turning the quickest lap).

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Source: IndyCar