293 replies to this topic

[Volcano70]

I figured it would be good to have a thread for the "Ladder Series" (Indy Lights, Pro Mazda, USF2000).

Congrats to Spencer Pigot, Santiago Urrutia, and Nico Jamin on winning their respective championships

The IL-15 enters its Sophomore season as a chassis for Indy Lights.

So, What will happen this year?

Will Rayhall be snatched somewhere else?

Will any Cape/WTR drivers move to Pro Mazda from USF2000?

Who will Screw up?

Time will tell in an offseason shorter than the parent series (weird)!

[Prost1997T]

There's a post-season test at COTA scheduled for November 21-22, although a lot of private testing will happen either side of those dates.

 

Indy Lights: RC Enerson, Ethan Ringel and Scott Anderson are intending to return for 2016, I'd expect to see them stay with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports. Santiago Urrutia could go there as well, or opt for Juncos. 8Star and Sean Rayhall will likely be working towards a full season program, possibly joined by Scott Hargrove. Carlin intend to recruit more Europe-based drivers for Indy Lights.

 

Pro Mazda: Nico Jamin will probably stay with Cape Motorsports on his way up the ladder. Runner-up Neil Alberico could move up to Indy Lights, along with 3rd place Garett Grist. Since most of the 2015 field were rookies, several could return for a title challenge (basically everyone from 4th in the standings).

 

USF2000: The Skip Barber scholarship winner will end up here. Again, with a large number of rookies in 2015, many are likely to return for a title campaign. Runner-up Jake Eidson and 3rd place Aaron Telitz could follow Jamin to the Pro Mazda championship.

[Volcano70]

A two-car team might not work for 8Star because they could barely find funding this year, put Rayhall full time and Hargrove for the Freedom 100 and the GP, plus toronto and Laguna.

[August]

Great to have a MRTI thread!

I don't know how to rate Urrutia. Great season in Pro Mazda but his GP3 season wasn't too impressive. That makes me think if Pro Mazda had a weak field and whether he could succeed in Lights.

And my bold prediction is Nico Jamin will win Pro Mazda next year, he was so impressive in USF2000 this year.

[Prost1997T]

A two-car team might not work for 8Star because they could barely find funding this year, put Rayhall full time and Hargrove for the Freedom 100 and the GP, plus toronto and Laguna.

 

They had an additional sponsor on Rayhall's car for Laguna. To quote the owner directly: "As a team we are really looking forward to the 2016 season as we have 2 seats to fill. After showing our pace with two different drivers, we have had interest from different drivers and sponsors. We decided to only offer a 2 car team for 2016, to concentrate on quality and not quantity, which will make us more attractive to the driver looking to win the championship."

 

Great to have a MRTI thread!

I don't know how to rate Urrutia. Great season in Pro Mazda but his GP3 season wasn't too impressive. That makes me think if Pro Mazda had a weak field and whether he could succeed in Lights.

And my bold prediction is Nico Jamin will win Pro Mazda next year, he was so impressive in USF2000 this year.

 

Urrutia won it on consistency rather than pure speed, and the mistakes of the other race winners (Weiron Tan was probably the outright fastest but lacked consistency). All of the top 6 from 2014 (except Alberico) moved on, and Alberico didn't have any wins last year. With about a dozen rookies, it was definitely a lot weaker.

 

I wouldn't count on Jamin dominating in 2016, there's a lot more team parity in Pro Mazda (Pelfrey, Juncos, Cape, Andretti Autosport all took race wins). Driving off into the distance is going to be much harder.

[OvDrone]

Nice, we needed a thread like this. At least I did. I need to learn and watch more of these series.

 

Congrats to Pigot and the other dudes for their titles.

[Volcano70]

My mistake, I follow Lights but not enough but to see that a 2-car team for 8star would be affordable.

All for it then

Wild Guess: Urrutia to 8star with Rayhall?

 

And you're welcome for those who liked the idea of this thread 

[OvDrone]

You can get each series full races of this season on youtube right?

 

I need something to do in the winter motorsportless time.

