2026 Road to Indy Preview

We are on the verge of the 2026 NTT IndyCar Series season, but along with IndyCar comes the start of the Road to Indy series as many young drivers continue their journeys to the top division of American open-wheel racing. 

There are a few slight changes from past seasons. New tracks for IndyCar means new races for the junior series as well. However, not everyone is starting together in St. Petersburg. There are also a few different season finale weekends.

Indy Lights

There will be 17 races in the 2026 Indy Lights season, starting at St. Petersburg. Two weeks later, Indy Lights will also partake in the inaugural Grand Prix of Arlington on March 15. Two weeks after that, Indy Lights has its first of five doubleheader weekends. This one will be at Barber Motorsports Park. 

Indy Lights will have a little more than a month off before a doubleheader on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course on May 8-9. The seventh race of the season will be on the streets of Detroit on May 31. One week later will be the first oval race of the season from Gateway.

The season hits the halfway point during a doubleheader at Road America over June 20-21. Independence Day weekend will feature another doubleheader at Mid-Ohio. Indy Lights will race against the World Cup final on July 19 from Nashville.

Portland kicks off the final quarter of the season on August 9 before the final oval race from Milwaukee on August 30. The season ends with a doubleheader from Laguna Seca on September 5-6.

Teams:

Andretti Global

Lochie Hughes: #26 The McGinley Clinic Dallara

What did he do in 2025: Third in the Indy Lights championship with 466 points and a pair of victories, but Hughes did not win in the final eight races thought he had eight podium finishes and ten top five finishes.

What to expect in 2026: Hughes will have higher expectations as he is the top returning driver from last year's championship, and there will be an expectation that he will take the title now that Dennis Hauger is gone. Hughes should be more of a threat. He should win a few more races.

Seb Murray: #27 Dream Racing Dubai Dallara

What did he do in 2025: 13th in Indy Lights with 230 points and one top five finish.

What to expect in 2026: It should get better. Murray is now fully in the Andretti camp after racing for Andretti Cape last year. However, this grid is rather competitive. It will be a challenge to break into the top ten.  

Max Taylor: #28 Susan G. Komen/Simplify Dallara

What did he do in 2025: Taylor made six starts in Indy Lights with his best finish being fourth and he had four top ten finishes. Taylor also ran the full USF Pro 2000 season and was sixth in the championship with one victory and four podium finishes.

What to expect in 2026: Taylor did well in USF Pro 2000 but not great. With his focus only on Indy Lights, he should be competitive and possibly could win a race, but fighting for the championship top five will be a good year. 

Josh Pierson: #29 The Crypto Companies Dallara

What did he do in 2025: Sixth in Indy Lights on 378 points with a pair of podium finishes and six top five finishes.

What to expect in 2026: Pierson has been developing and this is about to be his fourth year in Indy Lights, but he is still only 20 years old. The time has come to at least win a race. If he is the second-best Andretti driver behind Hughes it will be a good season.

HMD Motorsports

Salvador de Alba: #17 Grupo Indi Dallara

What did he do in 2025: Fifth in Indy Lights on 418 points with a victory at Milwaukee, three podium finishes and nine top five finishes.

What to expect in 2026: De Alba should be a championship contender, but with the grid growing and a number of IndyCar teams entering, HMD is not as well positioned as it once was in this series. De Alba should be competing for race victories. At worst, he will be somewhere in the championship top ten.  

Jack Beeton: #45 Tailored Investment Solutions Dallara

What did he do in 2025: 13th in the Formula Regional Middle East Championship and 13th in the Formula Regional European Championship. Beeton won the FRMEC season finale at Lusail International Circuit in Qatar. In 19 FREC starts, he had eight finishes in the points with his best finish being sixth. 

What to expect in 2026: Not much. Barely competitive in the Formula Regional divisions. Indy Lights is much tougher. This is a much larger grid than past seasons. Top fifteen finishes could be good days.  

Enzo Fittipaldi: #67 HMD Motorsports Dallara

What did he do in 2025: Sixth in the European Le Mans Series LMP2 class with CLX Motorsport. His best finish was third at Circuit Paul Ricard.

What to expect in 2026: Prior to last season, Fittipaldi had spent the better part of four seasons in Formula Two. Results were good as he was eighth in the championship in 2022 and seventh in 2023. His struggle was with consistency, and with Fittipaldi adjusting to ovals it could cost him. He should be in the championship top ten, but it is hard to envision him higher than about seventh.

Tymek Kucharczyk: #71 Mubi Dallara

What did he do in 2025: Euroformula Open champion on 392 points with six victories in 24 starts.

What to expect in 2026: Euroformula Open is not a deep championship. This is a big jump to Indy Lights. He and Beeton are in a similar boat.

Abel Motorsports with Force Indy

Myles Rowe: #99 Force Indy Dallara

What did he do in 2025: Fourth in Indy Lights on 458 points with two victories, six podium finishes and ten top five finishes.

What to expect in 2026: Rowe made a big leap in 2025. He should be a championship contender alongside the likes of Lochie Hughes. Finishing in the top five of the championship is the bare minimum for this season, and it would be good if he could win a road or street course race. It isn't out of the question, but it will be tougher.

Abel Motorsports

Max Garcia: #12 USF Pro Championships Dallara

What did he do in 2025: The USF Pro 2000 champion on 495 points with nine victories, 13 podium finishes and 17 top five finishes in 18 starts.

What to expect in 2026: Abel can produce quality cars, and Garcia was rather stellar in 2025. The grid is packed, but I think results will start to turn in Garcia's favor as the season goes along. A few podium results would be a good year. 

Jordan Missig: #48 GR1P Dallara

What did he do in 2025: Ninth in the Indy Lights championship on 273 points with his best finish being sixth in the opening are of the season from St. Petersburg.

What to expect in 2026: A step back from 2025. This grid is more talented and Missig wasn't that threatening last season. I do not expect a big change. 

Colin Kaminsky: #57 Slick Locks Dallara

What did he do in 2025: Nothing. Kaminsky sat on the sideline. He last competed in 2024 in the Porsche Carrera Cup North America championship, Kaminsky made eight Indy Lights starts in 2023 where his best finish was sixth at Barber Motorsports Park. 

What to expect in 2026: We saw bursts for Kaminsky in the Road to Indy, but nothing has quite stuck. I expect the same. A few top ten finishes but not much more than that. 

Chip Ganassi Racing

James Roe, Jr.: #8 TopCon Dallara

What did he do in 2025: 12th in Indy Lights on 235 points, and Roe, Jr.'s best finish was seventh.

What to expect in 2026: Roe, Jr. has yo-yoed all over the Indy Lights championship in his first four seasons. He looked like a possible race winner at Andretti Global until last season. I don't see Chip Ganassi Racing being much better. He could be in the championship top ten or he could be 12th again. 

Bryce Aron: #9 Jaguar Land Rover Chesterfield Dallara

What did he do in 2025: 11th in Indy Lights on 260 points with one top five finish.

What to expect in 2026: There was a slight regression last year for Aron. Results could improve in 2026, but they will likely be around where he was in 2024, which was ninth in the championship.  

Niels Koolen: #10 Super B Dallara

What did he do in 2025: Eighth in Indy Lights on 288 points with one top five finish. 

What to expect in 2026: With a deeper grid, I think Koolen takes a step back and likely finishes outside the top ten in the championship.

Carson Etter: #11 Evisions Dallara

What did he do in 2025: Etter was 17th in the USF Pro 2000 championship on 117 points. He was the worst driver in the championship among those that started every race, and his best finish all season was sixth in the final race of the season from Portland. Prior to that, his best result of the year was 12th.

What to expect in 2026: Etter is making a big leap into Indy Lights. I don't know how he ended up at Chip Ganassi Racing (Money is the answer, I know that, but on principle, how?). He should be the bottom of the fourth Ganassi drivers. It will put him at the bottom of the championship as well. 

Cape Motorsports Powered by ECR

Matteo Nannini: #20 ENVE Motorsports Dallara

What did he do in 2025: Nothing. Nannini has not competed in any series since he made seven Indy Lights starts in 2023 where he won in the wet on the IMS road course, but he had an average finish of 14.667 in the other six races. 

What to expect in 2026: Your guess is as good as mine. It has been nearly three years since Nannini last competed. Results will be better than some, but it is unlikely he will be a regular challenger and turn some heads.

Nikita Johnson: #21 Java House Dallara

What did he do in 2025: Johnson made three Indy Lights starts and his best finish was seventh on the IMS road course. Johnson made 12 starts in the GB3 Championship and he started eight races in Formula Three with his best finish being 13th in the Monza sprint race.

What to expect in 2026: Johnson was a rising start a few years ago. A brief spell in Europe has slowed his development in the American junior system. However, he is back and focused. He could be a sleeper this season. Do not be surprised if he winds up on a few podiums and could challenge for a victory or two. A championship run is slim but not impossible.

Juncos Hollinger Racing

Alexander Koreiba: #75 Juncos Hollinger Racing Dallara

What did he do in 2025: Nothing. Koreiba was the 2024 HSR Prototype Challenge champion. Prior to that, he ran one IMSA round in the LMP3 class in 2023 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He was second in the 2022 IMSA Prototype Challenge championship with Memo Gidley as his co-driver.

What to expect in 2026: Nothing brilliant. I am not sure how so many drivers who have done nothing for years are ending up in Indy Lights. 

Ricardo Escotto: #76 Juncos Hollinger Racing Dallara

What did he do in 2025: 19th in Indy Lights after only contesting the first nine races with top ten finishes in his first two starts.

What to expect in 2026: Things were not going great in the first half of last season. I don't think Escotto is going to be a top ten challenger.

Cusick Morgan Motorsports

Nicolas Stati: #15 The Track Dallara

What did he do in 2025: Competed in the Formula Regional Oceania Championship and Formula Regional Americas Championship. His best finish in FRAC was third on the IMS road course and he contested only 12 of 22 races.

What to expect in 2026: Stati is a complete unknown and all these circuits are new. This is essentially a new team. He is going to be toward the bottom of the results every race. 

Juan Manuel Correa: #68 Cusick Morgan Motorsports Dallara

What did he do in 2025: Correa made nine starts in Indy Lights and was third in Detroit with four top ten finishes. He was 17th in the championship on 176 points.

What to expect in 2026: There were brief sparks of promise last season for Correa. This is a new operation. That could be a hinderance considering some of the drivers he is racing against. He should have enough to crack the championship top ten.  

A.J. Foyt Racing

Nicholas Monteiro: #4 EQR Dallara

What did he do in 2025: Tenth in the USF Pro 2000 Championship on 185 points and his best finish was sixth. Monteiro made his Indy Lights debut at Portland and finished 14th. 

What to expect in 2026: Monteiro has not been that impressive in his Road to Indy career. He never finished in the top five in 52 USF Pro 2000 starts. That is not going to change now. Any top ten results will be good days.

Alessandro de Tullio: #14 AstroaPay Dallara

What did he do in 2025: Fourth in the USF Pro 2000 Championship on 342 points with four victories and seven podium finishes. 

What to expect in 2026: After starting strong last year, de Tullio was a surprise but the results could not remain that high for the entire season. He looked good in testing, and a few good results could follow this season. It does feel like he will fall short of the championship top five. 

