SPEEDWAY, Ind. — The Tatuus Grand Prix of Indianapolis concluded with a pair of thrilling races on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Grand Prix road course on Saturday.
The first of two USF2000 Presented by Continental Tire races early this morning was held in extremely wet conditions and saw points leader Sebastian Garzon, from Neiva, Colombia, claim an emphatic victory for DEForce Racing.
Dry conditions later in the day ensured an entirely different kind of race in which Australia’s Brad Majman (Pabst Racing) edged polesitter Oliver Wheldon (VRD Racing), from St. Petersburg, Fla.
Wheldon also finished third in today’s first race behind Exclusive Autosport’s Evan Cooley, from Mokena, Ill., while Garzon completed the podium this afternoon.
The Morning
The grid for this morning’s early race at 8 a.m. was decided by a combination of each driver’s second fastest lap during the lone qualifying session on Friday morning and their best laps from the opening race of the weekend. Wheldon thus earned his second Continental Tire Pole Award from the qualifying session, while Brad Majman lined up alongside by virtue of his fastest lap of the race.
Heavy overnight rain left the track in a treacherous condition when the 20-car field lined up on the pre-grid, so it came as no surprise when race officials declared it a wet race which required all cars to start on grooved Continental wet tires.
Wesley Gundler (ENVE Motorsports), from Holly Springs, N.C., relinquished 11th place on the grid when he inadvertently hit the kill switch on the first pace lap and had to recycle the electrical system, which resulted in an extra lap being run behind the Honda Civic Type R Safety Car before the green flag was flown. Garzon then used his experience to excellent effect at the start, sweeping alongside Wheldon on the long front straightaway before taking the lead into Turn One.
The caution flags waved again shortly thereafter when Exclusive Autosport’s Gabriel Cahan, from Santa Fe, N.M., spun at the exit of Turn 10, but when it was restarted, the entire field drove an exemplary race to ensure it remained green all the way until the checkered flag.
Up front, Garzon put on a clinic as he quickly pulled away from the pack to ensure his third win of the young season.
Cooley also made some excellent early moves, moving from fifth to second and remaining well clear of Wheldon, who settled into third despite intense pressure from behind.
Friday winner Anthony Martella (Exclusive Autosport), from WoodbridgeOntario, eventually made fourth position his own, followed by the two Pabst Racing entries of Australians Brad Majman and Eddie Beswick, who had exchanged positions with three laps remaining.
Gabriel Cahan’s younger brother, Ayrton, drove another strong race to finish seventh, followed by an inspired Callahan Peter (JHDD powered by ECR), from nearby Fishers, Ind., who rose impressively in the tricky conditions from 19th to claim the Tilton Hard Charger Award.
Afternoon Round
Each driver’s second-fastest lap from qualifying determined the starting order for the third and final race which resulted in Wheldon snagging another Continental Tire Pole Award ahead of Martella and Majman.
Once again, there were four cars abreast as they entered the braking zone for Turn One, and perhaps against the odds they all managed to negotiate the tight right-handed corner intact – with Wheldon holding a narrow lead, but only as far as Turn Seven, where Majman made his move.
A brief full-course caution following an incident at Turn Seven on the second lap ensured a slight lull in the proceedings, after which Majman continued to fend off allcomers. Wheldon pressed hard and even managed to draw almost alongside under braking for Turn One with one lap remaining, but Majman was up to the challenge and held on expertly for his first victory.
Garzon lost a few positions through the middle stages of the race but fought back in the closing stages and moved into third with five laps remaining.
In his wake, Australian countrymen Liam Loiacono (JHDD powered by ECR) and Beswick were locked in combat before colliding with a couple of laps to go which allowed Cooley through into fourth to cap a promising weekend which also included a pair of podium finishes. Teammate Martella also had been firmly in the mix until unfortunately being hobbled by a mechanical problem.
Beswick recovered quickest to finish fifth ahead of Ayrton Cahan and Loiacono.
