Luigi Biangardi made the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda paddock stand up and take notice that the Chicago native and his ArmsUp Motorsports team are going to be a force to reckon with in 2012 by setting the fastest time in three different sessions.

Thomas McGregor and Shelby Blackstock will be making their St. Petersburg debuts this weekend.

With junior formula car up-and-comers Neil Alberico, Scott Hargrove, Michael Johnson, Chris Miller, and Zac Silver behind the wheels, the Minnesota squad exited the season-opening doubleheader with important data and experience towards the ultimate goal of ending the season with one or more championship titles.

With the off-season and campaigning for new partners closing, competing in the 2012 Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered By Mazda was a much anticipated new chapter in Eric Filgueiras' career.

After a strong showing last month at the USF2000 Winterfest, hopes were high that Trent Hindman would be part of a 1-2-3 punch for Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing starting at the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship season opener at the 60th Anniversary Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh from Florida.