The Road to Indy system has been a successful tool for getting drivers to IndyCar. This year's IndyCar grid includes four of eight Indy Lights champions since the start of the Road to Indy system in 2010. There is also a Pro Mazda champion on the grid. Besides champions, there are race winners from Indy Lights, Pro Mazda and U.S. F2000 set participate in this weekend's IndyCar season opener.
Along with the two-dozen IndyCar entries, 51 cars are entered in the three Road to Indy series. There are a handful of drivers on the doorstep of IndyCar, hoping this will be the year that can put them over the top and into the top series in America open-wheel racing. Other drivers are just getting started. Some are teenagers with a dream but a dream that relies on a paycheck and the only way to get it is by winning a championship. You have Americans, Mexicans, Canadians, Britons, Brazilians and drivers from many other nations vying for a ticket to the next level with the hope of one day making it to IndyCar.
This preview will look at all 51 drivers entered this weekend at Indy Lights, Pro Mazda and U.S. F2000. It will give you a recap of what that driver did in 2017 with what to expect in 2018.
Indy Lights
The Indy Lights grid unfortunately sees a reduction in size. Only three teams are set to field ten cars for the St. Petersburg season opener. On the other hand, of those ten drivers there are four or five drivers that could separate themselves from the rest of the grid and make for an interesting championship battle.
St. Petersburg opens the season with a doubleheader March 10th and 11th. The series takes five weeks off and returns for a doubleheader at Barber Motorsports Park April 21 and 22nd. The third round of the season will be the Grand Prix of Indianapolis weekend on May 11-12th with the Freedom 100 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway being the first oval of the season on May 25th.
Indy Lights takes a month off after the Freedom 100 but returns for two races at Road America on June 23rd and 24th. Iowa is the second oval race of the season on July 8th and the following week will be the only other street course on the schedule, Toronto on July 14-15th.
Mid-Ohio holds doubleheader July 28th and 29th before another month off before the final oval race of the season at Gateway on August 25th. The 2018 season concludes with a doubleheader at Portland on September 1st and 2nd.
Teams:
Belardi Auto Racing
Santiago Urrutia: #5 Belardi Auto Racing Mazda
What did he do in 2017: Second in the Indy Lights championship. Two victories and nine podium finishes.
What to expect in 2018: Urrutia has finished runner-up both years he has raced in Indy Lights. He is ready for IndyCar. The only question is will he have the funding to carry out a full season? He can win races and ended 2017 on a high note. If the money is there Urrutia will be fighting for the title.
Aaron Telitz: #9 Rice Lake Weighing Systems Mazda
What did he do in 2017: Sixth in the Indy Lights championship. Two victories and four podium finishes.
What to expect in 2018: Telitz won the bookends of the 2017 season but he had a few rough days in the middle. He is a good driver but I am not sure that will be enough to win the championship. He will get a handful of podium finishes.
Juncos Racing
Alfonso Celis, Jr.: #7 Juncos Racing Mazda
What did he do in 2017: Third in the Formula V8 3.5 Series. One victory and seven podium finishes. Force India test driver at three races.
What to expect in 2018: Celis, Jr. has been all over the place in Europe but does not have many results to show for it. His victory at Spa-Francorchamps was his first victory since entering European competition in 2012. I think he will have a few good days but not contend for the title.
Victor Franzoni: #23 Mazda Motorsports Mazda
What did he do in 2017: 2017 Pro Mazda champion. Six victories and 12 podium finishes from 12 races. His worst finish all season was second.
What to expect in 2018: Franzoni has busted his butt to get to Indy Lights and he knows most of these tracks. There could be some growing pains with the IL-15 chassis but I think he will beat his teammate on a regular basis. He could win a race but he should definitely score a few podium finishes.
Andretti Autosport
Patricio O'Ward: #27 CDMX Mexico City Mazda
What did he do in 2017: 2017 IMSA Prototype Challenge champion. Made four Indy Lights starts and finished fifth and third at St. Petersburg.
What to expect in 2018: This is the championship favorite. O'Ward was unfortunate not to win the 2016 Pro Mazda championship, a year where he was stellar. He looked good in sports cars last year and he looked good in the LMP2 car he ran at Daytona in January. He will win multiple races.
Dalton Kellett: #28 K-Line Insulators USA, Inc. Mazda
What did he do in 2017: 12th in the Indy Lights championship. Two podium finishes.
