This was a trying year for the Road to Indy and it took a harder hit than other motorsports enterprises around world. There was one big hit, the cancellation of the Indy Lights season, but two series were able to run a complete season. A few drivers stood out and are on their ways to becoming future IndyCar stars.
We will look over each championship, Indy Lights included, to see how each driver did compared to preseason premonitions.
Indy Lights
There was no Indy Lights season this year, and therefore there is no season to review. However, we were set to have a championship. Ten drivers were ready to compete in the season opener and they even completed a practice session at St. Petersburg before the plug was pulled on the opening weekend.
Losing Indy Lights put all those drivers in a difficult situation of being out of work at a time when pretty much every other series was set. Race teams are usually not looking to hire drivers in March. Despite this difficult circumstance, some of the Indy Lights persisted and found work in 2020.
There might not have been an Indy Lights season to review, but I thought we could look at what these ten drivers did instead over this year.
Kyle Kirkwood: The 2019 Indy Pro 2000 champion did not get to compete with Andretti Autosport in Indy Lights, but Kirkwood did run two events for the team in IndyCar's iRacing series because Ryan Hunter-Reay did not have the equipment to participate. He was ninth in the first event at Watkins Glen and 20th at Barber.
On the blacktop, Kirkwood had already competed in 2020 prior to the shutdown. He won the opening round of the IMSA Prototype Challenge season at Daytona in the LMP3 class with Joel Janco and J.J. Jorge. Kirkwood ran three more events with Janco and finished third at Virginia International Raceway. He
made his WeatherTech SportsCar championship debut at Petit Le Mans with the AIM Vasser Sullivan Lexus program as the third driver with Townsend Bell and Frankie Montecalvo. That entry ended up eighth.
Robert Megennis: Megennis was set to return to Andretti Autosport for his second Indy Lights season. Instead, he competed in two European Le Mans Series races in the LMP3 class with RLR MSport. He had finishes of seventh and fourth. He also competed in the Indianapolis 8 Hours with Racers Edge Motorsport, sharing a Honda NSX with Trent Hindman and Shelby Blackstock on their way to a seventh-place finish.
Danial Frost: Frost was going to be the third Andretti Autosport driver in Indy Lights. Instead, Frost returned to Indy Pro 2000 when the Indy Lights season was canceled, and we will go into detail of his 2020 season in the Indy Pro 200 section below. Besides Indy Pro 2000, Frost started ten Formula Regional Americas races with only one podium finish.
Tristan Charpentier: Charpentier was a late addition to the Indy Lights grid for St. Petersburg in a fourth Andretti Autosport entry. Unfortunately, Charpentier had an accident in the lone session that took place and only completed four laps. His first bit of competition this year was the Indy Pro 2000 race at St. Petersburg, and he had two finishes of 11th.
Toby Sowery: Sowery was the top returning driver from the 2019 Indy Lights championship. He had finished third behind Oliver Askew and Rinus VeeKay and won a race at Portland. He has not competed in any series this year.
Rasmus Lindh: Lindh found a seat in the final five IMSA Prototype Challenge races and was runner-up at Road America and third at Mid-Ohio. He ran the Indy Pro 2000 races at St. Petersburg and finished sixth and fourth.
Nikita Lastochkin: Lastochkin was set to make his Indy Lights debut with Exclusive Autosport, which was expanding into Indy Lights for 2020. He has not competed in 2020.
Antonio Serravalle: In an expanded three car HMD Motorsports, Serravalle was stepping up after two years in Indy Pro 2000. Instead, he ran one round of the Formula Regional Americas Championship at Mid-Ohio and finished tenth and 16th.
Santiago Urrutia: After spending 2019 in touring cars in Europe, Urrutia was set to return to Indy Lights, where he had previously finished second, second and third in the championship from 2016 to 2018. With Indy Lights canceled, the Uruguayan returned to Europe and touring car racing, running in the World Touring Car Cup. He is 12th in that championship with two rounds to go. His best finish so far this season was third at Zolder.