USF Pro 2000

USF Pro 2000 will have an 18-race season, but it will not start until the Grand Prix of Arlington with a doubleheader. The series will then have a near-two month break before running two races on the IMS road course. The first oval race will be at Indianapolis Raceway Park on Memorial Day weekend. 

After a month off, USF Pro 2000 returns with a doubleheader from Road America. The first of two triple-header weekends will be at Mid-Ohio. There will be another month off before a Portland doubleheader. USF Pro 2000 is scheduled to join IndyCar for the inaugural Markham weekend. 

Milwaukee will be the final oval event, but the season will end after the IndyCar season. Road America will host a triple-header over September 24-26 to close out the USF Pro 2000 season.

Who should we keep an eye on?

The top four from the 2025 U.S. F2000 championship are moving up to USF Pro 2000 for 2026. Jack Jeffers took the title with six victories and 13 podium finishes. Jeffers will be with Exclusive Autosport, the same team he won the U.S. F2000 championship with.

Teddy Musella wound up 67 points behind Jeffers, but he had a pair of victories and nine podium finishes. Musella will drive for VRD Racing. Thomas Schrage won three times and was only a point behind Musella in the championship. Schrage is set to drive for TJ Speed Motorsports. G3 Argyros was a distant fourth, 81 points behind Schrage. Argyros did not win a race but had four podium finishes, all third-place results. He will drive for Pabst Racing.

The top returning driver from the 2025 USF Pro 2000 championship is Jacob Douglas, who will be Argyros' teammate at Pabst Racing. Douglas was fifth in the championship last year, and he did win a race while having eight podium finishes. 

Michael Costello is also back after finishing seventh in the championship last year. Costello had a pair of podium finishes, but he finished outside the top ten in seven races. He will drive for Turn 3 Motorsport.

Who could be a surprise? 

Jay Howard Driver Development (JHDD) powered by ECR had stunning pace out of the gate at the preseason Homestead test with both drivers JT Hoskins and Andrés Cárdenas. Cardenas is coming over from Eurocup-3, a Formula Regional equivalent series in Europe, and he did win the final race of the season. Hoskins is leaping from USF Juniors to USF Pro 2000. Hoskins was 11th in the USF Juniors in 2025. That testing pace could be too good to be true. 

Christian Cameron was the fastest at the Homestead test with TJ Speed Motorsports. Cameron was 11th in U.S. F2000 last year with his best finish being fourth. He is the cousin of five-time IMSA championship Dane Cameron.

Who needs a good season?

Frankie Mossman is about to enter his third full season in USF Pro 2000, and he has yet to win a race. Mossman was quick in testing at Homestead driving for VRD Racing. He has never finished better than eighth in the championship at this level.

U.S. F2000

The season begins with a doubleheader from St. Petersburg, but there will be over two months until the next U.S. F2000 round, and it will be a triple-header held over the Grand Prix of Indianapolis weekend. Like USF Pro 2000, U.S. F2000 will have a race at Indianapolis Raceway Park over Memorial Day weekend. 

The second triple-header of the season will be at Road America before a doubleheader at Mid-Ohio. One month later, U.S. F2000 returns to competition at Portland, and U.S. F2000 will also race at Markham. U.S. F2000 concludes its season with a triple-header from Road America over September 24-26.

Who should we keep an eye on?

Sebastián Garzón was blisteringly quick in Homestead testing for DEForce Racing, and he is back for his second season in U.S. F2000. Garzón ended last season on a high note with three consecutive top five finishes. 

Liam Loiacono was the next fastest driver at the Homestead test with JHDD powered by ECR, and Lolacono was second in USF Juniors last season. VRD Racing had a trio of quick drivers with João Vergara, Ryan Giannetta and Colin Aitken. Naim Salih was another JHDD driver to keep an eye on. 

Leonardo Escorpioni was the 2025 USF Juniors champion, and he will run full-time in U.S. F2000 for Zanella Racing, but Escorpioni spent the entire Homestead test running in USF Pro 2000. Escorpioni had six victories, 14 podium finishes and was in the top four in 15 of 16 races last year in USF Juniors. 

Who could be a surprise? 

Evan Cooley is the top returning driver from last year's championship. Cooley was sixth and he only had two podium finishes and five top five results. Like Escorpioni, Cooley tested at Homestead in USF Pro 2000. It is tough to judge how he stacks up entering this season.

Who needs a good season?

Anthony Martella did win a race last year with the Canadian finishing first at Indianapolis Raceway Park. However, it was one of only two top five finishers he had all season as he was seventh in the championship, three points ahead of Garzón.

Indy Lights will open the season this weekend in St. Petersburg with a 45-lap race on Sunday March 1 at 10:00 a.m. ET. The first U.S. F2000 race of the weekend will be on Friday February 27 at 11:30 a.m. The second race of the weekend will not be until 3:00 p.m. on Sunday March 1. Bot races will be 20 laps or 40 minutes.

2025 Road to Indy Review

As we wrap up the IndyCar season, we should go over the three Road to Indy series and who shined in 2025. There was some good competition in the lower divisions, and a few drivers turned some heads. A number of drivers are ready for a move to the next level. Some guys should stay but have great promise. 

In Indy Lights, 15 drivers competed in every race, and it felt like one of the more compeittive seasons we have seen in Indy Lights. The top five in the championship all won a race, and though the championship was clinched early, many drivers stood out and showed they may have futures in IndyCar.

Indy Lights

Dennis Hauger: #28 Rental Group Dallara (1st, 599 points)

What did I write before the season: Hauger is the man to beat. He was second quickest at the Chris Griffis Memorial Test at the IMS road course last October. He was leading the way at the Sebring test last month. If you are winning in Formula Two and were a Formula Three champion that was once a Red Bull development driver, you are going to do fine in Indy Lights. Ovals will be new, but Hauger is with Andretti. He can trust the cars. This is the man to beat and Hauger could be a hot commodity for IndyCar in 2026.

How wrong was it: Hauger won the championship with six race victories and 11 podium finishes in 14 aces. He won four of the first five races. Though he did not win an oval race, he never finished worse than fifth on an oval and he had three podium finishes on ovals. Hauger clinched the championship with a race to spare.

What should he do in 2025: IndyCar, and it sounds like it is inevitable. Hauger has been rumored to be heading to Dale Coyne Racing while remaining on the books with Andretti Global. He was probably ready for IndyCar this year considering his Formula Two experience. He is ready for the next level.

Caio Collet: #76 Cyclum NextGen Travel Centers Dallara (2nd, 527 points)

What did I write before the season: The best returning driver from 2024 should be a championship challenger. Collet will have the advantage of track knowledge over Hauger. Collet will win more and have a greater say in the title fight.

How wrong was it: Collet did win more as he won three times after winning once in 2024. Though he had the advantage of experience, it never really made a difference over Hauger. Collet had 12 top five finishes this season.

What should he do in 2025: Collet's name has been floated for an IndyCar seat. He will turn 24 years old early next year. I think he is ready. There is not much else to gain in Indy Lights. It wouldn't hurt him to stay one more year. His biggest hurdle is where can he find a seat? If he cannot get a full-time IndyCar ride, another year in Indy Lights could be a good holdover.

Lochie Hughes: #26 USF Pro Championships/The McGinley Clinic Dallara (3rd, 466 points)

What did I write before the season: Hughes showed good times across the board in testing throughout the offseason. His biggest issue is he is likely isn't even the best driver in the Andretti organization. Hughes will be competitive and win races. It will require precision to win the championship. Championship top five feels likely.

How wrong was it: Hughes scored two victories and he started the season with eight consecutive top five finishes. He ended the season with only two top five finishes in the final six races. It was a good season and he was the third best driver this season.

What should he do in 2025: Stay put. He will be one of the championship favorites. There are not going to be enough openings in IndyCar to make a move. Another year will be a good thing.

Myles Rowe: #99 Force Indy Dallara (4th, 458 points)

What did I write before the season: Rowe had a good season going in the first half of 2024, and then he could not catch a break between mechanical issues and being caught in accidents not of his making. The misfortunate should not follow him. That alone should put Rowe in the championship top ten. He was quick in testing. If that translate into the season, he can push for the championship top five and win a race or two. Sneaky championship contender. 

How wrong was it: Rowe had much better consistency, and he won twice at Iowa and Nashville. He had ten top five finishes. He was fourth in the championship with breathing room to fifth. He only had one result outside the top ten.

What should he do in 2025: It has already been announced Rowe will continue in the Force Indy entry with Abel Motorsports. He could make another step in Indy Lights and further his development. I don't know if the window is open that Rowe could be an Indianapolis 500 one-off next year. He was strong on the ovals in 2025.

Salvador de Alba: #27 Grupo Indi Dallara (5th, 418 points)

What did I write before the season: Andretti should have a good group this year and there is a chance all four drivers will win. De Alba should be good but might not be good as a few of his teammates. He and Hughes could be close to one another in the middle of the championship top ten.

How wrong was it: Two spots were between Hughes and de Alba in the championship with 48 points separating them. De Alba won the penultimate race at Milwaukee. He didn't get on the podium until the ninth race at Iowa. 

What should he do in 2025: There is no reason for de Alba to get to IndyCar. He is 25 years old, which means a clock is ticking. If he returns, sights should be on 2027 for an IndyCar ride. 

Josh Pierson: #14 HMD Motorsports Dallara (6th, 378 points)

What did I write before the season: Considering the lack of improvement from his first and second years in Indy Lights, Pierson needs to get a little bit better now that he is 19 years old. He should sneak into the top ten of the championship.

How wrong was it: Pierson did much better than that and he was sixth in the championship. He got on the podium in both Laguna Seca races. He ended on a down note with three finishes of ninth or worse.

What should he do in 2025: Pierson will only be 20 years old at the start of next season. It would be his third full season in Indy Lights. He should stay. However, with Pierson's record, he could be off to sports cars if he thinks he has maxed out in single-seater racing.

Callum Hedge: #17 Abel Motorsports Dallara (7th, 358 points)

What did I write before the season: Hedge has shown great speed, and he should be penciled into the championship battle. Hedge should win a few races and produce better results than his first year in IndyCar. 

How wrong was it: Hedge could not break into the top group of Indy Lights and he had only one podium finish, a third in the second Laguna Seca race. It was a slight regression but he still had strong days.

What should he do in 2025: Stay in Indy Lights. I still think Hedge has promise. Let's call 2025 a sophomore slump. A third year could be a good chance to work through some of the ills. We will need to see upward movement though if he returns.

Niels Koolen: #10 Super B Dallara (8th, 288 points)

What did I write before the season: Koolen has been unspectacular in his first three seasons in car racing. Don't anticipate that changing in year four.

How wrong was it: Surprisingly, Koolen ended up eighth in the championship with Chip Ganassi Racing. His best finish was fifth at Iowa.

What should he do in 2025: This feels like a fluke. Koolen was better, but it didn't feel like he was a threat. I don't know if Koolen will be back. I was surprised he landed at Chip Ganassi Racing for its return to Indy Lights. If the check clears, they mind as well keep him.

Jordan Missig: #48 Nexus Towing Dallara (9th, 273 points)

What did I write before the season: Missig hasn't had great seasons in the Road to Indy. I don't think he will be in the championship top ten, but he should have a few top ten finishes. 