What to expect in 2018: In six years in the Road to Indy system, Kellett has never finished better than 10th in a championship. There are only ten cars entered for St. Petersburg and there likely won't be many more than that for the rest of the season. In 91 Road to Indy starts he has five podium finishes. Don't get your hopes up.
Ryan Norman: #48 Journey Mazda
What did he do in 2017: 11th in the Indy Lights championship. One top five finish (4th in first Road America race).
What to expect in 2018: Norman was solid in his first year in the Indy Lights car. He is 19 years old but I think he is a distance off the top drivers in Indy Lights.
Colton Herta: #98 Andretti Steinbrenner Racing/Curb Mazda
What did he do in 2017: Third in the Indy Lights championship. Two victories and seven podium finishes.
What to expect in 2018: Herta looked good in 2017 and most of the bad days seemed to be out of his hands. His teammate O'Ward will provide a tough championship challenge, as will Urrutia. Herta will win races in 2018 and he will be in the title fight. Remember, Herta will still be 17 years old at the season opener and his birthday is March 30th. There is a lot of time for Herta. Give him time if it doesn't all come together this year.
Team Pelfrey
Neil Alberico: #2 Rising Star Racing/Gap Guard Mazda
What did he do in 2017: Eighth in the Indy Lights championship. Two podium finishes.
What to expect in 2018: Alberico had promising years in U.S. F2000 and Pro Mazda but Indy Lights has been a struggle. Last year, Alberico started strong with two podium finishes and five top five finishes in the first seven races. It did not end well with five top ten finishes in the final nine and his best finish was sixth. This deal has been thrown together late, who knows if he runs the full season. This is the year Alberico has to produce results.
Shelby Blackstock: #3 Starstruck/Gap Guard Mazda
What did he do in 2017: Tenth in the Indy Lights championship. One podium finish.
What to expect in 2018: Blackstock brings the car home in one piece but his only Road to Indy victory was on July 21, 2013 in Pro Mazda. He might get a podium finish or two if there is a lot of attrition in a race.
Pro Mazda
After a shortened 2017 season for Pro Mazda as the series transitioned to the Tatuus PM-18 chassis, Pro Mazda is back with the new chassis ready to go, many new drivers and a 16-race schedule, 25% more than last season.
St. Petersburg opens the season with races on March 10th and 11th and Pro Mazda will be with IndyCar and Indy Lights at Barber on April 21st and 22nd and the Grand Prix of Indianapolis May 11th and 12th. Pro Mazda returns to Indianapolis Raceway Park with a race May 25th and like Indy Lights, Pro Mazda will take a month off before returning for a doubleheader at Road America on June 23rd and 24th.
Pro Mazda will be at Toronto July 14th and 15th. Mid-Ohio will be a doubleheader this year instead of a triple header with races July 28th and 29th. Pro Mazda's second and final oval race will be at Gateway on August 25th and the season ends with a doubleheader at Portland on September 1st and 2nd.
Teams:
Juncos Racing
Carlos Cunha: #1 Juncos Racing Mazda
What did he do in 2017: Third in the Pro Mazda championship. Six podium finishes.
What to expect in 2018: Cunha had a good finish to the 2017 Pro Mazda season though with a smaller grid. I think he will have a handful of good race and could win a race or two.
Rinus VeeKay: #2 Jumbo Supermarkets/La Place Restaurants/KNAF Talent First Mazda
What did he do in 2017: Second in the U.S. F2000 championship. Three victories and 12 podium finishes.
What to expect in 2018: VeeKay was solid in U.S. F2000 and he looked good at the Homestead test. I don't think he will be on the podium as much as he was in U.S. F2000 but I think he could be the top Juncos Racing driver and finish in the top five of the championship.
Robert Megennis: #9 Palo Alto Networks Mazda
What did he do in 2017: Sixth in the U.S. F2000 championship. One victory.
What to expect in 2018: Megennis won the first race of the U.S. F2000 last year and then never made it back to the podium. I think he will have good days but not be a championship contender and finish somewhere in the back half of the top ten in the championship.
Cape Motorsports
Oliver Askew: #3 Mazda Motorsports/Mockett & Co./Rising Star Racing Mazda
What did he do in 2017: 2017 U.S. F2000 champion. Seven victories and 11 podium finishes.
What to expect in 2018: Askew was impressive in U.S. F2000 but he hasn't been consistently at the top of the time sheets during testing. I think he will turn it around and get results but I don't expect a cakewalk, in fact I would not be surprised if Askew doesn't win the championship. He can win a race but he might have to settle for podium finishes and top five finishes.
