MRTI – Winterfest is coming!

This off-season has not been a quiet one for the three facets of the Mazda Road to Indy. The USF2000 Series, Pro Mazda, and IndyLights have all seen growth and increased interest over last season. Last year, the numbers for all three series has waned with only 16 drivers in USF2000 contesting the full season, 11 drivers for Pro Mazda, and a mere eight for Indy Lights. We’re already above those number and teams are looking to add even more as we close in on the 2015 season opener on the Streets of St. Petersburg.

Before St. Pete, though, we have the Cooper Tires Winterfest! This is a unique preseason event in junior formula racing. The USF2000 and Pro Mazda teams will contest a six-race series at NOLA Motorsports Park and Barber Motorsports Park this week and next, with three races at each venue. The Indy Lights teams will have two days of testing at the two days of testing at the two venues.

The Indy Lights teams are on track today at NOLA, and the USF2000 and Pro Mazda teams will begin competition tomorrow. This mini-series gives teams the opportunity to evaluate talent in a competitive environment. We’ve seen at many levels of racing drivers who are capable of throwing down mad qualifying times, but whose racecraft is a bit lacking. These six races will demonstrate not only who is quick on the track, but who can read traffic, care for their equipment, and do all the things necessary to be a winning race car driver. The $50,000 prize for the winning driver isn’t a bad motivator, either!

All of the series offer live timing and scoring, so although the events won’t be televised, you can follow the lap times and listen to Rob Howden’s call of the action. Here are the schedules and entries. All times are Central Standard Time.

USF2000 Winterfest Schedule:
Live Timing and Scoring – http://usf2000.com/results/live-timing

NOLA Motorsports Park

• 2/19/2015
  • 12:15 PM-12:45 PM — Practice 1
  • 2:30 PM-3:00 PM — Qualifying
  • 4:30 PM-5:00 PM — Race 1
• 2/20/2015
  • 10:00 AM-10:20 AM — Warm Up
  • 11:15 AM-11:45 AM — Race 2
  • 2:00 PM-2:30 PM — Practice 2
  • 3:30 PM-4:00 PM — Race 3

Barber Motorsports Park

• 2/25/2015
  • 12:15 PM-12:45 PM — Practice 1
  • 2:30 PM-3:00 PM — Qualifying
  • 4:30 PM-5:00 PM — Race 1
• 2/26/2015
  • 10:00 AM-10:20 AM — Warm Up
  • 11:15 AM-11:45 AM — Race 2
  • 2:00 PM-2:30 PM — Practice 2
  • 3:30 PM-4:00 PM — Race 3

USF2000 Entries: (18 cars)

Pro Mazda Winterfest Schedule:
Live Timing and Scoring – http://promazda.com/results/live-timing

NOLA Motorsports Park

• 2/19/2015
  • 1:00 PM-1:30 PM — Practice 1
  • 3:30 PM-4:00 PM — Qualifying
  • 5:30 PM-6:00 PM — Race 1
• 2/20/2015
  • 10:30 AM-10:50 AM — Warm Up
  • 12:15 PM-12:45 PM — Race 2
  • 2:45 PM-3:15 PM — Practice 2
  • 4:30 PM-5:00 PM — Race 3

Barber Motorsports Park

• 2/25/2015
  • 1:00 PM-1:30 PM — Practice 1
  • 3:30 PM-4:00 PM — Qualifying
  • 5:30 PM-6:00 PM — Race 1
• 2/26/2015
  • 10:30 AM-10:50 AM — Warm Up
  • 12:15 PM-12:45 PM — Race 2
  • 2:45 PM-3:15 PM — Practice 2
  • 4:30 PM-5:00 PM — Race 3

Pro Mazda Entries: (14 cars)

Indy Lights Winterfest Schedule:
Live Timing and Scoring – http://indylights.com/results/live-timing

NOLA Motorsports Park

• 2/18/2015
  • 10:00 AM-1:00 PM — Test Session 1
  • 2:00 PM-6:00 PM — Test Session 2
• 2/19/2015
  • 9:00 AM-12:00 PM — Test Session 3

Barber Motorsports Park

• 2/24/2015
  • 10:00 AM-1:00 PM — Test Session 1
  • 2:00 PM-6:00 PM — Test Session 2
• 2/25/2015
  • 9:00 AM-12:00 PM — Test Session 3

Indy Lights Entries: (12 cars)