Golan gets back-to-back FR Americas wins at IMS

Brady Golan won again in Formula Regional Americas Championship (FR Americas) at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday morning. Going back-to-back in the first two races of the event, Golan became the first driver this season to win multiple FR Americas races in a single weekend.

Setting the fast lap while racing from last to second yesterday, Evagoras Papasavvas (No. 71 Crosslink Motorsports Ligier JS F3) started on pole for Race 2 on Sunday morning. Pulling out front to lead the pack, Papasavvas’ early laps were filled with intense pressure from both Brady Golan (No. 40 Toney Driver Development Ligier JS F3) and Kekai Hauanio (No. 29 N-E-Where Transport / Crosslink Motorsports Ligier JS F3), as they looked to gain an advantage. Hauanio no sooner overtook Golan for second before suffering a flat tire and was forced down pit road. With Hauanio removed from contention, it became a two-man battle between Papasavvas and Golan.

Papasavvas held the lead for most of the race, but a restart with just seven minutes to go gave Golan another shot. Timing his launch perfectly, Golan dove to the inside of Papasavvas as they raced into Turn 1, completed the pass and took the point position. Behind them, Cooper Shipman (No. 10 Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3) had raced up to third after starting the event in eighth. In the closing minutes, Golan started to pull away, as Papasavvas started to fall into the clutches of Shipman.

As the white flag waved, Shipman pulled side by side with Papasavvas and the two engaged in a wheel-to-wheel battle for the entire final circuit. Golan led the field across the Yard of Bricks, while Papasavvas and Shipman drag raced all the way to the finish line behind him. Shipman crossed the line second with Papasavvas following in third, as just 0.216s separated them.

“We had a good fight throughout the whole race,” said Golan atop the podium. “I have tons of respect for both [Papasavvas and Shipman]. I know I said it before, and I'll say it again: they race super clean. I'm really happy to come home with a win, especially in my team's hometown. I think this is the first weekend that anyone has won two races in a single weekend, so I’m super proud of all the Toney Driver Development guys.”

In the Masters Cup Class, Anthony Autiello (No. 07 Hope For The Warriors / Momentum Motorsports Ligier JS F3) survived to win a race of attrition. Whitney Strickland (No. 21 TF Companies / Hillenburg Motorsports Ligier JS F3) led the group down the grid for the standing start, but early contact took him out of contention. Kevin Janzen (No. 24 US Power Group/Data Center Solutions / Crosslink Motorsports Ligier JS F3) inherited the class lead, but had his progress slowed when he had to come down pit lane for a mechanical failure just past the halfway mark. Meanwhile, Autiello survived all the way to the checkered flag, winning the Masters Cup Class.

“It was definitely slick out there, especially being on old tires,” said Autiello atop the podium. “It was unfortunate to see what happened to Whitney [Strickland] in Turn 1. As I kept watching the attrition in the race, I knew I just had to keep my head down and be smart about it. If I tried to race up in the front, I probably would’ve made a mistake. It was more about being smart, and I think that’s the best we could have done given the circumstances. I have to thank my daughter, Ava, for being here and making it a great Father’s Day.”

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