PRO MAZDA: Dapero wins as title contenders clash in Round 2

Nicholas Dapero earned his first Pro Mazda win in a foggy Round 2 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca after teammates and title contenders Aaron Telitz and Pato O'Ward made contact on the opening lap.

Starting from pole, points leader Telitz was passed once again by Team Pelfrey stablemate O'Ward – this time around the outside of Turn 2 – but with contact between Telitz's right-front and O'Ward's left-rear taking place, O'Ward went for a spin and suffered damaged suspension.

Telitz inherited the lead as O'Ward lost three laps in the pits as repairs were made, but the Wisconsinite would soon make a trip of his own down pit lane as race officials handed down a drive-through penalty for avoidable contact with his teammate.

Dropped to the back of the field, Telitz was gifted with a mid-race caution when Jake Parsons and TJ Fischer collided, and on the restart, he was able to climb his way to fifth at the finish line as O'Ward claimed 10th.

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Argentinian Dapero led home a Juncos Racing 1-2 as teammate Will Owen went under the checkered flag on his tail (-0.4456) and reigning USF2000 champion Nico Jamin took third (-2.2509).

"My first win in the U.S.; I'm so happy," Dapero said. "Thankfully I did the job and we won this race. Let's see what happens in the third race and I took a lot of weight off my back."

After O'Ward's win in Round 1, the championship advantage held by Telitz was carved to eight points. In light of the contact, penalty, and relatively poor finishes recorded by the two remaining title contenders, the lead has grown to 14 with one race left to decide the championship.

With Telitz set to start sixth – on the outside – and O'Ward about to start seventh – on the inside – heading into Turn 2, there's no telling who will emerge unscathed and with the championship in hand.

UP NEXT: Round 3 finale, 3:35 p.m. PT