How wrong was it: Missig ended up in the top ten of the championship, and his season started strong with a sixth at St. Petersburg. However, he did not get back into the top ten until Mid-Oho. He did have five top ten finishes in the final seven races.

What should he do in 2025: Missig turns 28 years old next March. I feel like a move elsewhere could be coming. 

Jack William Miller: #40 Patterson Dental Haven Go by SAAM Dallara (10th, 266 points)

What did I write before the season: More of the same. Many finishes between 12th and 15th. 

How wrong was it: Miller had three finishes between 12th and 15th. While he had six finishes in the top ten, he also had four finishes outside the top fifteen. His best finish was seventh, which happened four times.

What should he do in 2025: Miller has completed seven seasons in the Road to Indy. He has yet to win in any of the three junior series. He will turn 23 years old in the middle of next year. If the family wants to keep racing, ok. 

Bryce Aron: #9 Jaguar Land Rover Chesterfield Dallara (11th, 260 points)

What did I write before the season: About the same. The grid is tight and Aron is going to a crowded HMD ship. There is a chance he falls out of the championship top ten.

How wrong was it: Aron dropped out of the top ten and was 11th in the championship. He moved after the first round from HMD to Chip Ganassi Racing and took over the #9 entry from Jonathan Browne. He struggled for pace until late in the season. 

What should he do in 2025: Another year in Indy Lights. It would be good to see him start and finish a season with one team. 

James Roe, Jr.: #29 TopCon Dallara (12th, 235 points)

What did I write before the season: Roe, Jr. performed above expectations last year. All the Andretti cars were consistently around the top ten. Roe looks set to be in the back half of the top ten again with a few sparkling days.

How wrong was it: Roe, Jr. fell to 12th in the championship. He only had four top ten finishes with his best finish being seventh at Iowa.

What should he do in 2025: This was essentially Roe, Jr.'s fourth season in Indy Lights. He turns 27 years old in a month. Sports cars might be where he should start looking. 

Sebastian Murray: #2 Dream Racing Dubai Dallara (13th, 230 points)

What did I write before the season: No expectations. Everything will be new for Murray. If he wasn't great in GB3, he isn't going to be great in Indy Lights.

How wrong was it: Murray was 13th in the championship. His only top five finish was fifth in the second Laguna Seca race. His only other top ten finish was sixth at Detroit.

What should he do in 2025: I am not sure Murray should have been in Indy Lights this year. He isn't going to take a step back. He could decide to look for competition across the pond.

Haillie Deegan: #38 Monster Energy Dallara (14th, 202 points)

What did I write before the season: Deegan is making a big jump from NASCAR to Indy Lights with essentially no open-wheel experience. She has been at the bottom of every test, but her times were improving. This is going to be a learning year. Any top ten results will likely come down to strategy or attrition around her.

How wrong was it: There were no top ten results for Deegen. She had five top fifteen finishes, her best day of 11th came in a race of high attrition at Laguna Seca.

What should she do in 2025: It doesn't feel like she will be back in Indy Lights. It isn't a 0% chance but it is pretty low. I don't know where else she can go. She did well in her few Michelin Pilot Challenge starts. 

Tommy Smith: #16 Shell Dallara (15th, 202 points)

What did I write before the season: Many days at the back. That is where Smith has been in testing. 

How wrong was it: Smith had not finishes in the top ten. His bet result was 12th on two occasions. 

What should he do in 2025: I want to know how a driver of this caliber had Shell sponsorship. If Smith left, you probably would not realize he was gone.

The Rest of the Field

Nolan Allaer missed a race, and he was 16th in the championship with 192 points.

Juan Manuel Correa ran nine races with his best finish being third at Detroit. It was his only top five finish as he scored 162 points.

Liam Sceats and Ricardo Escotto each had their seasons cut short.

Max Taylor's best finish was fourth at Laguna Seca in his part-time season. 

Evagoras Papasavvas was second on debut at Barber Motorsports Park, but could not finish better than ninth in his final four starts.

Who should we have seen more of?

Michael d'Orlando returned for the final three races. He was seventh and eighth at Portland and Milwaukee respectively. D'Orlando was also running well at Nashville before contact with Hedge led to a penalty and relegated d'Orlando to 14th. I wish he got a full opportunity. He could be a top ten championship drive and maybe a top five challenger.

USF Pro 2000

Max Garcia: #18 Advance Auto Parts/Bell/OMP/Starling Design Tatuus (1st, 495 points)

What did I write before the season: Garcia will be at the front and be a championship threat. He is with the right team. Pabst will put him in a good spot. His consistency can carry over to the next level. 

How wrong was it: Garcia won nine of 18 races, and he finished in the top four in 17 races. The championship was under his control from early on.

What should he do in 2025: Garcia is ready for Indy Lights though he will only be 16 years old when he makes his debut. That is where he should be. It is lining up where he could be Indy Lights champion in 2026 and be 17 years old when the 2027 season begins. He doesn't need to get to IndyCar by the time he is 18 years old, but he mind as well be in Indy Lights and start his next phase of development. 

Ariel Elkin: #27 Zero Network/Swift Garage Tatuus (2nd, 347 points)

What did I write before the season: Elkin was in the top ten in testing. He is jumping right from USF Juniors into USF Pro 2000. The championship top ten looks likely.

How wrong was it: Elkin did a little better than expected as he won three races in the first nine events. Results were a little choppy down the stretch.

What should he do in 2025: It makes sense to go to Indy Lights. I don't think he will stay at USF Pro 2000, but he could. He is only 18 years old. He could get a championship and ride that momentum into the next level.

Mac Clark: #90 Corpay Cross-Border Solution/Cubine Tatuus (3rd, 346 points)

What did I write before the season: Better than last year. Clark looked good in testing and could be a championship contender. He should at least be pushing for the championship top five.

How wrong was it: Clark did not win a race, but he had 11 podium finishes. He was nearly second in the championship. A 12th in the final race at Portland cost him a spot in the championship.

What should he do in 2025: Clark did not win a race in two full seasons in USF Pro 2000, but he is ready for the next level. I don't know if the victories will come at that level, but he is ready for it.

Alessandro de Tullio: #44 DTI Group/Sport Summa/InterMS Tatuus (4th, 342 points)

What did I write before the season: De Tullio likely surprised a lot of people leading the NOLA test, and he had good speed at the Chris Griffis Memorial Test. It is an unknown with de Tullio if this can last over a full season. At the moment, he appears to be an early contender.

How wrong was it: De Tullio continued to be a surprise as he won three of the first four races. Unfortunately, he ran into a prolonged rough patch and could not match Garcia's output. De Tullio did win late at Toronto.

What should he do in 2025: Staying in USF Pro 2000 could allow him to develop without trying to learn a new car. There is work that can be done at this level. 

Jacob Douglas: #19 DouglasFay Group/Fleet Cost & Care Tatuus (5th, 329 points)

What did I write before the season: It stunk Douglas was out for the 2024 season. His test results are encouraging. He should be in the conversation for the championship top five. 

How wrong was it: Douglas did get into the championship top five, and he won at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course for a memorable moment.

What should he do in 2025: Knowing that Douglas essentially missed a season due to funding issues, the pressure will be on to get to Indy Lights. He could make the move, but I don't know how good the quality of ride will be.

Max Taylor: #88 PINK/Susan G. Komen Foundation/Unicorn Tatuus (6th, 268 points)

What did I write before the season: It will be interesting to see if Taylor's Indy Lights gig will be a distraction. Taylor wasn't blindingly quick at the NOLA test, but that was cut short a day due to weather. He should be competitive and competing for victories while possibly being a championship contender.

How wrong was it: Taylor did not quite match his U.S. F2000 results, but he did win at Road America. He was streaky all season. I don't know if Indy Lights split his focus too much, but he was not pushing Garcia like we saw in 2024. 

What should he do in 2025: He already had a foot in Indy Lights. He turns 18 years old on October 1. I think he will be in Indy Lights. 

Michael Costello: #20 Proguard Automotive/EDA Eyewear Tatuus (7th, 211 points)

What did I write before the season: All three Pabst drivers are going to have good years. They cannot all be champion. They likely will not go 1-2-3. They should all be in the championship top ten. Costello will likely be third of the three, but should still have impressive days.

How wrong was it: Costello was third of the three Pabst drivers, but he was seventh in the championship. He only had two podium finishes and he had only one other top five finish after that. The results were not as flashy as you would hope. 

What should he do in 2025: Stay in USF Pro 2000. He was good but he can work on becoming great.

Frankie Mossman: #84 Ethika/Jaxxon/Ivy Day Spa/Arai Americas Tatuus (8th, 203 points)

What did I write before the season: Mossman was good in testing. There are about eight drivers that are fringe top ten championship drivers.

How wrong was it: Mossman did get into the top ten of the championship. He had four top five finishes in the final five races, including two podium finishes. He did switch from Jay Howard Driver Development to Velocity Racing Development mid-season and sadly missed a race at Indianapolis Raceway Park. If he had run at IRP, Mossman could have been seventh in the championship.

What should he do in 2025: Mossman was eighth last year in the championship as well. A third year could see him do better.  

Cooper Becklin: #2 Helmet House Tatuus (9th, 197 points)

What did I write before the season: Expectations are low. I don't think Becklin will crack the championship top ten.

How wrong was it: Becklin cracked the top ten and he was ninth on 197 points. He was second in the third IMS road course race. It was his only finish inside the top five. 

What should he do in 2025: Stay in USF Pro 2000.

Nicholas Monteiro: #9 Unique/Caye International Bank/Collection Suites Tatuus (10th, 185 points)

What did I write before the season: About the same as last year. Mostly outside the top ten and benefitting if other drivers pull out of the championship early.

How wrong was it: Monteiro had nine top ten finishes in 16 starts. He finished either sixth or seventh in eight of those races. He took tenth by three points over Joey Brienza. Monteiro ran the Indy Lights race at Portland instead of the final doubleheader of USF Pro 2000 season. If he had run the final round at Portland in USF Pro 200, Monteiro probably would have been ninth in the championships and could have gotten eighth.

What should he do in 2025: I don't think Monteiro should move up, but let's not be surprised if that happens.

The Rest of the Field

We know about Brienza. Sebastian Manson was 12th on 152 points. 

Jace Denmark's seasons ended after nine races. His best finish was fourth and he had six top ten finishes.

Liam McNeilly ran the Toronto round and he finished fifth and fourth in those races. 

Who should we have seen more of?

We will have more on McNeilly in a moment, but the answer is McNeilly.

I wish Denmark remained for the rest of the season. His results took a dip as he moved to TJ Speed Motorsports after finishing third in the 2024 championship with Pabst Racing. I hate to think his career could be over after showing good signs of development and talent. 

U.S. F2000

Jack Jeffers: #92 Corpay Cross-Border Solutions Tatuus (1st, 438 points)

What did I write before the season: Jeffers will be in the championship discussion. He will win a few races. It should not be a surprise if we see a fair number of races with Jeffers and McNeilly going toe-to-toe.

How wrong was it: Jeffers won the championship and ended with five victories in the final eight races, and he never finished worse than second in the final eight races. We only saw five races with Jeffers against McNeilly. McNeilly won all five while Jeffers was running up in the first three races of the season. 

