James Hinchliffe had a tough weekend and heads into the 500 10th in points. (Photo-Ray MacAloney for RaceCanada)
By: Mike Sullivan/RaceCanada (Photos- Ray MacAloney for RaceCanada)
May 13 2019
Indy Car
Hinchcliffe had a tough race finishing 16th after qualifying 18th and getting a drive through penalty early on for avoidable contact.
Hinchcliffe heads into the 500 10th in points on 107 against Josef Newgarden's championship leading 182 points.
James Hinchcliffe - No. 5 Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Honda
“Such a rollercoaster of a day with getting that [drive-thru] penalty, making our way back up to the top five and settling into a good strategy to keep us in the top 10, to making a mistake which lost us three positions on the last lap. I’m really frustrated with myself and for the Arrow guys. Our finish certainly doesn’t paint the best picture of what we could have done today. We have to swallow this one and move on, because next week is a whole other ball game. Happy for [teammate] Jack [Harvey] and those guys on their first podium.”
Indy Lights
Zachary Claman had mixed results in the 2 races on the Indy road course. Claman qualified 6th in both races, and moved up 1 spot in race 1 for a 5th place finish. Race 2 proved more successful, with Claman again starting 6th, but moving up to 3rd off the start into turn 1. Claman moved up a spot when Robert Megennis went off track a few laps later, to take 2nd, where he finished.
Zachary Claman (#13 Zoological Wildlife Foundation/Abe & Mary’s/Paysafe/UPS-Belardi Auto Racing Dallara-AER IL-15)
“I got on the power early at the start and got a good run and was sure I could out-brake the two cars next to me. Then all of a sudden, I saw smoke and thought I would back off and try to get across, and I just made it to slide into third. When Megennis went off, that was another position handed to me so I focused on hitting my marks, staying consistent and keeping out of trouble. Oliver kept me on my toes throughout the race; it kind of reminded me of our karting days! My engineer Tim Neff let me know where he was so I could keep him out of the push-to-pass range. It was such an up-and-down weekend; we had such a quick car in practice but not in qualifying or in Race One. I figured I would just go for it today.”
Claman heads to the Indy oval sitting 4th in points, trailing points leader Rinus VeeKay by 22 points.
It was a pretty quiet weekend for Dallet Kellet, qualifying 7th and finishing 8th in the first race, reversing his performance in race 2, qualifying 8th and finishing 7th. Kellet leaves the Indy GP in 9th place in points.
Pro 2000
Points leader Parker Thompson, who swept both of the opening rounds at St Petersburg, had a tough weekend. Race 1 saw Thompson qualified near the back for both races, but raced his way up to 5th in both races, claiming the Tilton Hard Charger Award in both races. Thompson slipped to 2nd in the championship hunt, trailing new leader Rasmus Lindh 109-98.
Exclusive Autosport had a good outing with drivers Danial Frost and Nikita Lastochkin. Frost qualified 2nd for race 1, but started 4th after a 2 grid place penalty for not slowing sufficiently under waved yellow flags in qualifying, moved up a spot in the race and finished on the podium in 3rd. Race 2 saw Frost again start 4th and again reach the podium, again finishing 3rd.
Danial Frost (#68 Den-Jet Exclusive Autosport Tatuus PM18)
“We challenged for first in Turn One but weren’t able to get him [Lindh]. Kyle and I fought hard for the second position though I came out the loser of that, but it was a good experience for me and I understand the car a little bit more. Hopefully in the next race we can advance and do better. But I am happy with a podium here. To be able to drive here, it’s an amazing feeling. To come here with a team that won here last year gives me a great deal of confidence.”
Lastochkin didn't qualify well for race 1, qualifying 10th, lining up in 9th after assessing numerous penalties. Lastochkin took advantage of chaos in front of him early on, moving up to 4th before eventually settling for 6th in race 1. In race 2, Lastochkin started 6th and again took advantage of chaos in front of him, running as high as 3rd, before losing that position to his team mate Frost, and finishing in 4th.
Frost sits 3rd in points on 85, while Lastochkin is 6th on 64 points.
Antonio Serravalle had a tough weekend, qualifying 13th for race 1 and 11 for race 2, finishing in 9th place in both races. Serravalle leaves the weekend 10th in points on 46.
F2000
Exclusive Autosport's Manuel Cabrera had a mixed weekend. Cabrera qualified 4th and slipped back to finish in 11th after getting caught up in a early incident. Race 2 saw Cabrera qualify 9th but DNF going out on lap 7. Cabrera sits 19th in the championship standings on 16 points, behind championship leader Braden Eves on 127 points.