|
 |
|
|
|
|
Mazda Road To Indy, Race Preview: Grand Prix Of St Petersburg
Zach Veach, No. 12 K12
Veach will make his Firestone Indy Lights racing debut on the streets of St. Petersburg. He has two previous starts in St. Pete, one with each of the lower two levels of the Mazda Road to Indy ladder program (USF200 and Pro Mazda Championship).
|
|
|
"In the past two years, I have shown up at St. Pete in a different Mazda Road to Indy series and now again this year with Firestone Indy Lights. Getting ready to start my fourth season with Andretti Autosport is a huge honor for me. The team hs turned into my family and I feel we are stronger than ever. Through the pre-season series tests, my teammate and I have been first and second fastest overall, including me being the fastest rookie. We have a great program this year and I think thats going to give us a lot of momentum over this weekend! I want to thank everyone for making these dreams possible and to my sponsors: K12, Zakosi Data Backup, ADS IT Solutions, The Young Marines, Replay XD OMP, Bell Helmets, Art Rotondo, and Firestone."
Carlos Muñoz, No. 26 Dialy-Ser
Munoz finished the 2012 Firestone Indy Lights season fifth in points with two wins and a pole position. He is the only driver who has won previously won a race in Firestone Indy Lights entered in the St. Petersburg 100.
"I am very excited to start up again this season. I think we have a good package for St. Pete, and I have been looking forward to this race during this long off season. I believe that I will be much stronger now that this is my second with Andretti Autosport, and I am in a good position to fight for a win."
Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires
Shelby Blackstock, No. 28 Starstruck
Blackstock clinched his first podium of the 2013 season during Race Two at Circuit of the Americas.
"I am very excited for the races this weekend at St. Petersburg. Coming off a pretty good weekend at Circuit of the Americas it will be important to score points and keep our position in the points' standings. It will be our first street race of the season which will make qualifying very important since it is a pretty tight track. It will also be good to be sharing the weekend with the IZOD IndyCar Series so we can watch and learn from them. Everyone wish the entire Andretti Autosport team good luck this weekend and hopefully we all have good finishes on the streets of St. Petersburg!"
Matthew Brabham, No. 83 Andretti Autosport
Brabham captured his first Pro Mazda Championship win at the Circuit of Americas in Austin, TX during the series' season open er.
"We had a good weekend in Austin, TX, and we are really quick on bumpy tracks so we are quite confident going into St. Petersburg. We have a really good pace going through testing, and we had a good advantage on everyone in Austin, so we are just looking to carry that into St. Petersburg and get through the practice and learn how the track changes so we can keep our speed above everyone else and go for the race win. My goal is to definitely try and lead the championship heading out of St. Petersburg and win as many races as possible. I think we have the car to do it and the team is working really well so I think we have a good chance."
Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda
Garett Grist, No. 7 DaVinci Foods
Grist finished in second and fifth during the first two rounds of the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda at Sebring Internat ional Raceway.
"I am very excited for my first street race at St.Petersburg. I have been watching a lot of video and talking to the Andretti guys about the track. I think it will be a lot of fun and a great learning experience. We have great momentum coming from Sebring and we are just looking to continue that."
Austin Cindric, No. 77 Nightrain
This will be the first time for Cindric, son of Penske Racing President Tim Cindric, racing on the streets of St. Petersburg and his first season in the Mazda Road to Indy program.
"Coming into St. Pete, my first street course, I am looking forward to making more progress. I took away some valuable experiences from Sebring that I can use to help me improve at Round Two as well. The Nightrain Clothing Team is looking for a strong finish this weekend!"
PaddockTalk Perspective
|
|
|
Also in Support Series News: |
|
| |
|