What should he do in 2025: Move up to USF Pro 2000. Even though McNeilly wasn't there, Jeffers was the most consistent driver this season. He is ready for the next challenge.

Teddy Musella: #25 Triari Competizione/Don't Sleep Energy Drink Tatuus (2nd, 371 points)

What did I write before the season: Some top ten finishes, but possibly better. Musella might not be in the top tier, but second tier of drivers.

How wrong was it: Musella was second in the championship. He won two races and took second on the final day of the season with his victory. He had nine podium finishes, and he ended with ten consecutive top five finishes.

What should he do in 2025: Musella is only 16 years old, but he could move up to USF Pro 2000 and do well. Another year in U.S. F2000 would not hurt him though.

Thomas Schrage: #2 Doug Mockett & Company/Airport Electric Tatuus (3rd, 370 points)

What did I write before the season: Scrhage's testing results did not quite lineup with what we saw last year. He could improve into the championship top ten. 

How wrong was it: Schrage went from 12th in the championship after missing three races to third in the championship with three victories and 11 podium finishes. 

What should he do in 2025: Schrage turns 21 years old in January. His hand is kind of forced and he should move up to USF Pro 2000.

G3 Argyros: #23 Positive Beverage/Elephant Cooperation Tatuus (4th, 289 points)

What did I write before the season: Argyros ended 2024 was a surprise victory. I don't think he will be winning regularly, but he should be good enough for the championship top ten.

How wrong was it: Argyros did not win a race, but he did have four podium finishes and ten top five finishes. It got him in the top five of the championship.

What should he do in 2025: Argyros just turned 16 years old. He can spent another year in U.S. F2000. 

Caleb Gafrarar: #24 Circle K/Bell/Racing Electronics/Molecule Tatuus (5th, 288 points)

What did I write before the season: There is a chance Gafrarar will be better than Argyros. He will have some top five finishes, possibly get on the podium. He showed pace that could be good enough for winning races.

How wrong was it: Gafrarar and Argyros was practically even with only a point between them. Gafrarar won at Mid-Ohio. He had four podium finishes. He had ying-and-yang weekends to start the season that cost him points.

What should he do in 2025: Stay in U.S. F2000. He and Argyros are quite similar. They are at the same level of development. 

Evan Cooley: #90 Brown Brothers Harriman Tatuus (6th, 234 points)

What did I write before the season: Cooley looked good in testing and he looked good last year in his few starts. He should be in the championship top ten with a good chance at the top five.

How wrong was it: Cooley didn't quite come close to the championship top five. He did have two podium finishes, but he was outside the top ten in six of 18 starts.

What should he do in 2025: Another year in U.S. F2000 would be wise, but I think Cooley could move up to USF Pro 2000 and run respectably. 

Anthony Martella: #9 NIN Transport/VPS Service Tatuus (7th, 220 points)

What did I write before the season: Martella should get some top ten finishes. There could be days where he is breaking into the top five. 

How wrong was it: Martella had nine top ten finishes, and he won at Indianapolis Raceway Park. he also had a fifth at Portland. 

What should he do in 2025: Martella is about to two 17 years old in just under two weeks. He can stay in U.S. F2000 and continue to develop. 

Sebastian Garzón: #12 Lucas Oil School of Racing Tatuus (8th, 217 points)

What did I write before the season: For a driver stepping into car racing for the first time, Garzón looked impressive in testing. He will be learning though. If he has good results, he should be happy, but he will likely have a few tough days that are not the end of the world.

How wrong was it: Garzón had one top five finish in the first 15 races, and then he ended with three consecutive top five finishes with a third in the final race of the season. It got him a top ten championship finish.

What should he do in 2025: Garzón doesn't turn 16 years old until November 4. If he returns to U.S. F2000, he will be a championship contender.  

Lucas Fecury: #91 Grupo São Paulo/Allma Management Tatuus (9th, 203 points)

What did I write before the season: Fringe of the championship top ten.

How wrong was it: Fecury was ninth in the championship. He had four top five finishes, and after starting with only two top ten finishes in the first eight races, he had eight top ten finishes in final ten races.

What should he do in 2025: Fecury is 22 years old. He is a bit of a late-comer to motorsports. At his age, he almost has to move up and see how it goes in USF Pro 2000. 

Eddie Beswick: #30 Synergy Motorsport Tatuus (10th, 195 points)

What did I write before the season: Beswick is moving to a new country. Everything will be new. He is going to be learning in every session. 

How wrong was it: Despite learning, Beswck got tenth in the championship. He had 11 top ten finishes with his best finish being second in the first Toronto race.

What should he do in 2025: This was a big move at 20 years old. Beswick should spend another season. Being in U.S. F2000 at 21 years old isn't regular, but I don't think moving up to USF Pro 2000 will accelerate his development. 

The Rest of the Field

Christian Cameron was 11th on 181 points. 

Brad Majman had a third at Indianapolis Raceway Park before missing the Road America and Mid-Ohio rounds. He had three top five finishes in the final five races to end up 12th on 171 points.

Jeshua Alianell was third in the first race of the season at St. Petersburg, and then Alianell did not finish in the top five the rest of the season. He was a point behind Majman.

Liam McNeilly won the first five races of the season and then visa issues prevented him from re-entering the United States ahead of the round from the IMS road course. McNeilly's 163 points were still good enough for 14th in the championship. 

Who should we have seen more of?

If McNeilly runs the full season, he is probably champion and by a comfortable margin over Jeffers. He stepped into USF Pro 2000 for the Toronto round, and he looked comfortable in the top five despite over three months since his last race. McNeilly is ready for the next level. It would be the best of everyone if he gets his permits worked out and can return to competing full-time in the United States.

2025 Road to Indy Preview

Joining IndyCar this weekend at St. Petersburg will be the three development series that form the Road to Indy. All three are opening their 2025 seasons as well with over 60 entries spread across the three divisions.

Champions are moving up to another level while there are a few drivers entering from other championships from around the globe. There is even a notable IndyCar team that has expanded its program into the ladder system. 

Many drivers are hoping this will be their season to springboard their careers. A few drivers looked poised for that next jump while others are lurking and could be an unexpected, breakout performance.

Indy Lights

There will be 14 races over 12 race weekends this year in Indy Lights. 

After the St. Petersburg season opener, Indy Lights will have two weeks off, not competing again until May 4 at Barber Motorsports Park. The weekend after that will be the first of two doubleheader weekends, this one at the Grand Prix of Indianapolis weekend on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. 

Three weeks later, Indy Lights will race at Detroit with Gateway following two weeks later. Road America will be the halfway point in the season on June 22. 

Mid-Ohio will host the series on July 6 with Iowa following on July 12. Laguna Seca hosts the other doubleheader weekend over July 26-27. Portland will be the final road course round on August 10. 

The 2025 season ends with two ovals, Milwaukee on August 24 and Nashville on August 31. 

Teams:

Andretti Global

Lochie Hughes: #26 USF Pro Championships/The McGinley Clinic Dallara

What did he do in 2024: The USF Pro 2000 champion on 395 points with five victories and 11 podium finishes.

What to expect in 2025: Hughes showed good times across the board in testing throughout the offseason. His biggest issue is he is likely isn't even the best driver in the Andretti organization. Hughes will be competitive and win races. It will require precision to win the championship. Championship top five feels likely.

Salvador de Alba: #27 Grupo Indi Dallara

What did he do in 2024: Fifth in the Indy Lights championship on 331 points with two podium finishes and five top five finishes.

What to expect in 2025: Andretti should have a good group this year and there is a chance all four drivers will win. De Alba should be good but might not be good as a few of his teammates. He and Hughes could be close to one another in the middle of the championship top ten.

Dennis Hauger: #28 Rental Group Dallara

What did he do in 2024: 11th in the Formula Two championship with one victory and five podium finishes. Hauger ran the first 12 of 14 rounds, and he was the 2021 Formula Three champion.

What to expect in 2025: Hauger is the man to beat. He was second quickest at the Chris Griffis Memorial Test at the IMS road course last October. He was leading the way at the Sebring test last month. If you are winning in Formula Two and were a Formula Three champion that was once a Red Bull development driver, you are going to do fine in Indy Lights. Ovals will be new, but Hauger is with Andretti. He can trust the cars. This is the man to beat and Hauger could be a hot commodity for IndyCar in 2026.

James Roe, Jr.: #29 TopCon Dallara

What did he do in 2024: Sixth in the Indy Lights championship on 316 points with two podium finishes and five top five finishes, plus one pole position.

What to expect in 2025: Roe, Jr. performed above expectations last year. All the Andretti cars were consistently around the top ten. Roe looks set to be in the back half of the top ten again with a few sparkling days.

HMD Motorsports

Nolan Allaer: #11 Martini Dallara

What did he do in 2024: 19th in the Indy Lights championship on 158 points after contesting ten of 14 races. Allaer's best finish was eighth at Mid-Ohio.

What to expect in 2025: More of the same as last year. Allaer in his ten starts had an average finish of 14.4.

Josh Pierson: #14 HMD Motorsports Dallara

What did he do in 2024: 14th in the Indy Lights championship on 264 points with his best finish being seventh at Road America, one of six top ten finishes.

What to expect in 2025: Considering the lack of improvement from his first and second years in Indy Lights, Pierson needs to get a little bit better now that he is 19 years old. He should sneak into the top ten of the championship.

Tommy Smith: #16 Shell Dallara

What did he do in 2024: 20th in the Formula Three championship with a fourth in the Silverstone feature race being his only points finish. 

What to expect in 2025: Many days at the back. That is where Smith has been in testing. 

Nikita Johnson/Max Taylor/Evagoras Papasavvas: #18 HMD Motorsports Dallara

What did they do in 2024: Johnson was second in the USF Pro 2000 championship on 355 points with eight victories and top ten finishes. He was deducted 30 points after a technical infringement was found after the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course round. 

Taylor was third the U.S. F2000 championship on 343 points with four victories, eight podium finishes and 12 top five finishes.

Papasavvas was fourth in the U.S. F2000 championship on 326 points with two victories, eight podium finishes and 11 top five finishes. 

What to expect in 2025: Here is what is happening with this entry: Johnson will run St. Petersburg, the IMS road course and Nashville as he will run full-time in the GB3 Championship in the United Kingdom. 

Taylor will race full-time in USF Pro 2000 but he will run five rounds in Indy Lights, Barber, Detroit, Iowa, Laguna Seca and Milwaukee.

Papasavvas will be HMD's reserve driver, and he will not have a full-time ride in 2025, but he will jump form U.S. F2000 to Indy Lights and race at Gateway, Road America and Mid-Ohio. 

Caio Collet: #23 Combitrans Dallara

What did he do in 2024: Third in the Indy Lights championship on 436 points with a victory at Mid-Ohio, six total podium finishes and nine top five finishes.

What to expect in 2025: The best returning driver from 2024 should be a championship challenger. Collet will have the advantage of track knowledge over Hauger. Collet will win more and have a greater say in the title fight.

Sophia Flörsch: #24 HMD Motorsports Dallara

What did she do in 2024: Scored zero points in the Formula Three championship after starting every race. 

What to expect in 2025: Flörsch started slow in testing, but made a big leap at the Sebring test into the top ten. We have a track record where in three Formula Three seasons, 54 starts, she finished in the points once. I don't have her in the championship top ten. If 20 drivers run every race, I am not sure she will be crack the top fifteen.