David Malukas: A fun tidbit from 2020 is Malukas topped the only official practice session of the 2020 Indy Lights season. His lap of 66.266 seconds was 0.127 seconds ahead of Kirkwood and Lindh was 0.133 seconds back in third. Since that weekend, Malukas has spent 2020 in the Formula Regional Americas Championship. He was second in that championship behind Linus Lundqvist. Malukas won two races, stood on the podium 15 times and his worst finish was fifth.
Indy Pro 2000
Sting Ray Robb: #2 Firehouse/Goodheart Animal Health Centers Tatuus-Mazda (1st, 437 points)
What did I write before the season: This will be Robb's fourth year in Indy Pro 2000 and he is still looking for his first career victory. I think he will get it, but I am not sure he will be a championship contender. He was fourth last year and he could be a tad better but if he hasn't won a race in three years, I am not sure he can be penciled in for a championship in year four.
What did I write before the season: This will be Robb's fourth year in Indy Pro 2000 and he is still looking for his first career victory. I think he will get it, but I am not sure he will be a championship contender. He was fourth last year and he could be a tad better but if he hasn't won a race in three years, I am not sure he can be penciled in for a championship in year four.
How incorrect was it: Robb took the championship in year four. He got that elusive victory and then took a stranglehold on the championship when he swept the three races on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course in September. He ended the season 11 nine consecutive top five finishes, eight of which were podiums and he had only two finishes outside the top five all season.
What should he do in 2021: He has the scholarship to move up and he just so happens to be with a team with a history of running Indy Lights cars and that team even has an Indy Lights championship. I expect Robb to remain in Juncos Racing green, though in a new series in 2021. It will be a tougher series. Robb could move up to Indy Lights and be a middle of the field driver.
Devlin DeFrancesco: #17 Andretti Steinbrenner Autosport Tatuus-Mazda (2nd, 341 points)
What did I write before the season: Nothing, because DeFrancesco was not supposed to be in this series, nor was the Andretti Autosport/Steinbrenner Racing partnership planning on field a car in Indy Pro 2000. This is the odd "only possible because of the pandemic" entry. If everything goes as planned this year, this car is not on the grid.
How incorrect was it: Well, if DeFrancesco had been entered to run in Indy Pro 2000 originally, I would have said he would finish second in the championship on 341 points with two victories and six podium finishes and I would have ended up spot on.
What should he do in 2021: I think DeFrancesco is moving up to Indy Lights. For a guy who had no experience in the North American ladder system, he did quite well. The one issue is he did not end this season strong and there were days where he looked quick and a threat for victory but couldn't do better than second or third. More seat time could allow DeFrancesco to develop an ability to close out races and strengthen his race craft.
Daniel Frost: #68 DEN-JET Tatuus-Mazda (3rd, 329 points)
What did I write before the season: Frost did very well in his first year in Indy Pro 2000 and though his testing times were not stellar I think he will be respectable in Indy Lights. I do not think he is going to be challenging Kirkwood. I think Frost's results will pick up during the season and he is more likely to be competing with Megennis for second in the Andretti Autosport stable at the end of the year.
What did I write before the season: Frost did very well in his first year in Indy Pro 2000 and though his testing times were not stellar I think he will be respectable in Indy Lights. I do not think he is going to be challenging Kirkwood. I think Frost's results will pick up during the season and he is more likely to be competing with Megennis for second in the Andretti Autosport stable at the end of the year.
How incorrect was it: Very incorrect, because this was for Indy Lights and not Indy Pro 2000, so none of it was going to be correct.
In all seriousness, he returned and looked great, opening the year with a victory, third and second. He had a spat of top five finishes in the middle of the year, but he never regained that spark and one year after finishing fifth in Indy Pro 2000, he finishes fourth in Indy Pro 2000.
What should he do in 2021: Frost was set to drive in Indy Lights this year with Andretti Autosport. He is not going to be in Indy Pro 2000 next year. However, I think a little shine is worn off. I think expectations were a little higher for him when he announced he was returning. He started well, but as the heat was turned up, Frost melted and evaporated out of sight in the championship discussion.
Artem Petrov: #42 Race to Success/Bell/226ers Tatuus-Mazda (4th, 326 points)
What did I write before the season: Petrov was competitive in his five starts last year with RP Motorsports USA against teammate Kyle Kirkwood. He was sixth at Homestead, directly behind Robb. The goal should be to be the top Juncos Racing driver and that alone could be good enough to get a top five championship finish.