Nikita Lastochkin: #8 Russkaya Mekhanika Mazda
What did he do in 2017: Fifth in the Pro Mazda championship. Two podium finishes.
What to expect in 2018: Lastochkin was consistently in the back half of the field in testing. He will get top ten finishes but top five finishes will be few and far in-between.
RP Motorsport
Harrison Scott: #10 epicura/Masterpack Innovative Printing Mazda
What did he do in 2017: 2017 Euroformula Open Championship champion. Won 12 of 14 starts.
What to expect in 2018: I think this could be the sleeper. The one thing against Scott is he will be learning all these tracks. I think his results will be better in the second half of the season than in the first half.
Lodovico Laurini: #27 epicura/Laurini Officine Meccaniche Mazda
What did he do in 2017: 18th in the Euroformula Open Championship. Best finish was eighth.
What to expect in 2018: Laurini has been toward the bottom during testing. I think he will finish in the bottom half of the championship.
DEForce Racing
James Raven: #12 DEForce Racing Mazda
What did he do in 2017: Finished third in the Walter Hayes Trophy.
What to expect in 2018: Raven has been good in testing but I think he will be a middle of the road driver all season.
BN Racing
Kris Wright: #78 MasterTech/PPG/Wright Automotive Group Mazda
What did he do in 2017: Tenth in the Pro Mazda championship. Best finish was fifth.
What to expect in 2018: Wright has been around for a few years but has yet to get a real shot at the championship. It will be an average year as I think there are more prepared drivers on the grid.
David Malukas: #79 HMD Trucking Mazda
What did he do in 2017: Tenth in the U.S. F2000 championship. One podium finish.
What to expect in 2018: Malukas was not a full-time driver in U.S. F2000 last year but in the races he was in he looked good. He was fastest at the Barber test. I think he could challenge for the top five in the championship.
Charlie Finelli: #83 Allsport Mazda
What did he do in 2017: Finished third in the Pro Mazda National class. Made six starts and won the class once.
What to expect in 2018: Back of the pack.
Team Pelfrey
Rafael Martins: #80 Gap Guard Mazda
What did he do in 2017: Did not compete but finished ninth in the 2016 F4 British Championship with one victory and two podium finishes.
What to expect in 2018: For a driver that was out of racing in 2017, Martins was competitive at the Barber test. I think he could sneak in and win a race and he could be another championship sleeper.
Andrés Gutiérrez: #81 Prisma/Riverina Mazda
What did he do in 2017: 23rd in the U.S. F2000 championship after making three starts. Best finish was sixth.
What to expect in 2018: Gutiérrez was as quick as his teammate in the test. He could also win a race or two.
Sting Ray Robb: #82 Trademark Dental/Munk Family Dental/Intervention.com Mazda
What did he do in 2017: Sixth in the Pro Mazda championship. Best finish was fourth.
What to expect in 2018: Robb looked good in testing and he had 2017 as a learning year. I am not convinced he can make a championship push and I think he could finish third of the three Team Pelfrey cars.
Exclusive Autosport
Parker Thompson: #90 Exclusive Autosport/Badlands Motorsport Resort
What did he do in 2017: Third in the U.S. F2000 championship. Three victories and six podium finishes.
What to expect in 2018: Thompson took his time in U.S. F2000 and he is ready for Pro Mazda. He was quick in testing and I think he will be a championship contender. While he took his time in U.S. F2000, I think Thompson could be ready for Indy Lights after this season regardless of if he wins the title or not.
Antonio Serravalle: #91 Exclusive Autosport Mazda
What did he do in 2017: Competed in karting U.S. and Canadian KZ Shifter Kart championships.
What to expect in 2018: This will be Serravalle's first year in car racing. Don't expect much from him as he will be learning.
U.S. F2000
U.S. F2000 has over two-dozen cars entered for the season opener at St. Petersburg and there are many names to keep an eye on.
St. Petersburg will have races on March 10th and 11th but the series will then have two months off before running May 11th and 12th during the Grand Prix of Indianapolis weekend. U.S. F2000 joins Pro Mazda at Indianapolis Raceway Park on May 25th for what will be the only oval race on the U.S. F2000 calendar. The series takes a month off and the series hits the midway point of the calendar at Road America on June 23rd and 24th.
