Latest news with #USFPro2000
Fox Sports
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
Leading Andretti Duo Looks To Pull Away from Pack in Motor City
INDYCAR Andretti Global rookie Lochie Hughes has delivered one of the most consistent starts to an INDY NXT by Firestone season in recent memory. The 2024 USF Pro 2000 champion is the only driver to finish on the podium in all four races this year, a feat that would usually earn him the top spot in the points standings. But teammate Dennis Hauger has been even more dominant. SEE: Event Details Hauger, also a rookie, has won three of the season's first four events, drawing comparisons to NTT INDYCAR SERIES driver Alex Palou for his clinical performances. Hauger's only blemish came in Race 1 of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course doubleheader, where early contact with Callum Hedge sent him off track. Despite rejoining at the back of the 21-car field, Hauger salvaged an eighth-place finish. Hughes went on to win that race. As the series heads into the Detroit Grand Prix, Hauger leads the standings by 15 points over Hughes. The rookie battle resumes at 10:30 a.m. ET Sunday, airing on FS1 and the INDYCAR Radio Network. Andretti Dominance Faces Rowe Threat in Detroit Andretti Global has established a firm grip on INDY NXT by Firestone, winning 13 of the last 15 races dating back to Race 2 of the 2023 Indianapolis weekend. That run includes a win on the streets of Detroit last year by eventual series champion Louis Foster, and the team remains undefeated in 2025 – 4-for-4 through the opening stretch of the season. But as the series heads back to Detroit, another emerging force could disrupt that momentum: Myles Rowe. Driving for ABEL Motorsports, Rowe has quietly built a consistent start to the season. After opening the year with back-to-back fourth-place finishes at St. Petersburg and Barber Motorsports Park, Rowe surged with twin third-place results at the IMS road course earlier this month – his first career INDY NXT podiums. Now third in the championship standings, 53 points behind Hauger, Rowe enters Detroit with pace and experience. He finished fourth here last season with HMD Motorsports. Rowe looms as a serious contender, aiming to spoil the Andretti streak and insert himself into the title conversation. Collet Battles to Keep Pace Last year's INDY NXT Rookie of the Year, Caio Collet, arrived in 2025 with high hopes after a strong 2024 campaign that saw him finish third in points and claim a victory at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Returning to HMD Motorsports, the Brazilian driver set realistic championship goals. However, this season has proved challenging. Collet sits fourth in the standings, 70 points adrift of Hauger, and trails teammate Rowe by 17 points for third place. The adage 'it's getting late early' seems fitting as Andretti Global's rookies, Hauger and Hughes, pull away in the points battle. Collet showed flashes of speed, finishing runner-up to Foster in Detroit last season and again securing second place in the first IMS road course race this May. He also stood on the podium with a third-place finish in St. Petersburg. Yet a mechanical failure at Barber Motorsports Park, which relegated him to 19th, combined with a fifth-place finish in the IMS doubleheader finale have put him in a tough position. To keep championship hopes alive, Collet needs to transform podium appearances into victories—and do so consistently. Who Will Rise as Weekend's Breakout Story? While Andretti Global's rookies dominate the headlines, a clutch of drivers and teams are quietly building momentum and could emerge as the weekend's underdog story at Detroit. Jordan Missig impressed with a career-best sixth-place finish in St. Petersburg, driving the No. 48 ABEL Motorsports entry. His teammate, Jack William Miller, showed grit with a climb to ninth in Race 1 at the IMS road course. Meanwhile, Chip Ganassi Racing's Niels Koolen earned a career-best sixth a day later, signaling growth across the board. Evagoras Papasavvas turned heads with a stunning series debut, qualifying third and finishing second at Barber Motorsports Park for HMD Motorsports. One name to watch closely this weekend is ABEL Motorsports' Callum Hedge. The 2023 fourth-place points finisher and Detroit podium veteran sits eighth in the standings with just a single top-five finish this year, a fourth-place effort in Race 1 at IMS. Could Sunday's race mark his maiden INDY NXT victory? Pressure looms from HMD Motorsports teammates Josh Pierson and Liam Sceats. Pierson ranks sixth, riding a streak of four consecutive top-10 finishes, the best run he's had since 2023. That year, he put together five straight top-10s. Sceats, just 19, has quickly found his footing. After an 18th-place INDY NXT debut at St. Petersburg, he's not finished worse than eighth since. Adding to the intrigue, HMD Motorsports swept the inaugural Detroit weekend in 2023 with first career wins by Reece Gold and Nolan Siegel. History suggests the team could be primed for another strong showing this year. Track Specs: 1.645-mile, nine-turn street circuit Qualifying Record: Louis Foster, 1:05.1079, 90.957 mph, June 1, 2024 Push To Pass Parameters: 150 seconds of total time with a maximum time of 15 seconds per activation. recommended