What did I write before the season: Petrov was competitive in his five starts last year with RP Motorsports USA against teammate Kyle Kirkwood. He was sixth at Homestead, directly behind Robb. The goal should be to be the top Juncos Racing driver and that alone could be good enough to get a top five championship finish.
How incorrect was it: Petrov was not the top Juncos Racing driver, but he was in the top five of the championship with two victories and seven podium finishes. He did have spats of lackluster finishes that hurt his title hopes.
What should he do in 2021: Petrov would be fine in Indy Lights. There were one too many days where he wasn't a factor, but I think everyone had their share of off days in 2020. He would have to be minimized in Indy Lights if he wants to be one of the top drivers and impressive IndyCar teams.
Hunter McElrea: #18 Giltrap Group/Miles Advisory Partners/Doric NZ Tatuus-Mazda (5th, 320 points)
What did I write before the season: McElrea went back and forth with Braden Eves for the championship in 2019. McElrea put up a strong fight and part of me thinks he was more consistent than Eves in 2019 only to lose the title in the final weekend. I think he will be back at the front of the field with Eves in 2020 and competing for another championship.
What did I write before the season: McElrea went back and forth with Braden Eves for the championship in 2019. McElrea put up a strong fight and part of me thinks he was more consistent than Eves in 2019 only to lose the title in the final weekend. I think he will be back at the front of the field with Eves in 2020 and competing for another championship.
How incorrect was it: McElrea was on the periphery of the championship battle, but never fully jumped into the fight. He ended the season with a victory in the final race and he did have four runner-up finishes and a third to go with it.
What should he do in 2021: This is tricky and it feels like what Oliver Askew went through with his Indy Pro 2000 season. Askew had some growing pains and toward the end of the season overcame those and showed he was one of the top three guys in the series. McElrea was close all year and he got that victory on the last day of the season. I think he could move up to Indy Lights and do well. If he stays in Indy Pro 2000, he is one of the early championship favorites.
Manuel Sulaimán: #12 Viva Aerobus Tatuus-Mazda (6th, 289 points)
What did I write before the season: Sulaimán had a good start in U.S. F2000 last year and then the results tapered off a bit. I think all the DEForce Racing drivers are good drivers, but they cannot all finish in the top five of the championship. Sulaimán will be somewhere in the back half of the top ten in the championship.
What did I write before the season: Sulaimán had a good start in U.S. F2000 last year and then the results tapered off a bit. I think all the DEForce Racing drivers are good drivers, but they cannot all finish in the top five of the championship. Sulaimán will be somewhere in the back half of the top ten in the championship.
How incorrect was it: Sulaimán ended up sixth in the championship, but won two races and won two pole positions.
What should he do in 2021: He won races, but Sulaimán should stay in Indy Pro 2000. There is still some room for growth. At one point, there was a six-horse race for this championship, and he wasn't one of the six horses. Next year could be a great opportunity for him in Indy Pro 2000.
Parker Thompson: #9 DEForce Racing/Tundra Process Solutions/Nossack Food Group Tatuus-Mazda (7th, 283 points)
What did I write before the season: Thompson is ready for Indy Lights. He is the Santiago Urrutia of Indy Pro 2000. The championship has been eluding him and this will be his third team in three years in this series. He could win the championship and at worst he is in the top five.
What did I write before the season: Thompson is ready for Indy Lights. He is the Santiago Urrutia of Indy Pro 2000. The championship has been eluding him and this will be his third team in three years in this series. He could win the championship and at worst he is in the top five.
How incorrect was it: This was off because Thompson never looked like a championship threat. He started with a 16th and an 11th at Road America. He didn't win a race. He only stood on the podium three times. He found a comfortable spot in the top five of many races but never pushed for a race victory.
What should he do in 2021: It is time to move up to Indy Lights. I know this year was a down year, but we have six seasons of Road to Indy experience to know Thompson is not some slouch. He is more than ready. He turns 23 years old next March and has plenty experience at all the tracks on the schedule. He is ready and he is reaching the age where is kind of aging out of Indy Pro 2000. It is one thing to spend three years in U.S. F2000 when you are a teenager. He is a man now. It is time to make that next step.