Liam Sceats: #30 HMD Motorsports Dallara

What did he do in 2024: Fifth in the USF Pro 2000 championship on 256 points with one victory and five podium finishes. 

What to expect in 2025: Sceats has only St. Petersburg locked down. If he can get a full-time ride, he could challenge for the championship top ten.

Haillie Deegan: #38 Monster Energy Dallara

What did she do in 2024: 32nd in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with four finishes in the top twenty in 17 starts. Deegan ran the final round of the Formula Regional Americas Championship where she placed 11th and 12th in the two races. 

What to expect in 2025: Deegan is making a big jump from NASCAR to Indy Lights with essentially no open-wheel experience. She has been at the bottom of every test, but her times were improving. This is going to be a learning year. Any top ten results will likely come down to strategy or attrition around her.

Bryce Aron: #39 Jaguar Land Rover Chesterfield Dallara

What did he do in 2024: Ninth in the Indy Lights championship on 302 points with two podium finishes and three top five finishes. 

What to expect in 2025: About the same. The grid is tight and Aron is going to a crowded HMD ship. There is a chance he falls out of the championship top ten.

Abel Motorsports

Callum Hedge: #17 Abel Motorsports Dallara

What did he do in 2024: Fourth in the Indy Lights championship on 332 points with one podium finish and five top five finishes.

What to expect in 2025: Hedge has shown great speed, and he should be penciled into the championship battle. Hedge should win a few races and produce better results than his first year in IndyCar. 

Jordan Missig: #48 Nexus Towing Dallara

What did he do in 2024: 22nd in the Indy Lights championship on 74 points after contesting five races. Missig's best finish was ninth at Gateway.

What to expect in 2025: Missig hasn't had great seasons in the Road to Indy. I don't think he will be in the championship top ten, but he should have a few top ten finishes. 

Andretti Cape

Sebastian Murray: #2 Dream Racing Dubai Dallara

What did he do in 2024: 18th in the GB3 Championship with three top ten finishes. 

What to expect in 2025: No expectations. Everything will be new for Murray. If he wasn't great in GB3, he isn't going to be great in Indy Lights.

Ricardo Escotto : #3 Frank's Red Hot Dallara

What did he do in 2024: Ninth in the USF Pro 2000 Championship on 218 points with two podium finishes and five top five finishes. Escotto was also 23rd in the Indy Lights championship on 59 points after contesting five races. His best finish was 13th at Laguna Seca and Milwaukee. 

What to expect in 2025: Escotto had a good testing pace. Looking at the grid though, there are four Andretti cars you think will be quicker, at least two or three HMD cars that should be quicker and possibly another driver or two who should be better. Escotto could be on the fringe of the championship top ten.

Abel Motorsports with Force Indy

Myles Rowe: #99 Force Indy Dallara

What did he do in 2024: 11th in the Indy Lights championship on 285 points with two top five finishes.

What to expect in 2025: Rowe had a good season going in the first half of 2024, and then he could not catch a break between mechanical issues and being caught in accidents not of his making. The misfortunate should not follow him. That alone should put Rowe in the championship top ten. He was quick in testing. If that translate into the season, he can push for the championship top five and win a race or two. Sneaky championship contender. 

Abel Motorsports with Miller Vinatieri Motorsports

Jack William Miller: #40 Patterson Dental Haven Go by SAAM Dallara

What did he do in 2024: 15th in the Indy Lights championship on 216 points with two top ten finishes.

What to expect in 2025: More of the same. Many finishes between 12th and 15th. 

Chip Ganassi Racing

Jonathan Browne: #9 Hover Energy Dallara

What did he do in 2024: 13th in the Indy Lights championship on 279 points with eight top ten finishes. 

What to expect in 2025: For a revival of the Ganassi Indy Lights program, it has been a quiet preseason, and you wouldn't think Chip Ganassi Racing has expanded into the championship. Browne did well last year, but not spectacular. I don't see much change from his 2024 results. There has been no indication that Ganassi's Indy Light program is going to look like Ganassi's IndyCar program.

Niels Koolen: #10 Super B Dallara

What did he do in 2024: 20th in the Indy Lights championship on 140 points with one top ten finish. Koolen contested nine of 14 races. He also ran in two Formula Two rounds at Monza and Baku, and his best finish was 19th. 

What to expect in 2025: Koolen has been unspectacular in his first three seasons in car racing. Don't anticipate that changing in year four.

USF Pro 2000

Eight race weekends will be held this season for USF Pro 2000, seven of which will be in association with an IndyCar weekend.

After the season opening doubleheader in St. Petersburg, USF Pro 2000 will go to NOLA Motorsports Park for a triple-header over the weekend of April 12-13. Another triple-header will follow at the IMS road course over May 9-10. The only oval race will be at the halfway point of the season with Indianapolis Raceway Park hosting a race on May 23. 

The second half of the season begins with a triple-header at Road America a month after the IRP weekend. Mid-Ohio has a doubleheader on the first weekend of July. Toronto will host a doubleheader two weeks later. The season ends in Portland with two races.

Teams:

Pabst Racing

Max Garcia: #18 Advance Auto Parts/Bell/OMP/Starling Design Tatuus

What did he do in 2024: The U.S. F2000 champion on 428 points with five victories, ten podium finishes, 15 top five finishes and his worst finish was seventh.

What to expect in 2025: Garcia will be at the front and be a championship threat. He is with the right team. Pabst will put him in a good spot. His consistency can carry over to the next level. 

Jacob Douglas: #19 DouglasFay Group/Fleet Cost & Care Tatuus

What did he do in 2024: Douglas sat out the 2024 season due to funding issues. He was sixth in the 2023 U.S. F2000 championship with two victories and five podium finishes. 

What to expect in 2025: It stunk Douglas was out for the 2024 season. His test results are encouraging. He should be in the conversation for the championship top five. 

Michael Costello: #20 Proguard Automotive/EDA Eyewear Tatuus

What did he do in 2024: Ninth in the U.S. F2000 championship on 218 points with one victory, three podium finish, four top five finishes and 11 top ten finishes.

What to expect in 2025: All three Pabst drivers are going to have good years. They cannot all be champion. They likely will not go 1-2-3. They should all be in the championship top ten. Costello will likely be third of the three, but should still have impressive days.

Turn 3 Motorsport

Cooper Becklin: #2 Helmet House Tatuus

What did he do in 2024: 18th in the USF Pro 2000 championship on 90 points after contesting only the final nine races. Becklin had four top ten finishes. 

What to expect in 2025: Expectations are low. I don't think Becklin will crack the championship top ten.

Titus Sherlock: #3 Mosaic Animal Health Center/Rayne Nutrition Tatuus

What did he do in 2024: Fourth in the Formula Regional Americas Championship on 185 points with four victories and eight podium finishes in 17 starts. 

What to expect in 2025: This is a change of scenery for Sherlock, and the competition will be tougher. He should have some top ten finishes, but not be a regular finisher there.

Tyke Durst: #33 FHI/Relay Payments/Drive Toward a Cure Tatuus

What did he do in 2024: 17th in the USF Pro 2000 championship on 107 points with one top ten finish.

What to expect in 2025: Somewhere around Becklin. A good day here or there, but Durst will not have 13 top ten finishes and a few top five results.

Alessandro de Tullio: #44 DTI Group/Sport Summa/InterMS Tatuus

What did he do in 2024: 20th in the USF Pro 2000 championship on 66 points after contesting the final six races. De Tullio had one top five finish and there top ten finishes.

What to expect in 2025: De Tullio likely surprised a lot of people leading the NOLA test, and he had good speed at the Chris Griffis Memorial Test. It is an unknown with de Tullio if this can last over a full season. At the moment, he appears to be an early contender.

Velocity Racing Development

Owen Tangavelou: #84 VRD Racing Tatuus

What did he do in 2024: Fourth in the Eurocup-3 championship on 158 points with one victory, three podium finishes and nine top five finishes in 15 starts.

What to expect in 2025: I am not sure how well Eurocup-3 translate to USF Pro 2000. VRD does have good cars. Tangavelou should have a few top ten finishes, but those might not be the most competitive days. 

Max Taylor: #88 PINK/Susan G. Komen Foundation/Unicorn Tatuus

What did he do in 2024: Third the U.S. F2000 championship on 343 points with four victories, eight podium finishes and 12 top five finishes.

What to expect in 2025: It will be interesting to see if Taylor's Indy Lights gig will be a distraction. Taylor wasn't blindingly quick at the NOLA test, but that was cut short a day due to weather. He should be competitive and competing for victories while possibly being a championship contender.

T.J. Speed Motorsports

Jace Denmark: #26 3-Dimensional Tatuus

What did he do in 2024: Third in the USF Pro 2000 championship on 345 points with nine podium finishes, but no victories, and 12 top five finishes.

What to expect in 2025: This was a late assignment. We know Denmark is quick but he couldn't quite breakthrough for victory. He should be in the championship top ten again. Denmark was looking to Indy Lights during the offseason. I just wonder if this ride coming together late will cost him early in the championship and he isn't quite in form for the start.

Ariel Elkin: #27 Zero Network/Swift Garage Tatuus

What did he do in 2024: Fourth in the USF Juniors championship on 278 points with three victories and five podium finishes.

What to expect in 2025: Elkin was in the top ten in testing. He is jumping right from USF Juniors into USF Pro 2000. The championship top ten looks likely.

Sebastian Manson: #28 Manson's TCLM LTD/Ted Manson Foundation Tatuus

What did he do in 2024: Second in the New Zealand Formula Ford Championship and second in the Formula Regional Japanese Championship with six podium finishes and nine top five finishes in 14 races.

What to expect in 2025: Fringe of the championship top ten. 

Jay Howard Driver Development

Tanner DeFabis: #4 Destination Athlete Tatuus

What did he do in 2024: 18th in the U.S. F2000 championship on 103 points with a victory at Indianapolis Raceway Park, but DeFabis only ran the first ten races. 

What to expect in 2025: Back of the championship. He might do well at IRP, but that will likely be it.

Frankie Mossman: #6 Ethika/Jaxxon/Ivy Day Spa/Arai Americas Tatuus

What did he do in 2024: Eighth in the USF Pro 2000 championship on 222 points with two podium finishes, three top five finishes and 13 top ten finishes.

What to expect in 2025: Mossman was good in testing. There are about eight drivers that are fringe top ten championship drivers.

DEForce Racing

Nicholas Monteiro: #9 Unique/Caye International Bank/Collection Suites Tatuus

What did he do in 2024: 13th in the USF Pro 2000 championship on 162 points with five top ten finishes.

What to expect in 2025: About the same as last year. Mostly outside the top ten and benefitting if other drivers pull out of the championship early.

Jorge Garciarce: #10 Sidral Aga/Red Cola/Skarch Tatuus

What did he do in 2024: Tenth in the USF Pro 2000 championship on 199 points with one top five finish and 11 top ten finishes.

What to expect in 2025: He will be going by "George" this year. His testing results were not quite matching what he did last year. There is a chance for a step back considering the competition that is entering the series.

Exclusive Autosport

Mac Clark: #90 Corpay Cross-Border Solution/Cubine Tatuus

What did he do in 2024: 11th in the USF Pro 2000 championship on 187 points with four top five finishes and 11 top ten finishes after running 16 of 18 races.