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Rinus VeeKay crashes on pit road during 2025 Indy 500
Dale Coyne Racing driver Rinus VeeKay (18) stands on the track Sunday, May 25, 2025, ahead of the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. INDIANAPOLIS — Pit road became Rinus VeeKay's undoing as his 2025 Indianapolis 500 ended on Lap 80 with a crash. The Dutch racer was trying to slow down entering pit road for his third pit stop of the race. However, the No. 18 Dale Coyne Racing Honda spun out of control, hitting the inside pit wall with the right rear corner of the car. Advertisement The 2018 USF Pro 2000 Champion got the car pointed in the correct direction and managed to drive his car to his pit stall where he got out of the machine, his day over. VeeKay climbed out of the car under his own power. Indy 500 news: Indianapolis 500 live race leaderboard updates today: Takuma Sato leads David Malukas at 70 laps This story was updated to add a gallery. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Rinus VeeKay crashes on pit road during 2025 Indy 500
Indianapolis Star
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- Indianapolis Star
Rinus VeeKay crashes on pit road during 2025 Indy 500
INDIANAPOLIS — Pit road became Rinus VeeKay's undoing as his 2025 Indianapolis 500 ended on Lap 80 with a crash. The Dutch racer was trying to slow down entering pit road for his third pit stop of the race. However, the No. 18 Dale Coyne Racing Honda spun out of control, hitting the inside pit wall with the right rear corner of the car. The 2018 USF Pro 2000 Champion got the car pointed in the correct direction and managed to drive his car to his pit stall where he got out of the machine, his day over. VeeKay climbed out of the car under his own power. Indy 500 news: Indianapolis 500 live race leaderboard updates today: Takuma Sato leads David Malukas at 70 laps
Fox Sports
10-05-2025
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
Lochie Hughes Breaks Through for First INDY NXT Victory at IMS
INDYCAR Rookie Lochie Hughes led all 35 laps of the Indianapolis Grand Prix Race 1 to earn his first career INDY NXT by Firestone victory on Friday on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. 2024 USF Pro 2000 champion Hughes, from Australia, drove his No. 26 McGinley Clinic/USF Pro Championship car fielded by Andretti Global to victory by .7229 of a second over the No. 76 HMD Motorsports car of veteran Caio Collet. SEE: Race Results 'This is an awesome weekend so far,' Hughes said. 'I can't thank the whole team enough. It's been a tough jump to this series. It's a big step from what I was in, so I've been playing catch-up for a while. 'It's nice to finally get a win, especially around here. What a day. My parents are here, as well, this weekend, and they're not usually here, so I think it's the first time they'll see me win in a long time because they don't come over (to America) much. Pretty cool.' Veteran Myles Rowe finished a career-best third in the No. 99 Abel/Force Indy machine. Callum Hedge (No. 17 Abel Motorsports) and Salvador de Alba (No. 27 Grupo Indi of Andretti Global) rounded out the top five. Hughes started from the pole and opened a 1.6813-second lead before a caution on Lap 10 when Juan Manuel Correa and Niels Koolen went off course in Turn 1. Hughes then led the field to green on the Lap 12 restart and quickly built a 2.3395-second advantage by the halfway mark on Lap 18. His lead blossomed to 2.6693 seconds before teammate James Roe crashed in Turn 14 on Lap 29, collecting 16-year-old Nikita Johnson and triggering the second and final caution of the race. Hughes kept the lead on a restart, this time on Lap 31, and held off Collet for victory. Andretti Global has won 12 of the last 14 INDY NXT by Firestone races, dating back to Race 2 of last year's Indianapolis race weekend. 'I was pretty annoyed when I kept seeing the yellow come out,' Hughes said. 'I was just trying to get a good jump off the last corner there and brake late into (Turn) 1 and make sure I don't get passed.' Hughes pulled to within three points of series leader and Andretti Global teammate Dennis Hauger with the victory. Hauger, who won the first two races of the season, finished eighth in the No. 28 Rental Group car. Hauger started second but had contact with Hedge in Turn 1 on the opening lap, forcing his car off track. He returned to the racetrack last in the 21-car field. He steadily climbed through the day and was in 13th at the first caution and eighth by the second yellow. Race 2 of the doubleheader, another 35-lap contest, starts at 1 p.m. ET Saturday on FS1, the FOX Sports app and the INDYCAR Radio Network. Hughes and Hauger once again will share the front row, with Hughes on the pole. recommended
Fox Sports
08-05-2025
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
Indy Doubleheader Gives Rivals Two Chances To Catch Dennis Hauger
