INDIANAPOLIS – A thrilling USF2000 Grand Prix of Indianapolis at Indianapolis Motor Speedway Friday saw Braden Eves claim his third straight victory for Cape Motorsports following a race-long duel with Hunter McElrea.
The pair exchanged the lead several times over the last couple of laps before Eves edged out McElrea by just under three-tenths of a second.
Manuel Sulaiman maintained his impressive start to the season by finishing third for DEForce Racing.
The excitement began early as the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship resumed following a lengthy hiatus since the opening two rounds of the season on the streets of St. Petersburg, Fla., with Indianapolis Colts star Adam Vinatieri – co-owner of two USF2000 race cars – waving the green flag to commence round three. After edging out Cape Motorsports teammate Darren Keane to the pole this morning, Eves made an excellent start to head the immensely competitive 21-car field toward turn one.
McElrea, after starting third, tucked in behind the race leader, but there was chaos in their wake as 14-year-old debutant Jak Crawford ran out of racing room and tagged the rear of Keane’s Tatuus USF-17 at the apex of turn one. Manuel Cabrera was among several other potential contenders to be caught up in the incident.
The fracas enabled Eves and McElrea to pull well clear of the chasing pack. Sulaiman, after qualifying eighth, somehow emerged in third, chased by local youngster Jack William Miller, who started ninth for Miller Vinatieri Motorsports, and Australian Cameron Shields, up from 13th on the grid.
McElrea shadowed Eves in the opening laps and was clearly in a mood to challenge. On lap eight, McElrea glimpsed the tiniest of openings at turn one and grasped his opportunity with both hands. Eves, meanwhile, was intent upon regaining his early advantage.
The pair continued to circulate in close company before the battle intensified dramatically over the last couple of laps. Eves regained the point on lap 13, only for McElrea to snatch back the lead as the two leaders began the final lap. Yet it still wasn’t over. An excellent exit from turn seven enabled Eves to draw alongside McElrea through the right-left flicks at turns eight and nine before hanging on around the outside to take the lead for one final time around the outside line at turn 10 to secure the victory.
“Darren (Keane) and I have been so close in winter testing and I thought this season would be that close, where we’d be focusing on points and trying to win some races,” Eves said. “I’m really happy to be on top but it’s crazy, really, to look back at what (USF2000 champion) Kyle (Kirkwood) did last year and to realize that I’m off to an even better start! It makes it even more meaningful after a race like that. I just couldn’t stop yelling in the car at the checkered flag; it was pure joy and relief, especially here. To cross the yard of bricks, where so many legendary drivers have done before me, it’s amazing.”
The in-fighting allowed Sulaiman to finish right behind McElrea in third, while Colin Kaminsky worked his way from seventh in the opening stages to finish fourth ahead of the impressive Shields.