What to expect in 2025: Better than last year. Clark looked good in testing and could be a championship contender. He should at least be pushing for the championship top five.

Joey Brienza: #91 Huntsman Mental Health Foundation/UBS Tatuus

What did he do in 2024: Fifth in the U.S. F2000 championship on 265 points with four podium finishes, eight top five finishes and 16 top ten finishes.

What to expect in 2025: Testing was a little disappointing. It is tough to gauge if it was just a matter of not getting enough time in the car. This could be a season that starts slow and improves throughout the summer.

Carson Etter: #92 Priority Workforce/GATC Health Tatuus

What did he do in 2024: 16th in the U.S. F2000 championship on 121 points with three top ten finishes.

What to expect in 2025: At no point did Etter's speed look particularly dangerous in testing.

Comet/NCMP Racing

Logan Adams: #21 Comet/New Castle Motorsports Park Tatuus

What did he do in 2024: 16th in the USF Pro 2000 championship on 114 points with one top five finishes and three top ten finishes after contesting 14 of 18 races.

What to expect in 2025: At no point did Adams' speed look particularly dangerous in testing.

U.S. F2000

U.S. F2000 will run an identical schedule as USF Pro 2000, eight rounds and 18 races, but the race weekends vary between doubleheader and triple-headers.

The first two race weeks are identical, doubleheader at St. Petersburg before a triple-header at NOLA Motorsports Park, but the IMS road course weekend will be a doubleheader. U.S. F2000 will also run a single race at Indianapolis Raceway Park. 

The next difference is at Road America, where U.S. F2000 will only run a doubleheader. Mid-Ohio will be a triple-header weekend while Toronto matches as a doubleheader. The U.S. F2000 finale will be at Portland, but that weekend will be a triple-header.

Teams:

Pabst Racing

G3 Argyros: #23 Positive Beverage/Elephant Cooperation Tatuus

What did he do in 2024: 17th in the U.S. F2000 championship on 112 points with a victory and five top ten finishes after starting ten of 18 races. 

What to expect in 2025: Argyros ended 2024 was a surprise victory. I don't think he will be winning regularly, but he should be good enough for the championship top ten.

Caleb Gafrarar: #24 Circle K/Bell/Racing Electronics/Molecule Tatuus

What did he do in 2024: Gafrarar competed in karting before running four rounds in the Formula Ford 1600 championship in the United Kingdom where he won a race and had two top five finishes. 

What to expect in 2025: There is a chance Gafrarar will be better than Argyros. He will have some top five finishes, possibly get on the podium. He showed pace that could be good enough for winning races.

Jay Howard Driver Development

Liam McNeilly: #6 Acclaim Contracts/Wolf International Tatuus

What did he do in 2024: Second in the USF Juniors championship on 324 points with five victories and eight podium finishes in 16 races.

What to expect in 2025: I would say McNeilly is one of the early championship favorites. He was quick at both the NOLA and Chris Griffis Memorial Test. He will definitely win a few races. 

Brad Majman: #7 Nat Pat/Paul Marc Masons/Kart Class Tatuus

What did he do in 2024: Fifth in the Ligier JS F4 Series with three victories, four podium finishes and six top five finishes in 15 races. 

What to expect in 2025: Majman showed good testing pace. Top five finishes are likely with a good number of top ten results.

Timothy Carel: #8 Fast Toys Club Tatuus

What did he do in 2024: 11th in the USF Juniors championship on 131 points with oe top five finish and eight top ten finishes in 14 starts.

What to expect in 2025: Some tough days with hopes of improving as the season goes on.

Anthony Martella: #9 NIN Transport/VPS Service Tatuus

What did he do in 2024: 23rd in the USF Juniors championship on 55 points with three top ten finishes in seven starts

What to expect in 2025: Martella should get some top ten finishes. There could be days where he is breaking into the top five. 

Velocity Racing Development

Thomas Schrage: #2 Doug Mockett & Company/Airport Electric Tatuus

What did he do in 2024: 12th in the U.S. F2000 championship on 156 points with two podium finishes, three top five finishes and six top ten finishes after running 15 of 18 races.

What to expect in 2025: Scrhage's testing results did not quite lineup with what we saw last year. He could improve into the championship top ten. 

Christian Cameron: #19 TKO Motorsport/Bitumen Group Tatuus

What did he do in 2024: Tenth in the USF Juniors championship on 135 points with two top five finishes. 

What to expect in 2025: Outside the championship top ten. 

Teddy Musella: #25 Triari Competizione/Don't Sleep Energy Drink Tatuus

What did he do in 2024: Ligier JS F4 Series champion with five victories, 12 podium finishes and 14 top five finishes in 15 races.

What to expect in 2025: Some top ten finishes, but possibly better. Musella might not be in the top tier, but second tier of drivers.

DEForce Racing

Jeshua Alianell: #11 BTEC Turbines/TWFG Insurance Tatuus

What did he do in 2024: 18th in the USF Juniors championship on 83 points with two top ten finishes. 

What to expect in 2025: Maybe a few top ten finishes, but those will likely come later in the season.

Sebastian Garzón: #12 Lucas Oil School of Racing Tatuus

What did he do in 2024: Competed in karting and won at the US SuperNationals in KA100 Junior and X30 Junior.

What to expect in 2025: For a driver stepping into car racing for the first time, Garzón looked impressive in testing. He will be learning though. If he has good results, he should be happy, but he will likely have a few tough days that are not the end of the world.

Brady Golan: #18 DEForce Racing Tatuus

What did he do in 2024: 13th in the U.S. F2000 championship on 154 points with three top ten finishes.

What to expect in 2025: Fringe of the championship top ten.

Exclusive Autosport

Evan Cooley: #90 Brown Brothers Harriman Tatuus

What did he do in 2024: 13th in the USF Juniors championship with three top five finishes and six top ten finishes in 13 starts. Cooley started four U.S. F2000 races and he won pole position for the IMS road course round. He had a third-place finish at that round and he was fourth in Toronto. 

What to expect in 2025: Cooley looked good in testing and he looked good last year in his few starts. He should be in the championship top ten with a good chance at the top five.

Lucas Fecury: #91 Grupo São Paulo/Allma Management Tatuus

What did he do in 2024: 14th in the U.S. F2000 championship on 146 points with five top ten finishes.

What to expect in 2025: Fringe of the championship top ten.

Jack Jeffers: #92 Corpay Cross-Border Solutions Tatuus

What did he do in 2024: Fifth in the USF Juniors championship with six podium finishes. 

What to expect in 2025: Jeffers will be in the championship discussion. He will win a few races. It should not be a surprise if we see a fair number of races with Jeffers and McNeilly going toe-to-toe.

Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing

Wian Boshoff: #67 Filtaquip/Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing Development Tatuus

What did he do in 2024: Boshoff competed in karting last year and this is his first step into car racing. 

What to expect in 2025: This is a big jump for Boshoff. The goal should be to complete as many laps as possible.

Synergy Motorsport

Eddie Beswick: #30 Synergy Motorsport Tatuus

What did he do in 2024: Australian Formula Ford champion with three victories and 11 podium finishes. Beswick ran the Toronto round and finished 14th and 17th.

What to expect in 2025: Beswick is moving to a new country. Everything will be new. He is going to be learning in every session. 

Benchmark Autosport

Ayrton Houk: #58 Wings and Wheel Foundation Tatuus

What did he do in 2024: 11th in the U.S. F2000 championship on 161 points with one top five finish and even top ten finishes after running 16 of 18 races. 

What to expect in 2025: Houk was on the fringe of the championship top ten last year. I think he will be in the same spot as last year.

U.S. F2000 opens the St. Petersburg weekend with its first race at 4:45 p.m. ET on Friday February 28. Its second race will be at 12:30 p.m. ET on Saturday March 1. 

USF Pro 2000 will race at 11:35 a.m. ET on Saturday with race two at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday March 2. 

Indy Lights's only race this weekend will be at 10:10 a.m. ET on Sunday.

2024 Road to Indy Review

It wasn't only the IndyCar season that finished at Nashville. The Road to Indy concluded its 2024 season at the 1.333-mile oval. Technically, two-thirds of the series were completed at Portland, but the entire ladder system season has come to a close. 

Like IndyCar, we can now review the 2024 Road to Indy season and evaluate how the top drivers did and assess what should come next. Who should move up? Who should stay put? And who have been seen enough from?

Indy Lights

Louis Foster: #26 Copart/Novara Technologies Dallara (1st, 639 points)

What did I write before the season: Foster found his form in the latter stages of last season. He should have the speed to be in the title mix. A few victories is the minimum.

How wrong was it: Foster set the tone for the season and proved to be the driver to beat. He won eight races and he had an 11-race stretch of finishing in the top two. He started on pole position six times. No one could keep up with his pace and Foster clinched the championship a race early.

What should he do in 2025: IndyCar. The problem is there is no sign of any team rushing to sign Foster. This has been the issue with a number of Indy Lights champions. No one was rushing to sign Linus Lundqvist. Christian Rasmussen had to settle for the road/street course driver role at Ed Carpenter Racing. I don't know how dominant you must be in this championship to get a team to sign you, but Foster has shown he is more than ready and he could be successful in a capable pair of hands.

Jacob Abel: #51 Abel Construction Dallara (2nd, 517 points)

What did I write before the season: Abel was a surprise fifth in the championship and was on the verge of a victory for most of the season. That victory should come in 2024. A championship push could be possible, but the top of the field is strong.

How wrong was it: It was a bit of a championship push, but not enough to keep up with Foster, and Abel likely benefitted from a rival being promoted early. It was less competition out there. The results were still going to be strong for Abel, but the level dropped. He won three times and he had ten podium finishes.

What should he do in 2025: Abel wants to get to IndyCar. His father wants to move the team to IndyCar. There are not enough engine leases in IndyCar. The charter system is another wrinkle. A third season in Indy Lights is a net-zero gain. It would not hurt but it isn't going to lift Abel’s value any more. For all the openings in IndyCar, Abel's name does not get thrown about. The only way I see Abel moving up is if his father and Abel Motorsports partners with Dale Coyne Racing with one of those charters. That is feasible and exactly how Coyne wants to run his business. However, if Abel remains in this series, that would not be a surprise.

Caio Collet: #18 HMD Motorsports Dallara (3rd, 436 points)

What did I write before the season: Collet did well in Europe, and he should be a sleeper. It would not be surprising if he picked up a victory or two and ended up on the podium semi-regularly. He should make the championship top ten.   

How wrong was it: Collet performed better than expected. He was one of the few drivers who could get consistent results. The problem is he was not close to Foster or Abel's output. These were new circuits, but Collet adjusted well. He won at Mid-Ohio and he had six podium finishes. 

What should he do in 2025: It has already been announced Collet will return for another Indy Lights season, the correct decision.

Callum Hedge: #17 HMD Motorsports Dallara (4th, 332 points)

What did I write before the season: Track record is hit-or-miss for drivers from Formula Regional Americas coming to Indy Lights. Other past Formula Regional Americas champions include Kyle Kirkwood and Linus Lundqvist. David Malukas won races in the series. Another past champion was Kyffin Simpson, who did not have great Indy Lights results, and then there was Benjamin Pedersen. Hedge will have competitive days, but I don't think the championship will go through him.   

