Martella rebounds to take runaway USF2000 victory at Indy GP

Canadian Anthony Martella claimed an emphatic victory in Friday's first of three USF2000 Presented by Continental Tire races that will comprise the Tatuus Grand Prix of Indianapolis. The result marked a remarkable turnaround after a difficult weekend during the opening two races of the season on the streets of St. Petersburg, Fla.

Exclusive Autosport’s Martella took the lead with a fine move at the first corner at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s Grand Prix road course and never looked back. The victory was his second in USF2000 and first since dominating last year’s only oval event of the season at nearby Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.

Sebastian Garzon padded his championship points lead by taking second for DEForce Racing, while Martella’s Exclusive Autosport teammate Evan Cooley finished third.

Having not yet achieved the minimum age of 15 required to compete in the opening races in his hometown, second-generation racer Oliver Wheldon has lost no time in making his presence felt. Toward the sharp end of the time sheets in recent series tests both at the Indianapolis road course and Mid-Ohio, VRD Racing’s Wheldon was fastest of all during official practice on Thursday afternoon and continued that form into qualifying this morning when he once again topped the charts to secure the Continental Tire Pole Award at his very first attempt.

Martella had to be content with a starting position on the outside of the first row, although it was he who made a better getaway on the long run toward the first corner before braking a tad later on the outside line and moving into the lead. After starting sixth, Cooley also made a fine move to demote Wheldon to third at the exit of the first corner.

As the two teammates quickly established an advantage, the interest was focused on a titanic battle for third. Garzon, who had lined up fourth, slipped past Wheldon to take the position at Turn 1 at the beginning of lap 2, but when Australia’s Brad Majman (Pabst Racing) attempted to demote Wheldon one more place at Turn 13, it came to naught as the pair made contact. Cue the safety car and a full-course caution.

Wheldon’s race was over immediately due to broken suspension. Majman rejoined one lap down following incredible work by the Pabst Racing crew, and he even managed to set the fastest lap of the race en route to a 15th-place finish.

Martella maintained his stranglehold on the race at the restart, edging clear of Cooley who instead came under increasing pressure from Garzon. The pair finally exchanged places on lap 11.

“It was a very hard race, obviously starting in second and starting on the outside. I knew I would have to wait for him [Wheldon] to go and when he went," related Martella. "I slotted back in line, relied on the side draft to get side-by-side and braked later than him and took the lead into Turn 1. I flat-spotted the tires quite a bit, so I had some vibrations throughout the race, but I stayed calm. I knew if I just kept my head down and made no mistakes, I was going to pull away, which I did.”

Liam Loiacono overcame a difficult qualifying session to rise from 11th on the grid to a fine fourth for JHDD powered by ECR. Another talented young Australian, Eddie Beswick, finished fifth for Pabst Racing ahead of Exclusive Autosport’s Ayrton Cahan, who enjoyed his best finish to date and was separated from older brother Gabriel at the finish by Joao Vergara (VRD Racing).

Kaylee Countryman (JHDD powered by ECR) enjoyed by far her strongest performance to date, finishing ninth ahead ofWian Boshoff's newly rebranded Peterman Fisher Hartman Racing entry.

The Tilton Hard Charger Award went to Elias Vignola, who finished 11th after lining up 19th for DEForce Racing.

Exclusive Autosport team principals Josh Cooley and Michael Duncalfe pocketed the PFC Award as the winning car owners.

RESULTS

The Tatuus Grand Prix of Indianapolis will conclude with two more races Saturday.