Mazda Road to Indy Introduces USF2000 Scholarship Shootout

LEXINGTON, Ohio (Aug. 1, 2015) – The Mazda Road to Indy is expanding the global scope of its INDYCAR ladder series scholarship program with announcement of its USF2000 Scholarship Shootout beginning in 2016. The shootout, set for Fall 2016 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif., will gather champions of select junior level open-wheel and karting series in 2016 from around the world to determine the recipient of a $200,000 scholarship to compete in the 2017 Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda season.

USF2000 is the introductory rung on the MRTI ladder for drivers aspiring to reach the Verizon IndyCar Series. The middle rung is the Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires, with Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires atop the ladder series platform operated by Andersen Promotions under INDYCAR sanction.

“Mazda prides itself on providing the most comprehensive scholarship and ladder system for drivers in open wheel and sports cars,” said John Doonan, director of Mazda Motorsports in North America. “Now, with the Scholarship Shootout, we can expand the Mazda Road to Indy entry-level opportunity to young champions from around the world.”

The shootout will assemble champions of North American and international series for the first time in a knockout-style format. Each participating series will be able to offer its 2016 champion an “entry ticket” to the shootout. A total of 15 drivers will be invited, with the winner earning the scholarship to compete in USF2000. Each participating series also will be designated as an official MRTI feeder series.

Among the feeder series already confirmed to participate are: England’s BRSCC F1600, Australian Formula Ford, SCCA Pro Racing’s F2000 Championship Series and F1600 Formula F Championship, Skip Barber Race Series, Rotax MAX Challenge for karts and the Team USA Scholarship winner.

“The response from the various series about this new program has been incredible and we are thrilled to have them as partners as we help the rising stars of the sport take the next step in their career in USF2000 on the Mazda Road to Indy path,” said Dan Andersen, owner and CEO of Andersen Promotions.

Of Note

MRTI has a full weekend of competition on tap at Mid-Ohio. USF2000 is conducting a tripleheader, with points leader Nico Jamin (Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing) winning the first win late July 31 and the second race early today. Santiago Urrutia (Team Pelfrey) retained his championship lead in Pro Mazda by winning today’s first race of a weekend doubleheader. An opening-lap incident between championship leaders Jack Harvey (Schmidt Peterson Motorsports with Curb-Agajanian) and Spencer Pigot (Juncos Racing) opened the door for RC Enerson (Schmidt Peterson Motorsports with Curb-Agajanian) to drive to his first Indy Lights victory in the opening race of a weekend doubleheader. … Former Ohio State University and NFL wide receiver Joey Galloway will serve as grand marshal of Sunday’s Verizon IndyCar Series Race, the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio. He is currently a college football analyst with ESPN.

RacingNation Crew