How wrong was it: Hedge had a competitive middle of the season and he made strides forward, but he was still prone to an off day. He was not a factor in the championship, but he made sure he was in the fight for the top five. His best finish was third and he had five top five finishes, but he had six results outside the top ten, including the final three races.

What should he do in 2025: Stick to Indy Lights because he should develop and be contending for more races next year.

No one is looking to sign anyone in Indy Lights at the moment. Other than Foster, Abel, and maybe Jamie Chadwick, all of these drivers are hoping to stay in Indy Lights or will look to sports cars. IndyCar is really not an option for most.

Salvador de Alba: #2 Grupo Indi Dallara (5th, 331 points)

What did I write before the season: De Alba had a good results in USF Pro 2000, and he should have some good days this season. A few podium results should be a good start. A victory would be great. Somewhere in the championship top ten. 

How wrong was it: The results improved as the season went along. De Alba did get a few podium finishes and a few top five finishes. The victory did not come, but this was a good first year in Indy Lights.

What should he do in 2025: De Alba will be back in Indy Lights next year.

James Roe, Jr.: #29 TopCon Dallara (6th, 316 points)

What did I write before the season: Roe, Jr. performed better than expected in 2023. I don't expect much improvement from where he was last year. Another year in seventh would not be a surprise.  

How wrong was it: It was a little better than seventh. It was sixth. Roe, Jr. had a great day at Iowa but ended up second. He also had a third at Barber Motorsports Park. The problem is it was alternating good days and horrible days for Roe, Jr: 16th, third, 15th, fourth, 16th, 18th, fifth, 19th, 15th, second, tenth, 16th, sixth, fourth. Inconsistency hurts.

What should he do in 2025: This was year three in Indy Lights. He did improve from year one to year two but year three was about flat. Roe, Jr. turns 26 years old in October. If he returns, 2025 will likely be his final year in Indy Lights. I think his future is in sports cars.

Jamie Chadwick: #28 VEXT Dallara (7th, 310 points)

What did I write before the season: Improvements from 2023, and Chadwick felt more confident in testing. It is unlikely she will regularly be on the podium or finishing in the top five, but she should be in the top ten more and break into the top five once or twice. 

How wrong was it: Chadwick was not regularly on the podium, but she did have the speed to win at Road America and she had a podium on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. She had a few races slip away from her, but her pace mostly had her in the middle of the top ten.

What should she do in 2025: The pressure is on to get her into IndyCar, but she could use another year to develop better consistency. For the pace she did show, she was not beating on the door for podium finishes on a regular basis. A third season could get her there. But we should acknowledge she turns 27 years old next May. Time could force her forward. Not many drivers made a debut after 27 years old.

Yuven Sundaramoorthy: #22 S Team Motorsports Dallara (8th, 309 points)

What did I write before the season: Sundaramoorthy has been good in the Road to Indy, but not great and it has usually taken him a few years to get up to speed. This feels like a step too soon. He should be outside the top ten in the championship.

How wrong was it: Sundaramoorthy received a boost from a runner-up finish n the season finale, combined with a third at Gateway. He had five consecutive top ten finishes to end the season and seven top ten finishes in the final eight races. This was after opening the season with an average finish of17.6 in the first five races. This year was better than expected and Sundaramoorthy improved over the entire season.

What should he do in 2025: He is set for a step forward in 2025 if he sticks to Indy Lights.

Bryce Aron: #27 Jaguar Land Rover Chesterfield Dallara (9th, 302 points)

What did I write before the season: Aron did ok in Europe, but wasn't lighting the world on fire. He should be behind Foster, but he has a chance to be the second best of the Andretti group. Any trip to the podium will be a good sign.

How wrong was it: Aron ended up at the bottom of the Andretti Global drivers. He had good days and he did get on the podium. He ended on a high note with five consecutive top ten finishes after only three in the first nine races. Every circuit was new to him but adjustments were being made as the season went along.

What should he do in 2025: Aron turns 21 years old at the end of the month. Indy Lights is where he should be in 2025.

Reece Gold: #10 HMD Motorsports Dallara (10th, 289 points)

What did I write before the season: Gold has good spats of results, but he also stumbled into slumps. He should be more settled into the top ten of the championship, but I don't think he will enter that top group.

How wrong was it: Gold wasn't quite in the top group of drivers. He was not competing for podium finishes and he only had consecutive top ten finishes once in 2024. Sadly, his season ended a weekend early due to funding.

What should he do in 2025: Gold is only 20 years old. He has been good, but nothing staggeringly impressive. If he can find the funding, a third year in Indy Lights would be a good thing, but the writing might be on the wall for his single-seater future.

Myles Rowe: #99 HMD Motorsports with Force Indy Dallara (11th, 285 points)

What did I write before the season: Rowe got up to pace quickly in testing. He did show teething issues in U.S. F2000 and USF Pro 2000. He should have a few podium finishes, possible a victory or two. The championship is not out of the question, but it is not a given. 

How wrong was it: After the first five races, the championship quickly became a pipe dream. The results were good, but the teething problems returned. Some were not his fault, but Rowe made his own errors. It was a strange turn of results considering how his season started. He ended the season with two top ten finishes in the final nine races after having five top ten results to open the year. He finished behind Gold, who missed a race.

What should he do in 2025: In the final nine races, Rowe had six finishes of 15th or worse. Rowe didn't forget to drive, and a few of these results were mechanical problems. A tire puncture in Nashville ruined a chance at a top five result. Things should get better next year. Things improved from year one to year two in U.S. F2000. Rowe should return and work on getting better results. 

Christian Bogle: #7 HMD Motorsports Dallara (12th, 284 points)

What did I write before the season: In three Indy Lights seasons, Bogle has finished 11th in the championship each season. He has had only one top five finish in each of the last two seasons. A fourth year should benefit him. This is a large Indy Lights field but not necessarily a stronger Indy Lights field.  

How wrong was it: It was pretty much what we have seen from Bogle. This was a little better, but he was not a threat. His average points per start in four Indy Lights seasons has been 11.35, 21.285, 19 and 20.285. We know who Bogle is.

What should he do in 2025: He turns 24 years old next March. Is anything going to change in year five of Indy Lights? I am sure teams will happily take his money, but Bogle has already been dabbling in sports cars. His future is likely there.

Jonathan Browne: #23 HMD Motorsports Dallara (13th, 279 points)

What did I write before the season: A few good days, but ending up in the back half of the field more times than not. 

How wrong was it: Browne had eight top ten finishes and six finishes outside the top ten, but only two of those results were outside the top fifteen. 

What should he do in 2025: Browne is like Bogle in a sense. This was Browne's first season in Indy Lights, but he has never been one of the best drivers in a season in the Road to Indy. If he does not return to Indy Lights, I don't know where his career goes. 

Josh Pierson: #14 HMD Motorsports Dallara (14th, 264 points)

What did I write before the season: Pierson will focus on Indy Lights this year, and his results should be better. He should be competing for the podium in a few races, and he has an outside shot at the championship. It will require a big step forward, as his best finish last season was sixth. 

How wrong was it: Pierson never really pushed for a podium finish. He didn't even crack the top five. His best finish was seventh. He was never a threat for the championship. After averaging 19.222 points per start in 2023, his average dropped to 18.857 points.

What should he do in 2025: He is technically an Ed Carpenter Racing development driver, but IndyCar development drivers are a meaningless title like "Assistant to the Regional Manager." Pierson will only be 19 years old next year. He should return and see if he can improve. I am not sure anyone expected him to take a step back like this one.

Jack William Miller: #40 Patterson Dental Haven Go by SAAM Dallara (15th, 216 points)

What did I write before the season: Miller has had good days in the Road to Indy, but he has never been the knockout driver. It will be tough to crack the championship top ten this season.

How wrong was it: Miller never got close to the top ten in the championship. He barely made the top ten in a race. His best finish was tenth in both races of the Laguna Seca doubleheader. 

What should he do in 2025: The family money is behind Miller so I expect he will be back next year.

The Rest of the Field

Christian Brooks went on to run the final eight races after Nolan Siegel's sudden promotion to IndyCar. Brooks scored 208 points with top ten finishes in all eight starts, including three top five finishes. 

Nolan Siegel scored 177 points in the five races he ran, which included a victory and a runner-up finish. 

Michael d'Orlando ran out of funding after the first six races but he was able to return for the Nashville season finale. He had a top five finishes and five top ten finishes in seven starts. 

Based on average points per start, these three drivers would have placed fourth (Siegel), fifth (Brooks), and sixth (d'Orlando) respectively in the championship.  

Who should we have seen more of?

It is a bummer d'Orlando's season ended so early. He won the U.S. F2000 championship. His USF Pro 2000 results were either great or terrible and he still finished fourth in that championship last year. He is 22 years old and a career should not be over in the junior series at that age with this level of talent. I hope we see him get a full-time shot in 2025. 

However, second in the 2023 USF Pro 2000 championship only ran one race, and that was Kiko Porto, who filled in for Siegel at Road America when Siegel was called into Juncos Hollinger Racing's IndyCar entry in place of Agustín Canapino. Porto was a regular winner in the Road to Indy. He is only 21 years old. 

The Indy Lights grid has grown but plenty of talent remains shut out.

USF Pro 2000

Lochie Hughes: #44 Turn 3 Motorsport Tatuus

What did I write before the season: Hughes was quickest in testing. His U.S. F2000 championship was derailed when he was caught in a few accidents and he had to be more cautious. With a new season and crash damage not hanging over this head, Hughes is going to be in the fight for the championship.

How wrong was it: Hughes won the championship and he won five times with 11 podium finishes. He ended the season with 14 consecutive top ten finishes. He avoided the accidents and could run for results through the end of the season, running away from the competition in the process.

What should he do in 2025: Indy Lights. Hughes is ready. He has been immediately at the top of every championship he has run at the junior level. Hughes is ready for Indy Lights, and it should not take him long to be quick there either.

Nikita Johnson: #17 Allen Exploration, LCC/Walker's Cay Tatuus (2nd, 355 points)

What did I write before the season: Johnson was already winning in USF Pro 2000 last year. He should be in the thick of it for the championship. Multiple race victories, regularly in the top five.  

How wrong was it: Johnson was in the thick of the championship battle, but after a disqualification, his second half of the season was rough. It was feast or famine. He ended with eight victories, but five fines outside the top ten, including the disqualification. It cost him the championship.

What should he do in 2025: Johnson felt like he was on a rocket ship. He will turn 17 years old next May. I think he could benefit from staying in USF Pro 2000 and putting together a full championship. The disqualification flipped his season. If he goes to Indy Lights, he will be spending at least two, if not three, seasons there. He could spend a second season in USF Pro 2000 and then get to Indy Lights in the year he turns 18 years old. 

Jace Denmark: #20 Pabst Racing Tatuus (3rd, 345 points)

What did I write before the season: Denmark was close to victory on a few occasions last year. The series has reenforced. He could be on the podium a few more times, including a victory, but not make a great leap in the championship. 

How wrong was it: Denmark did make a leap, going from seventh in the championship to third, but victory continued to elude him. He had nine podium finishes, which included five runner-up finishes. He had only three finishes outside the top ten.