Colin Kaminsky: #19 Slick Locks Tatuus-Mazda (8th, 252 points)
What did I write before the season: Kaminsky did very well in U.S. F2000 but couldn't get that elusive victory. I think he will be good but with the depth of this field a victory will be tough to come by. He could get one but end up finishing somewhere between fourth and eighth in the championship.
What did I write before the season: Kaminsky did very well in U.S. F2000 but couldn't get that elusive victory. I think he will be good but with the depth of this field a victory will be tough to come by. He could get one but end up finishing somewhere between fourth and eighth in the championship.
How incorrect was it: Kaminsky did not get that victory, but he had three podium finishes and had 13 top ten finishes on his way to finishing eighth in the championship.
What should he do in 2021: He should stick around in Indy Pro 2000. He laid a good foundation for 2021 and can take a step upward in his competitiveness.
Antoine Comeau: #3 Turn 3 Motorsport Tatuus-Mazda (9th, 181 points)
What did I write before the season: Nothing, and either Comeau wasn't entered for St. Petersburg, so I didn't write anything for him, or he was entered and I missed him.
How incorrect was it: It was not an outstanding season for Comeau. He was ninth in the championship, the worst of the full-time competitors, and his best finish was seventh.
What should he do in 2021: There is a lot of room for improvement, though I am not sure it will matter. A couple promising drivers will be leaving but there is equally as talented youth coming in for 2021.
Kory Enders: #7 MB Sugar Land/McLaren Houston Tatuus-Mazda (10th, 164 points)
What did I write before the season: I think Enders could be slightly better this year, but it is going to be tough to challenge for a championship. There is a chance he could get a victory and he could end up in the top five of the championship.
What did I write before the season: I think Enders could be slightly better this year, but it is going to be tough to challenge for a championship. There is a chance he could get a victory and he could end up in the top five of the championship.
How incorrect was it: Enders missed the opening round at Road America, but he was not close to the top five in the championship. He had only one top five finish all season.
What should he do in 2021: Enders bounces around and doesn't really stay put. It feels like he is in the Road to Indy but not a part of the Road to Indy. If he wants to return to Indy Pro 2000 then so be it, but he has to fully be there.
Braden Eves: #1 Road to Indy/Cooper Tires/MDRN Livery/CCFI/Huston Insurance Tatuus-Mazda (11th, 164 points)
What did I write before the season: Eves was fastest at the Chris Griffith Memorial Test back in October and he topped the Homestead test. He started the 2019 U.S. F2000 season strong but got caught in a rut before digging himself out at the end of the year. I think Eves can be a factor for this championship and win multiple races, but he needs to be more consistent this year than he was last year.
What did I write before the season: Eves was fastest at the Chris Griffith Memorial Test back in October and he topped the Homestead test. He started the 2019 U.S. F2000 season strong but got caught in a rut before digging himself out at the end of the year. I think Eves can be a factor for this championship and win multiple races, but he needs to be more consistent this year than he was last year.
How incorrect was it: Unfortunately, Eves' season ended early when he suffered fractured vertebrae in his neck after an accident at the IMS road course. At the time, Eves had a victory, a runner-up finish and four top five finishes from eight starts.
What should he do in 2021: I think we are all hoping Eves heals and can return to competition in 2021. It was announced that he would return with Exclusive Autosport next season. That is the right move.
Moisés de la Vara: #6 UAG/Isla Navidad Tatuus-Mazda (12th, 163 points)
What did I write before the season: De la Vara was in the middle of the pack last year and his testing results have him in the same place. I think he could pick up a few top five finishes, but I am not sure he can be a contender for race victories.
What did I write before the season: De la Vara was in the middle of the pack last year and his testing results have him in the same place. I think he could pick up a few top five finishes, but I am not sure he can be a contender for race victories.
How incorrect was it: de la Vara picked up no top five finishes and didn't compete for any race victories and he did not run at New Jersey, leaving him 12th in the championship.
What should he do in 2021: It is never a good sign when a driver misses a race weekend late in the year. I am not sure he will be back. The results have to pick up if he does return.
Who should we have seen more of?