That and watch 80's Sportscar and early 00's ALMS races.

[Prost1997T]

Youtube channels:

 

Indy Lights - https://www.youtube....kHpfrxmA/videos

 

Pro Mazda - https://www.youtube....zdaChamp/videos

 

USF2000 - https://www.youtube....00Series/videos

 

Laguna Seca MRTI coverage: http://livestream.co.../events/4331887

 

Anything in particular you're looking for?

[OvDrone]

Nothing particular, just the whole seasons.

 

Cheers Prost. And Volcano and August. Thanks for getting me hooked to another three series. Like 30-or-something I currently watch weren't enough. Awesome

Edited by OvDrone, 15 September 2015 - 22:29.

[ezequiel]

Juncos is supposed to race their development driver Nicolás Dapero next season in Pro Mazda. That if funding does not fall through of course.

[Prost1997T]

The final Mazda Road to Indy highlight show airs at midnight (00:00 October 2nd) on NBCSN. Motors TV date\time TBA.

 

Dalton Kellett steps up to Indy Lights with Andretti Autosport: http://indylights.co...retti-autosport

 

Jordan Cane, an F1600 race winner and karting champion in the UK, will test a USF2000 car with Team Pelfrey: https://twitter.com/...353470476431360

 

The USF2000 scholarship shootout will now add F1600/Formula Ford champions from New Zealand, England and Scotland to its roster: http://usf2000.com/n...-shootout-quest

Edited by Prost1997T, 25 September 2015 - 18:39.

[Volcano70]

I guess Blackstock out then if they couldn't find funding for 2 cars this year (or sponsor stepping up?)

[Prost1997T]

I guess Blackstock out then if they couldn't find funding for 2 cars this year (or sponsor stepping up?)

 

Blackstock is rumoured to be switching to another team.

[Volcano70]

Blackstock must be going to SPM then, I wasn't impressed by him this year.

[Prost1997T]

Blackstock must be going to SPM then, I wasn't impressed by him this year.

 

Matthew Brabham didn't look any better in the races he did do, it seemed like Andretti never really figured out the IL-15 until the end of the season.

[Volcano70]

I do hope Brabham can get a ride somewhere

[pacificquay]

Hopefully Indy Lights will have a decent-sized field - that's been embarrassing these last few years

[Prost1997T]

Andretti's Indycar and Lights teams were testing at Road America: https://twitter.com/...193932745146368 ; https://twitter.com/Dalton_Kellett/status/648519912512552960 ; https://twitter.com/FollowAndretti/status/648496069567844352

[Prost1997T]

Defending IndyCar Series champions Chip Ganassi Racing could expand into Indy Lights in 2016.

"We've had a driver who raced in Indy Lights this year come to us and ask if it would be possible to run them next year," CGR managing director Mike Hull told RACER. "That happened over summer, and we've been working on that prospect since then."

 

 

http://www.racer.com...-lights-program

 

Nothing concrete yet, but they've mentioned this before.

[Prost1997T]

Finalists announced for the Maxspeed driver advancement program: http://www.racer.com...lists-announced

 

Four of these finalists will be selected to receive tests in USF2000 cars.

[Volcano70]

Over the summer for Ganassi? Maybe Hargrove or Brabham because they ran early in the season...

Or maybe Blackstock because he is supposedly switching teams

Edited by Volcano70, 14 October 2015 - 23:10.

[Prost1997T]

 

Or maybe Blackstock because he is supposedly switching teams

 

Nope, he's signed with Andretti: http://www.racer.com...r-cars-for-2016

[Prost1997T]

Ed Jones returns to Indy Lights with Carlin: http://www.carlin.co...dy-lights-team/

[Volcano70]

Sounds good!

[Prost1997T]

Zach Veach testing Indy Lights with Belardi: https://twitter.com/...726724747063296

[Prost1997T]

Team Pelfrey joins the Indy Lights championship: http://indylights.co...by-cooper-tires

 

They now have a major presence in all 3 steps of the Mazda Road to Indy, and the F1600 series (with wingless Formula Ford style cars) that has been used as a springboard by several current USF2000 drivers.