INDYCAR The 2025 INDY NXT by Firestone season continues this weekend with a doubleheader at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. The first race is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET Friday, followed by the second race at 1 p.m. ET Saturday. Both events will be broadcast live on FS1 and the INDYCAR Radio Network. SEE: Event Details Rookie phenom Dennis Hauger is undefeated so far in 2025, showcasing raw speed and composure. He led every lap in the March 2 season opener on the streets of St. Petersburg and May 4 at Barber Motorsports Park. The IMS road course is also the spot he made his maiden INDY NXT test. Can Hauger continue his dominance this weekend? Can Anyone Sweep Weekend? Achieving a weekend sweep in the INDY NXT doubleheader at IMS is a rare feat. The only driver to need the broom since the doubleheader format was introduced in 2014 is Colton Herta, who achieved the feat in 2018. Last year, Jacob Abel secured the pole position for both races, with Abel winning Race 1 and Louis Foster Race 2. First-Time Winner? The IMS road course has been a launching pad for breakthrough victories, with the first race of the INDY NXT by Firestone May doubleheader producing a first-time winner in three of the last six tries. Andretti Global's Robert Megennis started the trend in 2019, followed by Danial Frost of HMD Motorsports in 2022 and Juncos Hollinger Racing's Matteo Nannini in 2023. Given recent history, a first-time winner emerging in Friday's 35-lap race is a very real possibility. The field of 20 drivers has multiple candidates who can make it happen, with odds favoring a new name stepping up. Among the 20 drivers competing this weekend, only Hauger and Caio Collet have reached victory lane in an INDY NXT by Firestone race. Can Hauger, Andretti Global Keep Perfect Weekend Rolling? Based on recent performance and momentum, Andretti Global has the potential to sweep the weekend – but it's not a guarantee, as competition from others remains formidable. Hauger may have stiff competition from rookie teammate Lochie Hughes, who trails his teammate by 32 points in the standings. The Australian is consistent and a proven podium finisher, coming home runner-up in St. Petersburg and third at Barber. Hughes also boasts past success at IMS across multiple junior series. He finished second, second and first, respectively, during his 2023 USF 2000 rookie season. Last year, he finished third, second, and third, respectively, during his USF Pro 2000 championship-winning season. Veteran James Roe and sophomore driver Salvador de Alba add depth to the Andretti stable, with Roe finishing fourth in last year's second race. In addition, the team has swept the podium before, in 2022, and consistently places multiple drivers in the top three on the IMS road course. Andretti Global also has 11 wins in the last 13 INDY NXT by Firestone starts, dating back to Race 2 of last year's Indianapolis race weekend. Foster dominated the second half of last season en route to winning the title for Andretti Global. Rowe's Turn? Variability in track conditions, weather and race incidents can mix up the results across two days of racing, opening the door for someone new to secure victory. Myles Rowe could be a serious contender to break up a potential Andretti Global sweep this weekend. With 10 career starts on the IMS road course across various development series, Rowe is aware of the nuances of the 14-turn layout better than most in the field. Last year with HMD Motorsports, Rowe had the third-best average finish during this weekend, finishing fifth and seventh, respectively. The switch to the No. 99 ABEL Motorsports with Force Indy entry this season seems to be paying off. Rowe topped the Chris Griffis Open Test here last October and is the only non-Andretti driver to score top-five finishes in both races this season – finishing fourth in both St. Petersburg and Barber. That shows pace and consistency and is a good sign he's comfortable and fast. With Hauger setting the early pace, Rowe knows a strong weekend could cement him as a top challenger. He may not yet have the outright race-winning speed of Hauger, but his blend of experience, form and adaptability makes him a podium and possibly victory threat in either race – or both. Youth History Being Made HMD Motorsports rookie drives Nikita Johnson and Evagoras Papasavvas represent a compelling new youth wave in INDY NXT by Firestone, and both could have major breakout moments this weekend. At just 16, Johnson becomes the youngest-ever driver to compete in INDY NXT at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Johnson was runner-up in both USF2000 (2023) and USF Pro 2000 (2024) championships. He made his INDY NXT debut at his home race on the streets of St. Petersburg, finishing 11th. Papasavvas, 17, is a legitimate threat. He had a strong debut last weekend, qualifying third and finishing second. Confidence will be sky-high heading into IMS, and he is a dark horse for a podium or even a win. The teenager flashed excellent qualifying speed and racecraft, and HMD's setup and support give him the tools to contend. Track Specs: 2.439-mile, 14-turn natural road course Qualifying Record: Ed Jones, 1:14.6743, 117.583 mph, May 13, 2016 Push To Pass Parameters: 150 seconds of total time with a maximum time of 15 seconds per activation. recommended