The main answer is Braden Eves. I am not sure if he could have stopped Robb from winning the championship, but I do believe Eves could have been in the top five and could have positioned himself for an Indy Lights ride in 2021.
The main answer is Braden Eves. I am not sure if he could have stopped Robb from winning the championship, but I do believe Eves could have been in the top five and could have positioned himself for an Indy Lights ride in 2021.
RP Motorsports was due to run Swedish driver Lucas Petterson and American Phillippe Denes, but had to withdraw from the championship due to the pandemic and the Italian team could not properly operate teams in Europe and the United States. Denes was the top driver in the Road to Indy's iRacing series held during the lockdown.
One other name I will throw out is Kody Swanson, who won at Indianapolis Raceway Park and then had a nightmare race at Gateway. Indy Pro 2000 is not an oval series and it is unlikely we will see Swanson attempt road courses any time soon, but I wonder what the USAC Silver Crown champions foray into this series means for his future open-wheel plans.
Who have we seen enough of?
Who have we seen enough of?
I am going to go positive on this one and it is Parker Thompson, because it is time for him to go to Indy Lights. Thompson has been doing everything the right way in his career. He does not have gobs of money, but he is able to stay on track and spend six years in the lower two divisions of the ladder system. On talent, he is more than ready for the next level. I hope the financial support is there to help him make that earned step up.
U.S. F2000
Christian Rasmussen: #6 JHDD, CSU | One Cure/Lucas Oil Tatuus-Mazda (1st, 394 points)
What did I write before the season: Rasmussen is the championship favorite. His 2019 season started slow, but he had a strong finish and that should carry over into 2020. He should have more than three race victories.
What did I write before the season: Rasmussen is the championship favorite. His 2019 season started slow, but he had a strong finish and that should carry over into 2020. He should have more than three race victories.
How incorrect was it: This was right, but I didn't think Rasmussen would do this. Six victories? That sounded good and possibly enough for a championship. Nine victories, including six to start the season? It was clear after the July Mid-Ohio weekend the championship was his for the taking.
What should he do in 2021: If Rasmussen skipped Indy Pro 2000 and leaped right to Indy Lights, I would not blame him. I thought he should have been in Indy Pro 2000 this year. I don't think he will skip a level, but I think he would be competitive in a likely under-subscribed 2021 Indy Lights grid. He will likely be on the Indy Pro 2000 grid next year and I believe he will be a title contender in that series.
Eduardo Barrichello: #22 Bib's Chocolate/Ale Tatuus-Mazda (2nd, 353 points)
What did I write before the season: Barrichello is going to make a big leap up. I think he could be a contender for a few victories and he could make a run for the championship. He was second at the Homestead test.
What did I write before the season: Barrichello is going to make a big leap up. I think he could be a contender for a few victories and he could make a run for the championship. He was second at the Homestead test.
How incorrect was it: Barrichello did pick up a few victories, three to be exact, and he wasn't really a championship contender because Rasmussen wiped the floor with everyone, but Barrichello was one of the three best drivers this season.
What should he do in 2021: Barrichello should move up. There are improvements that have to be made. His number of top five finishes had to be higher to really pressure Rasmussen. I think those adjustments can come in Indy Pro 2000.
Reece Gold: #3 The Ticket Clinic Tatuus-Mazda (3rd, 341 points)
What did I write before the season: Gold had a tough 2019 season, but it was his first serious year in car racing and he is only 15 years old. I think 2020 results will be better and he will improve by at least three positions in the championship. He was tenth at the Homestead test.
What did I write before the season: Gold had a tough 2019 season, but it was his first serious year in car racing and he is only 15 years old. I think 2020 results will be better and he will improve by at least three positions in the championship. He was tenth at the Homestead test.
How incorrect was it: Gold did improve by at least three positions in the championship. In fact, he improved by seven spots. He won two races and had ten podium finishes.
What should he do in 2021: Gold is ready to move up and he will with Juncos Racing. He is 16 years old. There is no need to rush. He doesn't have to be in IndyCar at 18 years old. He has some wiggle room where he could spend an extra year or two in a series if he needs it. He could do that in either Indy Pro 2000 or Indy Lights down the road. He is moving up at the right time, but he is young, and he can be patient if he needs to be.
