ELKHART LAKE, Wis. — G3 Argyros this afternoon came from behind to claim a fine maiden USF Pro 2000 Presented by Continental Tire victory in the first of two races that will comprise The Andersen Companies Grand Prix of Road America Presented by Elite Engines.
Argyros, from Newport Beach, Calif., triumphed for the locally based Pabst Racing team after a race-long battle with Peruvian polesitter Andres Cardenas for JHDD powered by ECR.
A disappointed Cardenas still captured his career best finish in second as Frankie Mossman, also from Newport Beach, Calif., rounded out the podium for VRD Racing.
Cardenas continued his roller-coaster campaign by turning only the sixth fastest lap time during official practice on Friday morning, then bounding to the top of the charts when it mattered in qualifying to secure the second Continental Tire Pole Award of his rookie season.
Cardenas kept up the good work at the start by maintaining his advantage into Turn One as points leader Jack Jeffers, who started second for Exclusive Autosport, found himself swallowed up by the pack. Jeffers was already back to fifth by Turn One, then was pushed wide also at Turn Three which cost him another few positions.
The race went under caution moments later when Christian Cameron (TJ Speed Motorsports), from Sonoma, Calif., and Teddy Musella (VRD Racing), from Orlando, Fla., also were involved in the same incident. The unfortunate Cameron was out on the spot while Musella rejoined at the tail of the field.
A fine start by Argyros saw him make up one place into second, and he immediately began to pile the pressure on Cardenas when the race went back to green. The Californian took advantage of a slight lip by Cardenas on the exit of Turn 14 on the seventh lap to sweep past into the lead before Turn One.
But the yellows were waving again shortly afterward when Turn 3 Motorsport’s Tyke Durst, from Charlotte, N.C. found himself briefly beached in the gravel trap at Turn One.
Cardenas made excellent use of the restart with eight laps in the books, taking advantage of a big draft and then storming around the outside of Argyros to reclaim the lead in Turn One. Impressive.
Cardenas retained his advantage during another brief full-course caution, but with almost three laps remaining, Argyros once again swept past on the main front straightaway to take a lead he never looked like losing.
Jeffers forged his way back through the field after completing the first lap in eighth, and by Lap 11 he was back up into fourth – and chasing hard after Mossman. The VRD man narrowly held on to the final podium position while Jeffers gained some consolation – and an extra championship point – with the fastest lap of the race.
Brazilian teenager Leonardo Escorpioni, from Windermere, Fla., was close behind at the finish for Turn 3 Motorsport with Thomas Schrage (TJ Speed Motorsports), from Bethel, Ohio, and a recovering Musella also in their draft.
Colin Aitken, from Jacksonville Beach, Fla., pocketed the Tilton Hard Charger Award for VRD Racing after rising from 16th on the grid to 11th at the checkered flag.
