What do Helio Castroneves, Scott Dixon, James Hinchcliffe, Tony Kanaan, Josef Newgarden and Spencer Pigot have in common? All are graduates of series comprising the Mazda Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires – one of the most successful driver development programs in the world, providing a unique, scholarship-funded path to reach the Verizon IndyCar Series and Indianapolis 500.

Since its launch in 2010, the Mazda Road to Indy ladder system has attracted competitors from around the globe. Drivers from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Finland, France, Guyana, India, Ireland, Korea, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Russia, Spain, United Kingdom, Uruguay and Venezuela have been part of the grids, showcasing their talents at premier venues on a mix of road courses, temporary street circuits and ovals.

Sanctioned by INDYCAR, the Mazda Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires provides drivers, teams and sponsors an opportunity to gain valuable experience on and off the track while following a clear-cut path of progression through three development series: the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda, the Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires and Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires. Scholarships are awarded at each level to assist drivers in their progression.

In 2017, over $3.5 million in Mazda scholarships and other awards were distributed. Each series champion earned a scholarship that will enable them to move up the ladder. Indy Lights champion Kyle Kaiser received a Mazda Scholarship valued at $1 million with a guaranteed entry into three Verizon IndyCar Series races in 2018, including the 102nd Indianapolis 500. Pro Mazda champion Victor Franzoni secured a scholarship worth $790,300 to advance to Indy Lights in 2018, and USF2000 champion Oliver Askew will use his $325,000 payday to graduate to Pro Mazda next season.

With deliveries now under way of the Mazda-powered Tatuus PM-18, which will enter competition next year, the revitalization of all three levels is now complete. State-of-the-art chassis are in service across the board, meeting the highest safety standards, including the Dallara IL-15 which debuted in Indy Lights in 2015, and the Tatuus USF-17 that was introduced to rave reviews this season.

Coverage of the Mazda Road to Indy can be found on demand via Apple TV, Amazon Fire and Roku with an Official App on Xbox One. In addition to Indy Lights race broadcasts on NBCSN, the Mazda Road to Indy is featured on Road to Indy TV with behind-the-scenes episodes and on the Road to Indy TV App.

Worldwide live streaming and live timing is available on the series’ respective websites, on the Road to Indy TV App and at indycar.com. Indy Lights is also featured on the Advance Auto Parts INDYCAR Radio Network broadcasts on Sirius 214, XM 209, IndyCar.com, indycarradio.com and on the INDYCAR Mobile app.

The new RoadToIndy.Info website was launched recently to assist in educating new drivers about the Mazda Road to Indy. Entirely video-based, the website covers key areas in the ladder system.

For more information, visit RoadToIndy.Info.