Michael d'Orlando: #4 Focused Project Management/DB Collaborative Tatuus-Mazda (4th, 295 points)
What did I write before the season: D'Orlando has been in and out of the Road to Indy for a few years now. He had a few good results and a couple of bad results. He could be a top ten championship driver but I am not comfortable saying more than that.
What did I write before the season: D'Orlando has been in and out of the Road to Indy for a few years now. He had a few good results and a couple of bad results. He could be a top ten championship driver but I am not comfortable saying more than that.
How incorrect was it: The good news for d'Orlando is he got a chance to show his ability and he did exceptional. He won a race, he stood on the podium five times and had 11 top five finishes. A couple of tough days were mixed, but he was a bright spot from this season.
What should he do in 2021: If he moves up to Indy Pro 2000, it would not be the worst choice. If he stayed in U.S. F2000, it could allow him to polish off some of those rough areas and set him up for a better step up the ladder. This was a key year for d'Orlando and it helped his stock going forward.
Christian Brooks: #44 Hot Wheels/Chaco Flaco/Bell Helmets Tatuus-Mazda (5th, 284 points)
What did I write before the season: Brooks was a late addition to the test, and he was third quickest. Brooks and Campbell could be leading the way for Exclusive Autosport and both be competing for race victories. If you get enough victories, you could be in the top five or even be champion.
What did I write before the season: Brooks was a late addition to the test, and he was third quickest. Brooks and Campbell could be leading the way for Exclusive Autosport and both be competing for race victories. If you get enough victories, you could be in the top five or even be champion.
How incorrect was it: Brooks won the final race of the season at St. Petersburg. He ended up in the top five of the championship with three podium finishes and ten top five finishes.
What should he do in 2021: Brooks might be ready for Indy Pro 2000. He did get a race victory, but his number of podium finishes suggests he could use another year in U.S. F2000. If he stays in U.S. F2000, you can pencil him in as one of the early championship favorites.
Josh Green: #2 JHG Investment Fund Tatuus-Mazda (6th, 245 points)
What did I write before the season: Green is coming off the Team USA Scholarship and he had good results over at Brands Hatch and Silverstone. Testing results were slower than I expected with Green down in 12th. I am not sure that is a true indicator of where he will be. I think if he starts slow results will be better in the second half of the season
What did I write before the season: Green is coming off the Team USA Scholarship and he had good results over at Brands Hatch and Silverstone. Testing results were slower than I expected with Green down in 12th. I am not sure that is a true indicator of where he will be. I think if he starts slow results will be better in the second half of the season
How incorrect was it: Green started strong with a second and third in the opening weekend at Road America. His results dipped a bit over the summer and became inconsistent. He did pick up a runner-up finish in New Jersey.
What should he do in 2021: Stay in U.S. F2000. He needs to work on his consistency.
Matt Round-Garrido: #23 Excel Labels Tatuus-Mazda (7th, 228 points)
What did I write before the season: I think all three Pabst Racing drivers could be in the top ten of the championship. That is easier said than done but all three have experience in this series and all three were good in testing. Round-Garrido was eighth at Homestead.
What did I write before the season: I think all three Pabst Racing drivers could be in the top ten of the championship. That is easier said than done but all three have experience in this series and all three were good in testing. Round-Garrido was eighth at Homestead.
How incorrect was it: Round-Garrido ended up seventh in the championship after opening the season with four consecutive top five finishes, but he had only one in the rest of the season.
What should he do in 2021: Nothing yells at me that he is ready to move up to Indy Pro 2000. I think he should stay put.
Jack William Miller: #40 Indy Dental Group/LLC/Lumist Tatuus-Mazda (8th, 215 points)
What did I write before the season: Things have to get better because he was the second worst of the full-time drivers in 2019. I am not saying things are going to be extraordinarily better, but they should be better. He will get into three figures when it comes to points.
What did I write before the season: Things have to get better because he was the second worst of the full-time drivers in 2019. I am not saying things are going to be extraordinarily better, but they should be better. He will get into three figures when it comes to points.
