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Mazda Road To Indy reveals all three 2018 schedules, altered points

The 2018 calendars for Indy Lights, Pro Mazda and USF2000 have been released, and the MRTI has revealed that there will be additional series’ championship points awarded for the oval races in Indianapolis.

Kyle Kaiser, Juncos Racing, Nico Jamin, Andretti Autosport

Kyle Kaiser, Juncos Racing, Nico Jamin, Andretti Autosport

Rainier Ehrhardt

USF2000 champion Oliver Askew, Indy Lights champion Kyle Kaiser, Pro Mazda champion Victor Franzoni, John Doonan
Oliver Askew
Joel Miller testing the new Tatuus PM-18
USF2000 champion Oliver Askew, Indy Lights champion Kyle Kaiser, Pro Mazda champion Victor Franzoni
Matheus Leist, Carlin
Shelby Blackstock, Belardi Auto Racing
Joel Miller testing the new Tatuus PM-18
Colton Herta, Andretti Steinbrenner Racing
Nicolas Dapero, Juncos Racing
Victor Franzoni, Juncos Racing
Pro Mazda champion Victor Franzoni
Race winner Anthony Martin, Cape Motorsports
Anthony Martin, Cape Motorsports
USF2000 champion Oliver Askew
Oliver Askew

The Mazda Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires will offer over $3.5m in scholarships and awards and the three series’ finales will be held at Portland International Raceway (PIR) in Portland, OR., supporting the Verizon IndyCar Series’ penultimate round. Indy Lights last raced at PIR in 2001, and Pro Mazda and USF2000 in 2006. The last IndyCar race took place in 2007.

There are changes in May, too, with May 25 being a banner day for the MRTI program. Hours after the Indy Lights race on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the series’ crown jewel Freedom 100, Pro Mazda and USF2000 will return to the 0.686-mile Lucas Oil Raceway oval for the Carb Night Classic “The Race Before the 500” after a year’s hiatus.

These three oval events will feature an increase in points for all series for the first time, and an increase in prize money.

While Pro Mazda will feature the new Tatuus-built PM-18 – a more powerful version of its USF2000 car, the USF-17, with greater range of adjustments and downforce –Pro Mazda will also feature a championship within a championship. Pro Mazda Classic will have a six-weekend, 12-race championship utilizing the 2002-’17 generation rotary-powered Pro Mazdas. The series will see a separate points chart, prize money and year-end awards. 

While there is no limitation on PMC Series testing, Indy Lights, Pro Mazda and USF2000 will see amended testing rules. Indy Lights in-season testing is restricted to two days per team with two additional days available for use with current Pro Mazda and USF2000 drivers. Pro Mazda and USF2000 teams are permitted four days of in-season testing per driver but not at tracks yet to hold an event. Each series will continue with open tests at select venues.

The annual Mazda Road to Indy Spring Training will take place at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Feb. 23-26. Indy Lights will test on the 1.5-mile oval on February 23 and the 2.21-mile road course on Feb. 26. Pro Mazda and USF2000 will run on the weekend – Feb. 24 and 25.

The Mazda Road to Indy Summit program – providing education on topics such as marketing/business, media training, career growth and development, fitness, social media and an oval clinic – will continue next season.

“We’ve put a lot of thought into our schedule and I am pleased with the balance we have in place to properly train drivers to move up the ladder,” said Dan Andersen, owner and CEO of Andersen Promotions. “We are excited to have Portland on the schedule, which will be a great circuit for our season finales in the three series, and to return to Lucas Oil Raceway on Carb Day for a great night of racing. The Freedom 100 is obviously the biggest race on our calendar and to be able to bring Pro Mazda and USF2000 back into the excitement surrounding the Indianapolis 500 was key. Increasing both the points awarded and the prize money gives these events the weight they deserve.

“The Mazda Road to Indy will take on new life next year with the competition debut of the PM-18. This completes the process we began several years ago to provide the best for our competitors with state-of-the-art racecars. We have a great program in place and it’s working.”

Two events still remain on the 2017 MRTI calendar – the seventh annual Chris Griffis Memorial Open Test at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on October 21/22 and the Mazda Road to Indy $200K Scholarship Shootout on December 9/10 at the Bondurant Racing School near Phoenix, AZ.

2018 Indy Lights schedule 

March 9-11

Streets of St. Petersburg, FL

1.8-mile street course*

April 20-22

Barber Motorsports Park

2.3-mile road course*

May 10-12

Indianapolis Motor Speedway

2.439-mile road course*

May 25

Indianapolis Motor Speedway

2.5-mile oval

June 22-24

Road America

4.014-mile road course*

July 7-8

Iowa Speedway

.894-mile oval

July 13-15

Streets of Toronto, Ontario, Canada

1.786-mile street course*

July 27-29

Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course

2.258-mile road course*

August 24-25

Gateway Motorsports Park

1.25-mile oval

August 31-Sept. 2

Portland International Raceway

1.967-mile road course*

*Doubleheader events

Open tests are scheduled at Homestead-Miami Speedway on February 23 (oval) and 26 (road course), Barber Motorsports Park on March 5, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 10 (road course) and 21 (oval), Road America on June 11/12 and the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on July 17/18 for a total of nine test days.

2018 Pro Mazda schedule

March 9-11

Streets of St. Petersburg, FL

1.8-mile street course* +

April 20-22

Barber Motorsports Park

2.3-mile road course* +

May 10-12

Indianapolis Motor Speedway

2.439-mile road course* +

May 25

Lucas Oil Raceway

.686-mile oval

June 22-24

Road America

4.014-mile road course* +

July 13-15

Streets of Toronto, Ontario, Canada

1.786-mile street course*

July 27-29

Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course

2.258-mile road course* +

August 24-25

Gateway Motorsports Park

1.25-mile oval

August 31-Sept. 2

Portland International Raceway

1.967-mile road course* +

*Doubleheader events

+ Includes Pro Mazda Classic Series

A total of 10 open test days are scheduled at Homestead-Miami Speedway on February 24/25, Barber Motorsports Park on March 3/4, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 10, Lucas Oil Raceway on May 24, Road America on June 11/12 and the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on July 17/18.

2018 USF2000 schedule 

March 9-11

Streets of St. Petersburg, FL

1.8-mile street course*

May 10-12

Indianapolis Motor Speedway

2.439-mile road course*

May 25

Lucas Oil Raceway

.686-mile oval

June 22-24

Road America

4.014-mile road course*

July 13-15

Streets of Toronto, Ontario, Canada

1.786-mile street course*

July 27-29

Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course

2.258-mile road course**

August 31-Sept. 2

Portland International Raceway

1.967-mile road course*

*Doubleheader events

**Tripleheader event

Open tests are schedule at Homestead-Miami Speedway on February 24/25, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 10, Lucas Oil Raceway on May 24, Road America on June 11/12 and the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on July 17/18 for a total of eight test days.

 

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