2023 USF2000 Presented by Cooper Tires
The USF2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires debuted in 2010 and is a continuation of the highly regarded USF2000 series which ran from 1990 through 2006, launching the careers of many of today’s top drivers. Sanctioned by USAC, the series is the second official step on the USF Pro Championships Presented by Cooper Tires - a clearly defined path to reach the top echelons of the sport. In addition to providing a vital training ground for rising stars, the series champion will earn a scholarship package to advance to USF Pro 2000 Presented by Cooper Tires, the next step on the ladder system via the Discount Tire Driver Advancement Scholarship Program.
Michael d'Orlando, 20, from Hartsdale, N.Y., driving for Cape Motorsports claimed the 2022 championship and a scholarship valued at $406,925 to ensure graduation to the next step on the ladder, USF Pro 2000, in 2023.
HISTORY
USF2000 has served as a formative step for drivers dating back to 1990. Drivers who have honed their skills in the series include Oliver Askew, Matthew Brabham, Colton Herta, JR Hildebrand, Sage Karam, Kyle Kirkwood, Andy Lally, Hunter McElrea, Christian Rasmussen, Bryan Sellers, Parker Thompson and Rinus VeeKay to name a few.
2023 PRIZE MONEY AND AWARDS
The 2023 USF2000 champion will receive a scholarship valued at $433,200 to advance to USF Pro 2000 in 2024. Additional prize money and awards include the Cooper Tires Pole Award for each race as well as season-ending awards for Rookie of the Year, Championship Team, Mechanic of the Year, Hard Charger, Move of the Year and Spirit Award.
In total, the USF Pro Championships Presented by Cooper Tires will distribute over $1.6M in prize money and awards.
2023 SCHEDULE - Eight Events, 18 Races
ROUND |
DATE |
TRACK
|
VENUE |
1/2 |
March 4-5
|
Streets of St. Petersburg
|
1.8-mile street circuit
|
3/4
|
March 25-26
|
Sebring International Raceway
|
3.74-mile road course
|
5/6/7
|
May 12-13
|
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
|
2.439-mile road course |
8
|
May 26
|
Lucas Oil Raceway |
.686-mile oval |
9/10
|
June 17-18
|
Road America
|
4.014-mile road course |
11/12/13
|
July 1-2
|
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
|
2.258-mile road course |
14/15 |
July 15-16
|
Streets of Toronto
|
1.786-mile street circuit
|
16/17/18
|
September 2-3
|
Portland International Raceway
|
1.967-mile road course
|
Spring Training will take place at Sebring International Raceway on February 27-28, with the annual USF Pro Fall Combine taking place at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course in October of 2023. Five pre-event test days include Indianapolis Motor Speedway May 11, Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park May 25, Road America June 15, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course June 29 and Portland International Raceway August 31.
SERIES PARTNERS
Cooper Tires, AMR INDYCAR Safety Team, Bell Helmets, Carl Haas Auto, Cosworth, Dynamic Suspensions, Elite Engines, Hi-Tide Boat Lifts, Hyperco, INDYCAR Ministry, Kids On Track, Lucas Oil School of Racing, PFC Brakes, RACER, Racing Communications, Rotiform, Sabelt, SimMetric Driver Performance Labs, Tatuus, Tilton, Toyota Gazoo Racing New Zealand, VP Racing Fuels
COVERAGE
Coverage of USF2000 will feature worldwide live streaming. Full race shows and highlight shows will be available on the series YouTube channel after each event.
DRIVERS
USF2000 is open to drivers age 15 and up (with 14-year-olds eligible pending review and acceptance of a driving resume).
CARS
Significant chassis enhancements took place in 2022 with new cars in USF Pro 2000 and USF2000. The Tatuus IP-22 in USF Pro 2000 and the USF-22 in USF2000 featured new advancements to extend competition life to at least through 2027.
