Garzon, Majman victorious in USF2000 at Indianapolis

The Tatuus Grand Prix of Indianapolis concluded today with a pair of USF2000 Presented by Continental Tire races on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Grand Prix road course.

The first of two USF2000 Presented by Continental Tire races early this morning was held in extremely wet conditions with Colombia's Sebastian Garzon claiming an emphatic victory for DEForce Racing. Dry conditions later in the day ensured an entirely different kind of race in which Australia’s Brad Majman (Pabst Racing) edged polesitter Oliver Wheldon (VRD Racing).

Wheldon also finished third in today’s first race behind Exclusive Autosport’s Evan Cooley, while Garzon completed the podium this afternoon.

The grid for this morning’s early race at 8:00am was decided by a combination of each driver’s second-fastest lap during the lone qualifying session on Friday morning and their best laps from the opening race of the weekend. Wheldon thus earned his second Continental Tire Pole Award from the qualifying session, while Brad Majman lined up alongside by virtue of his fastest lap of the race.

Heavy overnight rain left the track in a treacherous condition when the 20-car field lined up on the pre-grid, so it came as no surprise when race officials declared it a wet race which required all cars to start on grooved Continental wet tires.

Wesley Gundler (ENVE Motorsports) relinquished 11th place on the grid when he inadvertently hit the kill switch on the first pace lap and had to recycle the electrical system, which resulted in an extra lap being run behind the Honda Civic Type R safety car before the green flag was flown. Garzon then used his experience to excellent effect at the start, sweeping alongside Wheldon on the long front straightaway before taking the lead into Turn 1.

The caution flags waved again shortly thereafter when Exclusive Autosport’s Gabriel Cahan spun at the exit of Turn 10, but when it was restarted, the entire field drove an exemplary race to ensure it remained green all the way until the checkered flag.

Up front, Garzon put on a clinic as he quickly pulled away from the pack to ensure his third win of the young season. Cooley also made some excellent early moves, moving from fifth to second and remaining well clear of Wheldon, who settled into third despite intense pressure from behind.

"It was a little bit sketchy at the start, we were four wide," related Garzon. "On the first lap, I got into P1 and then after the restart, I had a good restart. I managed a gap and then I just kept learning the track conditions and kept pushing more every lap.”

Friday winner Anthony Martella (Exclusive Autosport) eventually made fourth position his own, followed by the two Pabst Racing entries of Brad Majman and Eddie Beswick, who had exchanged positions with three laps remaining.

Gabriel Cahan’s younger brother, Ayrton, drove another strong race to finish seventh, followed by an inspired Callahan Peter (JHDD powered by ECR) who rose impressively in the tricky conditions from 19th to claim the Tilton Hard Charger Award. Gundler also recovered nicely from his earlier miscue to finish ninth.

RACE 2 RESULTS

Each driver’s second-fastest lap from qualifying determined the starting order for the third and final race which resulted in Wheldon snagging another Continental Tire Pole Award ahead of Martella and Majman.

Once again, there were four cars abreast as they entered the braking zone for Turn 1, and perhaps against the odds they all managed to negotiate the tight right-handed corner intact – with Wheldon holding a narrow lead, but only as far as Turn 7, where Majman made his move.

A brief full-course caution following an incident at Turn 7 on the second lap ensured a slight lull in the proceedings, after which Majman continued to fend off allcomers. Wheldon pressed hard and even managed to draw almost alongside under braking for Turn 1 with one lap remaining, but Majman was up to the challenge and held on expertly for his first victory.

"I had a really good start, nice and aggressive there. I think we were four wide," related Maiman. "A couple of them overshot and then I got Ollie down in [Turn] 7 on the brakes. And then from there, we were just going back and forth. He was better for the second half of the track. I probably had him for the first part. But, yeah, that was a really good race.”

Garzon lost a few positions through the middle stages of the race but fought back in the closing stages and moved into third with five laps remaining.

In his wake, Australian countrymen Liam Loiacono (JHDD powered by ECR) and Beswick were locked in combat before colliding with a couple of laps to go which allowed Cooley through into fourth to cap a promising weekend which also included a pair of podium finishes. Teammate Martella also had been firmly in the mix until unfortunately being hobbled by a mechanical problem.

Beswick recovered quickest to finish fifth ahead of Ayrton Cahan and Loiacono.

For the second time in two days, Mexico’s Elias Vignola grabbed the Tilton Hard Charger Award for DEForce Racing after rising from 20th on the grid to 10th.

The day’s pair of PFC Awards for the winning car owners were shared by Ernesto and David Martinez of DEForce Racing and Augie Pabst.

The focus for USF20000 Presented by Continental Tire will remain in central Indiana this month as the series heads next to nearby Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park for the only oval race of the season as part of the traditional Carb Day proceedings on Friday, May 22.

RACE 3 RESULTS

Provisional championship points after five of 18 races:

1. Sebastian Garzon, 141

2. Brad Majman, 94

3. Eddie Beswick, 77

4. Evan Cooley, 68

5. Joao Vergara, 65

6. Ayrton Cahan, 63

7. Liam Loiacono, 56

8. Anthony Martella, 54

9. Oliver Wheldon, 51

10. Wesley Gundler, 49