
2020 Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship
[Visit RoadToIndy.Info for a full overview of the Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires.]
The Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship 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 INDYCAR, the series is the first official step on the Road to Indy 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 the Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires, the next step on the ladder system.
Braden Eves of Cape Motorsports claimed the 2019 champion's title - by a mere five points after a thrilling battle with Hunter McElrea of Pabst Racing - and earned a scholarship valued at $305,600 to advance to Indy Pro 2000 in 2020. In total, 10 different drivers representing seven teams made their way to the podium in the 15 rounds on deck in 2019, and five different drivers captured race wins.
HISTORY
USF2000 has served as a formative step for drivers dating back to 1990. Drivers who have honed their skills in the series include Indy 500 winners Dan Wheldon, Sam Hornish Jr. and Buddy Rice and sports car talents Lawson Aschenbach, Austin Cindric, Andy Lally, Bryan Sellars and Jonathan Bomarito. Recent graduates include Spencer Pigot, Colton Herta, Zach Veach, Oliver Askew and Rinus VeeKay to name a few.
SCHEDULE
The USF2000 series will see 18 races at nine premier events headlined by the NTT IndyCar Series consisting of six road course, two street circuit and one oval event. In support of the 104th Running of the Indianapolis 500, both USF2000 and Indy Pro 2000 will return for the Carb Night Classic on May 22 at Lucas Oil Raceway.
ROUND
|
DATE |
TRACK |
VENUE |
1/2 |
March 14/15
|
Streets of St. Petersburg |
1.8-mile street circuit* |
3/4
|
April 25/26
|
Circuit of The Americas
|
3.41-mile road course*
|
5/6/7
|
May 8/9
|
Indianapolis Motor Speedway |
2.439-mile road course** |
8
|
May 22 |
Lucas Oil Raceway |
0.686-mile oval |
9/10
|
June 20/21 |
Road America |
4.048-mile road course* |
11/12
|
July 11/12
|
Streets of Toronto, Ontario
|
1.755-mile street circuit* |
13/14 |
August 15/16
|
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course |
2.258-mile road course* |
15/16 |
September 5/6
|
Portland International Raceway |
1.964-mile road course* |
17/18 |
September 19/20
|
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
|
2.238-mile road course* |
*Doubleheader Round **Tripleheader Round
2019 test days are scheduled for the Homestead-Miami Speedway road course on March 7/8, Circuit of The Americas on April 23, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course on May 7, Lucas Oil Raceway on May 11, the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on August 13 and Portland International Raceway on September 3 for a total of seven series tests.
SERIES PARTNERS
Cooper Tires, AiM Sports, Allied Building Products, AMR INDYCAR Safety Team, Carl Haas Auto, Cosworth, Dynamic Suspensions, Elite Engines, Hi-Tide Boat Lifts, Hyperco, INDYCAR Ministry, Kids On Track, Lucas Oil School of Racing, Motegi Racing, PFC Brakes, RACER, Racer Ink, Racing Communications, Tatuus, Tilton, Toyota Gazoo Racing New Zealand, VP Racing Fuels
COVERAGE
USF2000 will feature global live streaming of all sessions on the Road to Indy TV App and at RoadToIndy.TV, USF2000.com and indycar.com.
The popular RoadToIndy.TV, which enters its seventh season in 2020, will continue to provide behind-the-scenes content, race recap episodes and special features on Road to Indy teams and competitors to a worldwide audience.
In 2016, the Road to Indy became the first American racing series with a dedicated broadcast channel on demand via Apple TV, Amazon Fire and Roku and, most recently, the Xbox One Official App.
DRIVERS
The Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship is open to drivers age 15 and up (with 14-year-olds eligible pending review and acceptance of a driving resume by the series and approval by INDYCAR).
CARS
The Tatuus USF-17 was introduced in 2017 and will remain in competition until at least 2024. It is a full carbon composite and aluminum honeycomb monocoque chassis meeting current FIA F4 safety standards and utilizes the Mazda MZR 2.0-liter naturally aspirated engine with additional safety features to meet the specific needs of racing in the United States. These features include full Zylon side intrusion panels and reinforced bulkheads to strengthen the chassis for racing on oval circuits. The USF-17 also features other upgrades such as a six-speed paddle shift gearbox, four-way adjustable dampers, specific design aluminum Motegi Racing wheels, Cosworth data system, LCD steering wheel and ECU, four piston caliper PFC brakes and IndyCar-specific quick jack and roll hoop attachments.
VP Racing Fuels is the Official Fuel of USF2000.
ENGINES
The USF-17 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.
PRIZE MONEY AND AWARDS
The 2020 champion will receive a scholarship prize package valued at $313,800 to advance to the Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires in 2020. The total event and year-end prize package is valued at over $433,000.
ADDITIONAL BENEFITS
The Road to Indy Summit and Oval Clinic is a three-part educational and promotional program held during the season. The platform provides valuable education on a variety of topics including marketing/business, media training, career growth and development, fitness and wellness, social media and a comprehensive introduction to oval track racing led by industry experts. It also features activities such as high-profile autograph sessions and fan Q&As, networking reception, team owner meet-and-greets and race shop tours. Additionally, the current points leader will pace the Freedom 100 Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires field on Carb Day and be interviewed in front of the Indianapolis 500 crowd only minutes before the race.
CURRENT TRACK RECORDS
Streets of St. Petersburg |
Qualifying: Alex Baron |
1:12.2574 = 89.679 mph |
3/10/2018 |
|
Race: Alex Baron |
1:12.2664 = 89.668 mph |
3/10/2018 |
Circuit of The Americas
|
New Venue
|
|
|
|
New Venue
|
|
|
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: Brian Sellers
|
21.134 = 116.854 mph
|
5/25/2002
|
|
Qualifying: Scott Hargrove
|
42.833 = 115.313 mph+
|
5/25/2013
|
|
Race: Brian 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 |
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
|
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course |
Qualifying: Matthew Brabham |
1:20.250 = 101.293 mph |
8/4/2012 |
|
Race: Kyle Kirkwood |
1:21.2979 = 99.988 mph |
7/29/2018 |
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
|
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
|
Qualifying: Sage Karam
|
1:23.959 = 95.961 mph
|
5/22/2010
|
|
Race: Mikhail Goikhberg
|
1:24.566 = 95.272 mph
|
5/23/2010
|
+ = two lap average
MILESTONES
Most Starts |
Scott Rubenzer |
72 |
1992-2006 |
Most Wins |
Chris Simmons |
13 |
1992-1994 |
Most Wins in a Season |
J.R. Hildebrand |
12 |
2006 |
|
Kyle Kirkwood |
12 |
2018 |
Most Poles |
Nico Jamin |
13 |
2015 |
Most Poles in a Season |
Nico Jamin |
13 |
2015 |
Most Podiums |
Jake Eidson |
22 |
2014-2015 |
Most Podiums in a Season |
Nico Jamin |
15 |
2015 |
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............................ 4
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 |
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 |