Toronto will be the antepenultimate round with races on July 14th and 15th. U.S. F2000 will run three races at Mid-Ohio over the weekend from July 28th-30th. The series will have over a month off before closing the season with a doubleheader at Portland on September 1st and 2nd.
Teams:
Sol.O Racing
Mathias Soler-Obel: #5 Equidem Management Mazda
What did he do in 2017: 12th in the Formula 4 United States Championship. Best finish was fourth.
What to expect in 2018: Soler-Obel was at the bottom of the time sheets in most of the Homestead test sessions. I think he will struggle a bit.
Cape Motorsports
Kyle Kirkwood: #8 Firstex/SAFEisFAST.com/Bell Helmets/Sparco Mazda
What did he do in 2017: 2017 Formula 4 United States champion. Nine victories and 15 podium finishes.
What to expect in 2018: Kirkwood was ready for U.S. F2000 last year. He was a Team USA Scholarship driver the same year as Oliver Askew. He is with the right team and I think he is one of the championship favorites.
DEForce Racing
Zach Holden: #10 DEForce Racing Mazda
What did he do in 2017: Third in the F1600 Championship. Six victories and 15 podium finishes.
What to expect in 2018: He was in the middle of the field during testing. I think he will be on the fringe of the top ten in the championship.
Kory Enders: #11 MBSugarland/Caliber Collision/McLaren Houston Mazda
What did he do in 2017: Ninth in the U.S. F2000 championship. One top five finish.
What to expect in 2018: Enders has gained a lot of experience. He was consistently in the top five during testing. I think he will have a good year.
José Sierra: #12 Go-kart Mania/RPLracing/Telcel Mazda
What did he do in 2017: 24th in the U.S. F2000 championship. Made two starts. Finished fourth and eighth at Toronto. Second in the 2016-17 NACAM Formula 4 Championship.
What to expect in 2018: Sierra was regularly in the back half of the top ten in testing. He finished second to Calvin Ming in the NACAM Formula 4 Championship. Ming has been a good driver in U.S. F2000. I think Sierra could get a podium or two.
Colin Kaminsky: #27 Slick Locks Mazda
What did he do in 2017: 18th in the U.S. F2000 championship. Made ten starts. Best finish was eighth.
What to expect in 2018: He was the slowest of the four DEForce Racing entries in testing. I think he will be in the bottom half of the championship.
Swan-RJB Motorsports
Alex Baron: #19 Swan-RJB Motorsports Mazda
What did he do in 2017: 20th in the U.S. F2000 championship. Made four starts. Best finish was fourth.
What to expect in 2018: Alex Baron won an Indy Lights race almost four years ago. I do not know what has plagued his career but if he is full-time he will be a championship contender.
Pabst Racing
Calvin Ming: #21 Mings Products and Services/APAN Mazda
What did he do in 2017: Fifth in the U.S. F2000 championship. Four podium finishes.
What to expect in 2018: Ming had a few good days in 2017 but he needs to find that extra bit to be a championship contender. He could win a race or two.
Lucas Kohl: #22 Bellko Trading/Kohltrade/IVI Vision Mazda
What did he do in 2017: Seventh in the U.S. F2000 championship. One podium finish.
What to expect in 2018: Kohl was quiet in 2017 and he showed he was a competent. He was in the top five for five of six Homestead test sessions. I think he gives Ming a run for his money but he might not be the best Pabst driver.
Rasmus Lindh: #23 Chicago Pneumatic Mazda
What did he do in 2017: Fifth in the CIK-FIA World Championship OK Senior Category
What to expect in 2018: The Swede jumped into the car and was fast out of the box. He could be a championship contender and I think he will win a few races.
Kaylen Frederick: #24 Pilot ONE Racing Mazda
What did he do in 2017: Fourth in the U.S. F2000 championship. Five podium finishes.
What to expect in 2018: Frederick did well last year as a 14-going-on-15-year-old driver and he was in the top five with his teammates for most of the Homestead test. He should win a race this year but his stiffest competition will be coming from in house. Once again, Frederick will only be 16 years old when this season is over. He could spend another year or two in U.S. F2000 and that would be fine.
BN Racing
Jamie Caroline: #28 BN Racing Mazda
What did he do in 2017: 2017 F4 British Championship champion. Won ten of 30 races and had 16 podium finishes.