[Prost1997T]

2016 schedules have been released: http://www.indycar.c...s-2016-schedule

 

Indy Lights:

 

March 12 - St Petersburg (sprint)

March 13 - St Petersburg (feature)

April 2 - Phoenix International Raceway

April 23 - Barber Motorsports Park (sprint)

April 24 - Barber Motorsports Park (feature)

May 13 - IMS road course (sprint)

May 14 - IMS road course (feature)

May 27 - Indianapolis Motor Speedway

June 25 - Road America (sprint)

June 26 - Road America (feature)

July 10 - Iowa Speedway

July 16 - Toronto (sprint)

July 17 - Toronto (feature)

July 30 - Mid-Ohio (sprint)

July 31 - Mid-Ohio (feature)

September 4 - Boston

September 10 - Laguna Seca (sprint)

September 11 - Laguna Seca (feature)

 

Pro Mazda:

 

March 12 - St Petersburg

March 13 - St Petersburg

April 23 - Barber Motorsports Park

April 24 - Barber Motorsports Park

May 13 - IMS road course

May 14 - IMS road course

May 28 - Lucas Oil Raceway

June 25 - Road America

June 26 - Road America

July 10 - Iowa Speedway

July 16 - Toronto

July 17 - Toronto

July 30 - Mid-Ohio

July 31 - Mid-Ohio

September 10 - Laguna Seca

September 11 - Laguna Seca

 

USF2000:

 

March 12 - St Petersburg

March 13 - St Petersburg

April 23 - Barber Motorsports Park

April 24 - Barber Motorsports Park

May 13 - IMS road course

May 14 - IMS road course

May 28 - Lucas Oil Raceway

June 25 - Road America

June 26 - Road America

July 16 - Toronto

July 17 - Toronto

July 29 - Mid-Ohio

July 30 - Mid-Ohio

July 31 - Mid-Ohio

September 10 - Laguna Seca

September 11 - Laguna Seca

 

Odd that Lights has more races than the lower two rungs. Also a little baffling that LS is the week after Boston on the other side of the country, why not Sonoma?

Edited by Prost1997T, 28 October 2015 - 14:44.

[August]

Odd that Lights has more races than the lower two rungs. Also a little baffling that LS is the week after Boston on the other side of the country, why not Sonoma?

I wonder if Mazda Road to Indy wants to finish at Mazda Raceway? Though feels like a bit lame weekend as PWC will be at Laguna Seca in October.

[Prost1997T]

I wonder if Mazda Road to Indy wants to finish at Mazda Raceway? Though feels like a bit lame weekend as PWC will be at Laguna Seca in October.

 

I figure it makes more sense to crown those champions in front of the Indycar teams. Every other event is on an Indycar weekend as well...

[August]

I figure it makes more sense to crown those champions in front of the Indycar teams. Every other event is on an Indycar weekend as well...

Well, there must be a reason to finish at Laguna Seca and not with VICS at Sonoma.

[Prost1997T]

Kyle Kaiser returns with Juncos Racing in Indy Lights: http://www.indylight...lights-campaign

[Volcano70]

Thanks Prost with the updates

[Prost1997T]

Another returning driver, this time R.C. Enerson officially confirmed at Schmidt Peterson Motorsports for a sophomore Indy Lights campaign: https://twitter.com/...082566767202304

[Prost1997T]

Robert Megennis steps up to USF2000 with Team Pelfrey: http://www.usf2000.c...th-team-pelfrey

 

He accumulated several pole positions and podium finishes in the F1600 championship this year, competing in 19 of the 21 races.

 

Bayley Mickler won the Skip Barber Karts to Cars scholarship shootout, receiving $40,000 to fund a season in the Skip Barber championship. http://skipbarber.co...nner-announced/

Edited by Prost1997T, 05 November 2015 - 15:23.

[Prost1997T]

http://usf2000.com/n...shootout-roster
 

 

Three additional series have been confirmed for the Mazda Road to Indy USF2000 $200K Scholarship Shootout in 2017.