The 2022 upgrades included a new, wider monocoque with the addition of a Halo-type device as well as new sidepods, underfloor, engine cover, air ducts, damper covers and fuel cell.
The USF-22 is a full carbon composite and aluminum honeycomb monocoque manufactured by Tatuus Racing meeting current FIA 2020 GEN 1 with Halo-type device and safety standards including side impact panels, front and rear impact structures, HANS-compliant INDYCAR head restraint, front and rear wheel tethers, upgraded uprights and upgraded front bulkhead structure for USA specific oval racing circuits.
The USF-22 utilizes the same base chassis as USF Pro 2000 and USF Juniors, allowing drivers and teams to continue to advance up the world's most complete driver development system with a forward-thinking three-step concept.
VP Racing Fuels is the Official Fuel of USF2000.
ENGINES
The USF-22 is powered by the Mazda MZR 2-liter powerplant prepared by Elite Engines which produces 175 HP and maximum torque of 160 Ft. Lbs., utilizing a fly-by-wire throttle system and Cosworth SQ6 engine management system.
TIRES
Thirteen-inch slick and rain tires co-branded COOPER/USF2000 as manufactured by Cooper Tires.
CURRENT TRACK RECORDS
Streets of St. Petersburg
|
Qualifying: Christian Brooks |
1:11.9662 = 90.042 mph |
10/24/2020
|
|
Race: Kiko Porto
|
1:12.2279 = 89.716 mph
|
10/25/2020
|
Barber Motorsports Park |
Qualifying: Nolan Siegel
|
1:20.9794 = 102.248 mph
|
4/16/2021
|
|
Race: Nolan Siegel
|
1:21.5837 = 101.491 mph
|
4/17/2021
|
Indianapolis Motor Speedway RC |
Qualifying: Braden Eves
|
1:24.5396 = 103.861 mph |
5/10/2019 |
|
Race: Braden Eves
|
1:24.7440 = 103.611 mph
|
5/11/2019
|
Lucas Oil Raceway
|
Qualifying: Aaron Justus
|
20.930 = 117.993 mph
|
5/25/2002
|
|
Qualifying: Scott Hargrove
|
42.833 = 115.313 mph+
|
5/25/2013
|
|
Race: Bryan Sellers
|
21.016 = 117.510 mph
|
5/25/2002
|
Road America |
Qualifying: Rasmus Lindh |
2:09.2583 = 111.795 mph |
6/22/2018 |
|
Race: Scott Anderson |
2:09.656 = 111.452 mph |
8/17/2012 |
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course |
Qualifying: Michael d'Orlando
|
1:20.1824 = 101.379 mph
|
10/2/2021
|
|
Race: Kyle Kirkwood |
1:21.2979 = 99.988 mph |
7/29/2018 |
Streets of Toronto
|
Qualifying: Kaylen Frederick
|
1:10.7699 = 90.852 mph
|
7/14/2018
|
|
Race: Rasmus Lindh
|
1:10.9853 = 90.576 mph
|
7/15/2018
|
Portland International Raceway
|
Qualifying: Rasmus Lindh
|
1:10.9038 = 99.718 mph
|
9/1/2018
|
|
Race: Kyle Kirkwood
|
1:11.2101 = 99.289 mph
|
9/1/2018
|
+ = two lap average
MILESTONES (Road to Indy Era 2010-2022)
Most Starts |
Michael d'Orlando
|
62
|
|
Most Wins
|
Kyle Kirkwood
|
12
|
|
|
Christian Rasmussen
|
12
|
|
Most Poles |
Nico Jamin |
13 |
|
Most Podiums |
Jake Eidson |
22 |
|
Most Top-Fives
|
Michael d'Orlando
|
39
|
|
Most Top-10s
|
Michael d'Orlando
|
47
|
|
POINT SYSTEM
ROAD/STREET COURSES
1st............................... 30 8th...............................13 15th............................ 6
2nd.............................. 25 9th................................12 16th............................ 5
3rd............................... 22 10th..............................11 17th............................ 4
4th............................... 19 11th..............................10 18th............................ 3
5th............................... 17 12th.............................. 9 19th............................ 2
6th............................... 15 13th.............................. 8 20th+.......................... 1
