ELKHART LAKE, Wis. — Colombian Sebastian Garzon was the big winner Saturday as USF2000 Presented by Continental Tire wrapped up its season with the USF Pro Championships Grand Prix at Road America.
Third and fourth-place finishes for DEForce Racing’s Garzon were enough to clinch the title and a scholarship valued at $409,816 to graduate onto the next step of the USF Pro Championships ladder, USF Pro 2000, in 2027.
The races, meanwhile, were won by VRD Racing’s Ryan Giannetta, from Redondo Beach, Calif., who inherited the top spot following several late incidents, and Pabst Racing’s Eddie Beswick, from Sydney, Australia, who claimed his second win of the weekend.
Gabriel Cahan (Exclusive Autosport), from Santa Fe, N.M., and Garzon were second and third this morning, while VRD Racing’s Oliver Wheldon, from St. Petersburg, Fla., and Exclusive Autosport’s Evan Cooley, from Mokena, Ill., completed the podium in the finale.
This morning’s grid was determined either by each driver’s second fastest lap during the lone qualifying session on Friday or, more rarely, their best laps from Race One. Wheldon secured his sixth Continental Tire Pole Award of the season by virtue of his lap in qualifying, narrowly ahead of Beswick and Pabst Racing teammate and fellow Aussie Brad Majman, who earned his position by virtue of a new race lap record on Friday.
Beswick took the lead prior to the first corner but Wheldon stayed right him to begin a back-and-forth contest throughout the opening five laps which enabled them to edge away from an intense battle for third involving Majman, primary series rival and points leader Garzon and Giannetta.
An incident farther down the field meant that the Pace Car had to be scrambled, and another unfortunate collision shortly before the race should have been restarted led to the yellow being extended.
The restart came with only two laps remaining. Unsurprisingly, there was drama aplenty. Firstly, at Turn Five with one lap to go, Majman’s attempt under braking to split Garzon and ENVE Motorsports’ Wesley Gundler, from Holly Springs, N.C., ended in disaster as the Australian’s Pabst Racing entry reared into the air and out of the race. Gundler also was sent into a spin, from which he recovered to finish ninth despite losing his rear wing in the initial impact.
Beswick and Wheldon continued their tussle for top honors, with Wheldon grasping the lead with a fine move under braking for Turn Three on the final lap. However, his subsequent defense as the top leaders accelerated along the fast straightaway ended in contact which sent Beswick spearing off the track.
Wheldon was fortunate to be able to resume and finish 10th, albeit with a three grid-place penalty for the finale later in the day.
Giannetta, who had been running sixth at the restart, inherited the win – richly deserved after experiencing all manner of misfortune during the season. Gabriel Cahan, from Sante Fe, N.M., claimed his first podium finish in second, while a relieved Garzon took third to extend his championship lead to 27 points heading into the finale.
Thomas Nordquist (DEForce Racing), from Omaha, Neb., earned his best finish in fourth ahead of Canadian Lucas Nanji (Pabst Racing) and Callahan Peter.
The final race later in the day mirrored the perfect weather conditions – warm and sunny – by staying green throughout the 12-lapper.
As per this morning, Wheldon had earned the Continental Tire Pole Award, but was obliged to start from fourth as a result of his earlier penalty.
Beswick’s Pabst Racing team performed wonders to repair his car in time for him to start from the pole. The Australian was forced to cede his lead to a bold move in Turn Five by a fast-starting Cooley on the first lap at Turn Five, but he soon regained control and edged away to secure a fine victory – his fourth of the season and second in as many days.
Wheldon overcame his grid penalty to rise to second on Lap 2, which he maintained until the finish.
Cooley couldn’t quite match the leaders’ pace but still capped a strong season with an eighth podium finish, while Garzon followed him home in fourth to secure a well-deserved championship for himself and DEForce Racing.
Garzon’s main rival, Majman, was next ahead of Gundler, who posted a magnificent drive from the back of the grid.