 

India's MRF 1600 Championship (pictured), Mexico's Formula Panam and Canada's Formula Tour 1600 are the latest and final additions

 

 

 

Looks like a pretty well rounded list overall for the competition, with England, Scotland, US, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, Australia and India all represented. Since the MRF Challenge has attracted some good European-based drivers, most of the bases are covered.

Edited by Prost1997T, 06 November 2015 - 20:16.

[Prost1997T]

Felipe Ortiz, runner up in the 2014 South American F4 championship, is testing with Team Pelfrey's USF2000 team. http://www.indycente...la-pelfrey.html

[HistoryFan]

Possible Indy-Lights grid:

 

Kyle Kaiser (Juncos)

Garett Grist (Juncos) ?

RC Enerson (Schmidt Peterson)

Ethan Ringel (Schmidt Peterson)

Scott Anderson (Schmidt Peterson) ?

Heamin Choi (Schmidt Peterson) ?

Ed Jones (Carlin)

Max Chilton (Carlin) ?

Félix Serrallés (Belardi) ?

Juan Piedrahita (Belardi) ?

Dalton Kallett (Andretti)

Shelby Blackstock (Andretti) ?

Weiron Tan (Andretti) ?

Sean Rayhall (Pelfrey) ?

Santiago Urrutia (Pelfrey) ?

[Prost1997T]

Looks like several Indy Lights teams are testing at Barber Motorsports Park, and Andretti are getting feedback from Carlos Munoz as well: https://twitter.com/...110763913707521

Edited by Prost1997T, 10 November 2015 - 16:09.

[Volcano70]

Possible Indy-Lights grid:

 

Kyle Kaiser (Juncos)

Garett Grist (Juncos) ?

RC Enerson (Schmidt Peterson)

Ethan Ringel (Schmidt Peterson)

Scott Anderson (Schmidt Peterson) ?

Heamin Choi (Schmidt Peterson) ?

Ed Jones (Carlin)

Max Chilton (Carlin) ?

Félix Serrallés (Belardi) ?

Juan Piedrahita (Belardi) ?

Dalton Kallett (Andretti)

Shelby Blackstock (Andretti) ?

Weiron Tan (Andretti) ?

Sean Rayhall (Pelfrey) ?

Santiago Urrutia (Pelfrey) ?

Kellet was onfirmed in Pro Mazda next year already if I think correctly?

And honestly I don't see Choi going full time next year.

[HistoryFan]

No Kallett is confirmed at Andretti for Indy-Lights.

[Prost1997T]

Kellet was onfirmed in Pro Mazda next year already if I think correctly?

And honestly I don't see Choi going full time next year.

 

http://indylights.co...retti-autosport

 

That was confirmed a while ago

 

As for Choi, why not? He's basically the equivalent of the "Expert class" drivers in Pro Mazda, racing in the series for fun at this point.

[Prost1997T]

Will Owen stays at Juncos for a second season in the Pro Mazda championship: http://www.juncosrac...a-championship/

[Volcano70]

I knew kellet was confirmed, it slipped my mind which series.

[Prost1997T]

Davey Hamilton Jr testing a Lights car: https://twitter.com/...715695632113664

[Prost1997T]

Nicolas Dapero joins the Juncos team in Pro Mazda: http://promazdachamp...s-juncos-racing

[Prost1997T]

Jake Parsons will move to the Pro Mazda championship with Juncos, after finishing runner-up in Formula Masters China this year: http://motorsports.n...lineup-as-well/

[Prost1997T]

Some footage from testing at COTA:

 

https://www.facebook...492482920921350

 

https://twitter.com/...067654423343104

 

https://twitter.com/...192953416859648

 

https://twitter.com/...163172247826432

Edited by Prost1997T, 22 November 2015 - 00:07.

[Prost1997T]

More video from day 2 of the COTA test:

 

https://twitter.com/...462450677690368

 

Summary article: http://www.motorspor...kin-unbeatable/

[Prost1997T]

Zach Veach returns to Indy Lights with the Belardi team: https://twitter.com/...614090738925568