How incorrect was it: Miller did get into the three-figure range when it comes to points. He had two races at the IMS road course where he was in contention for victory, one of which he led the most laps at and went off course and kind of threw away a victory.
What should he do in 2021: I don't think he is good enough to be a U.S. F2000 champion. If he makes the same gains from this season in 2021, he should pull out at least one victory and be challenging for the top five of the championship.
Cameron Shields: #20 Metalloid Corporation Tatuus-Mazda/#10 DEForce Racing Tatuus-Mazda (9th, 214 points)
What did I write before the season: I thought Shields could win races last year and he did get one victory before his season was cut short. Shields could be a championship contender if he is full-time.
What did I write before the season: I thought Shields could win races last year and he did get one victory before his season was cut short. Shields could be a championship contender if he is full-time.
How incorrect was it: Shields was full-time, but he was not a championship contender. He did switch teams midseason, leaving Legacy Autosport after the first six races and moving to DEForce Racing for the final nine races. Results picked up after switch. After having his best finish be sixth with Legacy Autosport, Shield scored two top podium finishes and another top five with DEForce Racing. He also won pole position at St. Petersburg but got caught in an incident and ruined a promising final weekend.
What should he do in 2021: Find a stable team that will give him an entire U.S. F2000 season to contest. Legacy Autosport has been kind of wishy-washy and prone to midseason driver changes. I think that Shields was in a poor fit at the start of this year.
Kiko Porto: #12 Banco Daycoval/Petromega Tatuus-Mazda (10th, 198 points)
What did I write before the season: Porto should do well and be competing for the top ten in the championship. It could be a case where Porto needs a race weekend or two to get his legs and by the middle of the year, he could be in contention for a few race victories.
What did I write before the season: Porto should do well and be competing for the top ten in the championship. It could be a case where Porto needs a race weekend or two to get his legs and by the middle of the year, he could be in contention for a few race victories.
How incorrect was it: Porto ended up tenth in the championship after missing two rounds at Road America and New Jersey, but he was in contention for multiple race victories. He won the first St. Petersburg race and was second in the final race. At the IMS road course, he started on pole position for the first two races and he had finishes of third, fourth and third.
What should he do in 2021: Porto missed a few races and I think a full U.S. F2000 season would be good for him. He could be good enough to move up to Indy Pro 2000. He did have some tough races so there are a couple things he could clean up before moving up the ladder.
Prescott Campbell: #1 Lucas Oil School of Racing Tatuus-Mazda (11th, 167 points)
What did I write before the season: (Lucas Oil Formula Car Race Series) is the same series Reece Gold came from. This is a big step for Campbell. Gold had some good races in 2019 and he was top ten in the championship. The biggest difference is Campbell topped the Homestead test. I think top ten in the championship has to be the goal for Campbell but after testing the bar is a little higher. I think he has to be shooting for the top five.
What did I write before the season: (Lucas Oil Formula Car Race Series) is the same series Reece Gold came from. This is a big step for Campbell. Gold had some good races in 2019 and he was top ten in the championship. The biggest difference is Campbell topped the Homestead test. I think top ten in the championship has to be the goal for Campbell but after testing the bar is a little higher. I think he has to be shooting for the top five.
How incorrect was it: That testing pace did not carry over into the season. Campbell had a exhausting start to the season with his best finish being tenth in the first 12 races. However, he appeared to turn a corner in New Jersey with a finish of fifth in race one and a third in the third race.
What should he do in 2021: Stay in U.S. F2000, because I think there is a sign of hope. He moved from the Lucas Oil Formula Car Race Series and was 11th in the championship in year one of U.S. F2000. Gold was tenth last year in U.S. F2000 after moving over from the Lucas Oil series. Looking at the progress Gold made in year two of U.S. F2000, Campbell should be encouraged. This was a rough season. There was less track time. Everyone gets a second chance next year. Very few people can be written off after this year due to the circumstances.
Yuven Sundaramoorthy: #21 S team Motorsports Tatuus-Mazda (12th, 165 points)
What did I write before the season: Testing results are encouraging for Sundaramoorthy but the testing results are encouraging for his Pabst Racing teammates as well. He will finish better than 12th in the championship but I am not sure he could get higher than seventh or eighth.
