Garrett Grist hopes for Houston success

The Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires is running two races this weekend at the NRG Park Stadium Circuit. The series is back to street circuits after running at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis where Garett Grist (in photo) won in dominating fashion.

The first practice session was led by the Team Pelfrey entry of Nicholas Costa over Scott Hargrove, Neil Alberico and Grist in fourth.

Grist is coming off of a great weekend at LOR after having a disastrous start to the season in St. Petersburg. He’s looking to make LOR the turning point of his season.

“It was definitely a good weekend for us. I was looking forward to the ovals, we were very fast there last year in USF2000. I think you could call that [LOR] the turning point of the season, [I’m] definitely coming to Houston with a lot more confidence,” Grist said.

Grist ended up second in the second practice session and improved by using video taken from his car from the first session to improve his braking and cornering.

Hargrove won both of the Pro Mazda races at Indianapolis and sits three points behind early season dominator Spencer Pigot. He’s looking to make his move in Houston to get the series points lead.

“Indy was the breakthrough weekend for us getting those two wins, and being a new team in Pro Mazda, you know, we knew it would take a lot of time to figure out this car and kind of get to be the guy that everyone is chasing,” Hargrove said.

Costa had a fast car all day during the practice sessions, securing third spot in the second session.

The forecast for the weekend includes a high chance for rain, which doesn't bother Grist.

“I enjoy the wet, in a wet race we had last year in USF I had the fastest lap by roughly six or seven tenths but the car broke as I was passing for the lead, we spit the half-shaft out,” Grist said.

Pro Mazda races on Saturday at 1:05 p.m. and Sunday at 1:00 p.m.