What to expect in 2018: Caroline seems to be a highly touted prospect from the United Kingdom. He is jumping into the car with no testing. St. Petersburg might not be his best outing but if he gets a full season I think he could be a driver at the sharp end of the grid on a regular basis and could finish in the top five of the championship.
Russell McDonough: #29 Lost Forty Brewery Mazda
What did he do in 2017: Lucas Oil Formula Series participant.
What to expect in 2018: The Arkansan driver only took part in two test sessions and was 15th in both. He is new to racing having only started last June. I think he be toward the back in most races.
ArmsUp Motorsports
Keith Donegan: #30 Mazda Motorsports
What did he do in 2017: 2017 Road to Indy Scholarship winner. Finished second in the Formula Ford Festival.
What to expect in 2018: Donegan stepped away from racing for a few years before he got back into Formula Fords last year. It is a good story but the Irishman was all over the board during testing. I think he will be battling for a top ten championship finish.
Team Benik
Sabré Cook: #31 Apple Motorsports/Aspen Equity Group Mazda
What did he do in 2017: Team USA Scholarship nominee.
What to expect in 2018: It isn't clear if this team will run full-time. This is a good opportunity for Cook. She doesn't have much car racing experience and she was toward the bottom during testing. It will be a matter of running laps and gaining experience for her.
Michael d'Orlando: #51 Focused Project Management Mazda
What did he do in 2017: Competed in karting series WSK Super Masters Series, CIK FIA European Championship, US Grand Nationals.
What to expect in 2018: Just like Cook, d'Orlando is getting into car racing for the first time. He was in the middle of the field for most of testing.
Newman Wachs Racing
Darren Keane: #36 Cal Development/Keane Architectural Woodwork Mazda
What did he do in 2017: 11th in the U.S. F2000 championship. Made 11 starts. Best finish was fourth.
What to expect in 2018: He was in the top ten regularly during testing. I think he can be a top ten championship driver and he should get a handful of top five finishes.
David Osborne: #37 Newman Wachs Racing Mazda
What did he do in 2017: Fifth in the F1600 Championship Series. One victory and four podium finishes.
What to expect in 2018: Osborne was not at the Homestead test. It is hard to judge how he will do. the F1600 series has produced some good drivers. I think he is better suited for U.S. F2000 than his teammate below but I am not sure if he can regularly beat Keane on track.
Oscar DeLuzuriaga: #38 Newman Wachs Racing Mazda
What did he do in 2017: Lucas Oil School of Racing Series participant.
What to expect in 2018: This is a big step up for him and he was at the bottom of the time sheets at the Homestead test.
Team Pelfrey
Julian Van der Watt: #80 Race Driver SA/Crossley & Webb Mazda
What did he do in 2017: 2017 South African National Formula 1600 champion.
What to expect in 2018: The South African driver was in the top ten consistently at the Homestead test. I think he will finish somewhere between eighth and 12th in the championship.
Kyle Dupell: #81 Opal Creek Capital/Pro Race Management Mazda
What did he do in 2017: Competed in karting series Can-Am Series, SKUSA Pro Tour and the Rotax MAX Challenge Series Grand Final.
What to expect in 2018: Dupell was the top Team Pelfrey car in the test, breaking into the top five on two occasions. This is his first year in car racing. If testing speeds carry over he could be the breakout Road to Indy star in 2018.
Bruna Tomaselli: #82 Bruna&Bia Mazda
What did he do in 2017: 21st in U.S. F2000 championship. Made 11 starts, two in the National class. Best finish was 12th.
What to expect in 2018: It appears last year helped out Tomaselli as she was just outside the top ten during testing. I think this year will be a big improvement over 2017 but she will be competing mostly for top ten finishes.
Exclusive Autosport
Manuel Cabrera: #90 Group Gateway Mexico Mazda
What did he do in 2017: 2017 Formula PanAm champion.
What to expect in 2018: Cabrera was toward the bottom during the test and I think this year would be best used for gaining experience.
Igor Fraga: #91 Cenibra/Usiminas Mazda
What did he do in 2017: 2017 Formula 3 Brasil Academy class champion.
What to expect in 2018: He was hovering around the top ten during the Homestead test. I think he will have good days but could need a few races to get his feet under him.
Jayson Clunie: #93 Exclusive Management Mazda
What did he do in 2017: 19th in the U.S. F2000 championship. Made nine starts. Best finish was ninth.
What to expect in 2018: Not much.
There you have it. All 51 entries have been previewed. You are informed for all three rungs of the IndyCar ladder system.
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