What did I write before the season: Testing results are encouraging for Sundaramoorthy but the testing results are encouraging for his Pabst Racing teammates as well. He will finish better than 12th in the championship but I am not sure he could get higher than seventh or eighth.
How incorrect was it: A poor final weekend, combined with Kiko Porto's great final two races dropped Sundaramoorthy to 12th in the championship and he did not get higher than seventh or eighth in the championship. He had only one top five finish to his name.
What should he do in 2021: I think Sundaramoorthy is a good driver, but the results need to improve. A third year in U.S. F2000 would do him well, but if the number of top five finishes do not pick up then I think that says it all for him.
Nolan Siegel: #9 Menlo Ventures/Aero Paint Technology Tatuus-Mazda (13th, 158 points)
What did I write before the season: Siegel is 15 years old and he was 15th in the championship in his first year in car racing. He is going to improve, and I think he gets into the top ten of championship. He was seventh at the Homestead test.
What did I write before the season: Siegel is 15 years old and he was 15th in the championship in his first year in car racing. He is going to improve, and I think he gets into the top ten of championship. He was seventh at the Homestead test.
How incorrect was it: Siegel just missed out on the top ten of the championship, but he did get two podium finishes, another top five and he won a pole position and set a fastest lap in New Jersey.
What should he do in 2021: He is only going to be 16 years old next year. There is no need to rush. Another year in U.S. F2000 would do him well.
Who should we have seen more of?
Kiko Porto. I am not sure he would have been a championship contender but he likely would have been in the fight for a top five championship finish and might have picked up a few more victories.
Who have we seen enough of?
Kiko Porto. I am not sure he would have been a championship contender but he likely would have been in the fight for a top five championship finish and might have picked up a few more victories.
Who have we seen enough of?
It is U.S. F2000. A lot of these drivers are young and just getting into car racing.
Looking to 2021
There was hope over the return of Indy Lights next year, but after the 2021 schedule was released and it included no Freedom 100, on top of Roger Penske's recent interview with the Indianapolis Star, I am still skeptical the series will return and return at a higher level than where the series was at before.
There are plenty of drivers that could fill Indy Lights with 16 to 20 cars, but with where the series has been for the last decade, I question if the infrastructure and interest exists for such a field size.
Years from now there will be plenty of retrospectives looking at how the pandemic created a lost year for people from all walks of life. In the moment, we know this was a lost year for Indy Lights and the drivers that planned on competing.
Some drivers were able to compete in an array of series, but none of those provided the same opportunity as an Indy Lights season. There should be one driver heading into the offseason knowing he will have a shot at three IndyCar races in 2021, one of those being the Indianapolis 500. Instead, that scholarship has been delayed a year and what should have been the class of 2020 now combines with another set of equally as talented and hunger drivers to form a monstrous class of 2021. There is not going to be a second scholarship up for grabs. This has created a logjam that will stick around for a few years. A few drivers risk getting trapped due to the increased competition. A few drivers will leave for more opportunities in other series. IndyCar could miss out on someone great.
Normally, we are talking about IndyCar aspirations for at least one or two drivers in this section, but there are going to be no graduates to IndyCar this year. Kyle Kirkwood, Rasmus Lindh, Toby Sowery and Santiago Urrutia are all a year behind and not because of their own faults. While they stay behind, there are another half-dozen drivers still on track for promotion into IndyCar. Both sides are going to lose out in 2021.
In theory, there is an exciting 2021 Indy Lights championship that exists with the drivers who were supposed to be competing in 2020 and at least a half-dozen guys from Indy Pro 2000 ready to move up. I doubt that come to fruition, but for IndyCar and the Road to Indy's sake it almost has to.
A mass influx of Indy Pro 2000 drivers to Indy Lights could unbalance the scales and shift the low car count problem to one of the other two series. It is a touchy time across the board. Indy Pro 2000 does not have a lot of leash to play with. U.S. F2000 did well this year attracting entries, but this wasn't its best year either.
This is a problem that will not vanish overnight for the Road to Indy and the pandemic ending will not allow the floodgates to open. It might take years before all three series are simultaneously all at a comfortable level. This was just the tip of the iceberg. The bulk of the ramifications have yet to come.