7th............................... 14 14th.............................. 7
One additional point is awarded for pole position, most laps led and fastest race lap
OVALS
1st............................... 45 8th...............................20 15th............................ 9
2nd.............................. 38 9th................................18 16th............................ 8
3rd............................... 33 10th..............................17 17th............................ 6
4th............................... 29 11th..............................15 18th............................ 5
5th............................... 26 12th..............................14 19th............................ 3
6th............................... 23 13th..............................12 20th+.......................... 2
7th............................... 21 14th..............................11
One additional point is awarded for pole position, most laps led and fastest race lap
TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS
1st............................... 22 6th................................ 8
2nd..............................18 7th................................. 6
3rd.............................. 15 8th................................. 4
4th.............................. 12 9th................................. 2
5th.............................. 10 10th+............................. 1
Single car teams will receive three bonus points as an equivalency to multi-car teams. Only the two best results will count in the team championship for teams fielding more than two entries.
Past Champions:
Year |
Champion |
Team |
2022 |
Michael d'Orlando
|
Cape Motorsports
|
2021 |
Kiko Porto
|
DEForce Racing
|
2020 |
Christian Rasmussen
|
Jay Howard Driver Development
|
2019 |
Braden Eves
|
Cape Motorsports
|
2018 |
Kyle Kirkwood
|
Cape Motorsports
|
2017 |
Oliver Askew |
Cape Motorsports |
2016 |
Anthony Martin |
Cape Motorsports w/Wayne Taylor Racing |
2015 |
Nico Jamin |
Cape Motorsports w/Wayne Taylor Racing |
2014 |
Florian Latorre |
Cape Motorsports w/Wayne Taylor Racing |
2013 |
Scott Hargrove |
Cape Motorsports w/Wayne Taylor Racing |
2012 |
Matthew Brabham |
Cape Motorsports w/Wayne Taylor Racing |
2011 |
Petri Suvanto |
Cape Motorsports w/Wayne Taylor Racing |
2010 |
Sage Karam |
Andretti Autosport |
2006 |
J.R. Hildebrand |
Cape Motorsports |
2005 |
Jay Howard |
Aiken Racing |
2004 |
Bobby Wilson |
Cape Motorsports |
2003 |
Jonathan Bomarito |
PR1 Motorsports |
2002 |
Bryan Sellers |
Cape Motorsports |
2001 |
Jason Lapoint |
Richard Morgan Racing |
2000 |
Aaron Justus |
Cape Motorsports |
1999 |
Dan Wheldon |
Primus Racing |
1998 |
David Besnard |
Primus Racing |
1997 |
Zak Morioka |
Hayes Motorsports |
1996 |
Steve Knapp |
Miller Motorsports |
1995 |
Jeret Schroeder |
Schroeder Racing |
1994 |
Clay Collier |
Ruyle Race Service |
1994* |
Mike Borkowski |
Falcon Racing |
1993E |
Chris Simmons |
SOTARE Racing |
1993W |
David DeSilva |
Pfeiffer Ridge Racing |
1993* |
Ernest Sikes |
Primus Racing |
1992E |
Chris Simmons |
SOTARE Racing |
1992W |
Greg Moore |
Team Viper |
1992* |
Greg Ray |
Primus Racing |
1991 |
Craig Taylor |
Craig Taylor |
1990 |
Vince Puleo |
Fast Forward Racing |
Note:
1990-1994 |
USAC FF2000 |
1992-1993 |
Separate East and West Championships |
*1992-1994 |
SCCA American Continental Championship |
1995 |
USAC/SCCA FF2000 |
1996-2006 |
USF2000 |
2010- |
USF2000 |