What should he do in 2025: Denmark could stay or go. Either would be a good option. Wherever he goes, he must win a race eventually.

Simon Sikes: #18 Mockett/Bell Racing/Sabelt Tatuus (4th, 

What did I write before the season: Sikes pulled through in his first full season in U.S. F2000. His testing results were not spectacular. This season could start slow before Sikes shows better results in the later stages of the season.  

How wrong was it: The season did start slow. In the first 11 races, he had one victory, two podium finishes, three top five finishes and six finishes outside the top ten. In the final seven races, Sikes won one once, had three podium finishes, five top five finishes and his worst finish was eighth.

What should he do in 2025: Sikes turns 24 years old in December. Time almost forces his hand to jump to Indy Lights. With how this season ended, he appears ready for it, but this is a tense time in his career.

Liam Sceats: #26 Tony Quinn Foundation/Omega Rental Cars Tatuus (5th, 272 points)

What did I write before the season: Testing was good, but these will be new tracks. Sceats has a chance to break into the top ten. 

How wrong was it: Sceats broke into the top five, finishing fifth in the championship. He won on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. He had five podium finishes. He ended on a horrendous note with five finishes outside the top ten in the final six races, but this season was better than anticipated. 

What should he do in 2025: He turns 19 years old tomorrow. I think staying in USF Pro 2000 would be a good thing. He could move up to Indy Lights, but another year in this series wouldn't be a bad thing.

Christian Brooks: #19 BUCKED UP/Deploy Surveillance Tatuus (6th, 232 points)

What did I write before the season: Brooks has had his season fail to get through the first round in consecutive years. It feels like if he runs a full season he could be competitive. Until he does that, we should expect the season ending prematurely.  

How wrong was it: Well... Brooks' USF Pro 2000 did end prematurely, but because he moved up to Indy Lights. Prior to leaving, he ran 14 of 18 races. He had four podium finishes and seven top five finishes. He missed four races and he still finished sixth in the championship. Based on points per start, Brooks was on pace for about 298 points, which would have put him fourth in the championship.

What should he do in 2025: He is already doing it. Running Indy Lights.

Danny Dyszelski: #3 Vera Guitars/Formula Imports/Charlotte Mechanical Tatuus (7th, 230 points)

What did I write before the season: Dyszelski was in the top ten in every session at the NOLA test. Top ten in the championship with a few podium and top five finishes is practical. 

How wrong was it: Dyszelski was in the top ten of the championship with a few podium finishes (two) and a few top five finishes (six).  

What should he do in 2025: He will only ten 17 years old next year. Stay in USF Pro 2000 and develop more.

Frankie Mossman: #6 ShopGLD/Offset Sport/Stilo/Simpson Tatuus (8th, 222 points)

What did I write before the season: Bottom half of the championship. 

How wrong was it: Very because Mossman ended up eighth in the championship out of 32 drivers that started a race. To be fair, about 17 drivers ran a vast majority of the schedule, so he was kind of in the middle, but Mossman still had 13 top ten finishes and he even stood on the podium twice.

What should he do in 2025: This might have been better than expected, but Mossman has more room to grow in USF Pro 2000.

Ricardo Escotto: #77 BN Racing Tatuus (9th, 218 points)

What did I write before the season: Escotto was not far off his teammate (Nicolás) Baptiste. Escotto does have experience in this series. His results should improve and he should find a way into the championship top ten. 

How wrong was it: Escotto did improve and he did finish in the top ten of the championship. He didn't win a race but he did have two podium finishes and five top five finishes while finsihingin the top ten in ten races.  

What should he do in 2025: Escotto was already dipping his toe in the Indy Lights water. Another year in USF Pro 2000 could be better, but that ship could have already set sail. His dad sells billboards in Mexico after all. 

Jorge Garciarce: #10 Sidral Aga/Red Cola/Skarch Tatuus (10th, 199 points)

What did I write before the season: Garciarce was good in U.S. F2000, but good is not going to be good enough at this level.  

How wrong was it: Good was good enough for tenth in the championship. Garciarce never scored a top five result, but he did have 11 top ten finishes. 

What should he do in 2025: He spent two seasons in U.S. F2000. He should spend a second season in USF Pro 2000.

The Rest of the Field

Mac Clark missed the Portland finale and he ended up 11th on 187 points with four top five finishes. 

Braden Eves missed the final two rounds at Toronto and Portland despite winning at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Eves' three top five finishes placed him 12th in the championship. 

Hunter Yeany had a victory, three podium finishes and five top five finishes in the first eight races, but his season went no further and he was 14th in the championship.

Who should we have seen more of?

All three of the drivers listed above. It would be nice if the ladder system allowed good drivers to stick around. Yeany was on pace to finish fourth in the championship. Clark had a tough season but he had strong finishes in U.S. F2000. Eves is 25 years old and he missed last season but he has been a regular winner at this level since 2019. 

U.S. F2000

Max Garcia: #24 Advance Auto Parts Tatuus (1st, 428 points)

What did I write before the season: Garcia will only be turning 15 years old a week after St. Petersburg, but he got up to speed quickly last year. He led the NOLA test. He should be one of the championship favorites and pick up a few victories.

How wrong was it: Garcia won the championship and he started his season with three consecutive victories. He did win only two of the remaining 16 races but he started on pole position seven times and his worst finish all season was seventh at Indianapolis Raceway Park. He had ten podium finishes and 15 top five finishes.

What should he do in 2025: Garcia might be 15 years old and will only turn 16 in April, but he must move up to USF Pro 2000. He can pace himself and stay in either of the next two levels for multiple seasons. There is no rush to get to IndyCar by the time you are 18 years old. You can get there at 20 years old and be just fine.

Sam Corry: #23 Redline Oil/Stilo/Simpson Race Products Tatuus (2nd, 355 points)

What did I write before the season: Corry was solidly in the top ten in testing. He could be a fringe player for the top five in the championship.

How wrong was it: Corry took second in the championship thanks to three victories and seven podium finishes, but he had more finishes between sixth and tenth that cost him points.

What should he do in 2025: He turns 17 years old in November. He is ready for USF Pro 2000.

Max Taylor: #3 PINK ETF/Susan G. Komen Foundation Tatuus (3rd, 343 points)

What did I write before the season: Taylor was consistently quick in testing, but never topping the speed charts. Championship top five is in play, but he could be squeezed out. It should not be a cause for concern though for the 16-year-old.

How wrong was it: The pace was there for Taylor to take third in the championship. a slow start and a bad round at St. Petersburg set him back. His first trip to Indianapolis Raceway Park did not go smoothly. He still won four races but he was dug into too deep of a hole. He did push for second, but took third.

What should he do in 2025: Taylor ran USF Juniors and U.S. F2000 simultaneously last year. If you can do both those series, you can move up to USF Pro 2000. However, if he wants to dedicate his attention to U.S. F2000 he could. Taylor turns 17 on October 1.

Evagoras Papasavvas: #6 BodyWise/Tiger Natural Gas/Ares Elite Tatuus (4th, 326 points)

What did I write before the season: Papasavvas is the top returning driver from last season. Experience will go a long way. Papasavvas should win more. He and Max Garcia should be battling it out quite a bit this season. 

How wrong was it: It was kind of the case that Papasavvas battled Garcia, especially in the opening rounds as Papasavvas opened with five consecutive podium finishes. He won twice, which is more than last year, but not quite as much as we were thinking. That consistency at the start could not keep up later in the season, and he dropped to fourth.

What should he do in 2025: Papasavvas likely did not win as much as he hoped, but he is ready for the next level. He can move up and continue to improve.

Joey Brienza: #91 Huntsman Mental Health Foundation/UBS Tatuus (5th, 265 points)

What did I write before the season: Brienza was consistently in the top five at the NOLA test. He might not be a championship favorite, but he should pick up a few podium finishes and could win a race or two.  

How wrong was it: A victory did fall Brienza's way, but he had four podium finishes.He only had two finishes outside the top ten, but he was in the top five in eight races. It got him fifth in the championship. 

What should he do in 2025: A late bloomer, Brienza is 20 years old. He only ran in USF Juniors in 2023. Age would say move up, but another season in U.S. F2000 could be a good thing.

Elliot Cox: #67 Drive Planning/Hartman Oil Tatuus (6th, 264 points)

What did I write before the season: Cox will be in a fight to finish in the championship top ten.  

How wrong was it: Cox did better than fight for the top ten, he fought in the middle of the top ten. There were some down weekends, but he did get on the podium a few times.

What should he do in 2025: Stay in U.S. F2000 for another season. Cox is only 17 years old. He improved from 12th in 2023 to sixth in 2024. Another year will be beneficial for him.

Nicolas Giaffone: #1 OMNI Tatuus (7th, 245 points)

What did I write before the season: Giaffone is coming in off an impressive USF Juniors season. At 18 years old, he is a little older than others in this series. He should be in the championship top ten, but there should be tougher weekends than what he experienced last year. 

How wrong was it: It was tougher than last year as Giaffone did not get a top five finish until the seventh race of the season. He ended the season with nine consecutive top ten finishes.

What should he do in 2025: Giaffone turns 20 years old on October 5. Staying in U.S. F2000 could be a good thing, but like Brienza, time could tell him to move up.

Hudson Schwartz: #22 Lucas Oil School of Racing/Axios/Axios HQ Tatuus (8th, 227 points)

What did I write before the season: Schwartz ran respectable times in the NOLA test. He will have tough competition within his own team. The goal should be somewhere in the championship top ten. He will only turn 15 years old this May. Regular top ten results would be a good year.

How wrong was it: Schwartz was a regular top ten finisher, and it got him a good championship finish. He had only three top five finishes with one podium result.

What should he do in 2025: Schwartz is only 15 years old. Stay in U.S. F2000 and build off this season.

Michael Costello: #8 ProGuard Warranty Tatuus (9th, 218 points)

What did I write before the season: Costello showed good speed in testing. He wasn't quite pushing for the top five. He looks like a consistent top ten finisher that could pull out some top five results. 

How wrong was it: Costello had ten top ten finishes but he pulled out some better results, three podium finishes with a victory in the final weekend at Portland. 

What should he do in 2025: Stick to U.S. F2000. He should look to get more consistent finishes in the top five and pull out some more victories.

Quinn Armstrong: #11 NDA Tatuus (10th, 184 points)

What did I write before the season: Armstrong was constantly between eighth and 14th in testing. Making the championship top ten would be a good season.

How wrong was it: Armstrong took tenth with some room to spare. It was a good season. Nothing brilliants, but a good year.

What should he do in 2025: Stay in U.S. F2000. He got a feel for the car. A second season will get better results.

The Rest of the Field

Ayrton Houk was 11th on 161 points. 

Thomas Schrage won three pole positions and stood on the podium twice while finishing 12th in the championship on 156 points. 

There were three drivers that won that finished outside the top ten in the finish. G3 Argyros won the final race at Portland as he focused on USF Juniors. Tanner DeFabis won at IRP but his season ended after Road America. Nico Christodoulou won at NOLA Motorsports Park, but he only made it through the first seven races.

Who should we have seen more of?

Christodoulou, though he did move up and run a few rounds in USF Pro 2000. It is tough to see so many young drivers winning races but still unable to secure funding for a full season and living round to round. We lose out when such talent is not competing, and we get a weaker IndyCar in the process.