A pair of incidents prevented the JDC MotorSports rookie from attaining results desired
LOS GATOS, CALIF. – Junior formula car rising star Neil Alberico experienced the up-and-downs of professional racing this past weekend (March 24-25) during the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda doubleheader on the streets of St. Petersburg, Fla. The JDC MotorSports rookie displayed race-winning speed in front of the IZOD IndyCar series community, but a pair of incidents prevented the California from securing the results he desired in Rounds Three and Four.
Alberico, having secured two top-10 finishes just one week prior in his return to North American competition at Sebring, was eager to get back behind the wheel for Rounds Three and Four in St. Petersburg. While the low grip street circuit presented several new challenges for the talented racer, Alberico was confident he could quickly adapt and showcase his speed and skill. The former Team USA scholarship racer promptly did just that in practice, overcoming multiple stoppages to post the third best time in the second run.
The 2010 Bondurant Championship Race Series champion kept the momentum going in the lone qualifying session. Attacking the 1.8-mile street circuit, Alberico placed the No. 19 Kartel Motorsports/Bondurant School/RaceLite Protection/ Red Line Oil/JDC MotorSports entry third on the speedcharts, securing a row two starting position for the Saturday afternoon affair.
Come race time, the goal for Alberico first and foremost was to negotiate the often treacherous battle for positions in turn one. Making the most of the experiences gained in his 2011 Formula Ford Championship of Great Britain campaign, he got away cleanly when the green flag waved, holding his third place starting position through the opening sequence of turns. As the race progressed, Alberico solidified his podium position, however, a late race caution subsequently resulted in a five-lap dash to the checkered flag. This proved to be the decisive moment of the race, as while dicing for third place, Alberico was involved in a last lap incident, relegating him to a 17th place result with a damaged car.
When Alberico returned to the cockpit for Round Four on Sunday morning, he was refocused on the task at hand, battling for a place on the podium. Starting 10th in race two, he immediately displayed his intentions, charging into the top-five. Unfortunately, this proved to be the highlight of the race, as on lap seven a car ahead spun, leaving Alberico nowhere to go. The end result was a second race-ending incident, and an truly unrepresentative result for the highly-regarded Californian.
"We've had a rough start to the season," said Alberico. "Unfortunately things have not gone our way. Despite our results, we know the pace is there, and that is a good feeling. We just have to continue to work hard as a team, and put all the pieces together."
Alberico now has a hiatus until the month of May, when he will embark the latest challenge of his burgeoning racing career...oval competition. Round Five of the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda will take place at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis, with the action taking place during the famed 'Night Before the 500' on May 26. Prior to race, Alberico and his JDC MotorSports squad will take part in official series testing at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on May 2-3, and Lucas Oil Raceway on May 5.
Learn more about Neil Alberico at neilalberico.com and keep up to date via Twitter @ NeilAlberico and his Facebook page @ Neil-Alberico-Racing.
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About Neil Alberico:
A native of Los Gatos, Calif., Alberico first started racing karts at the age of 10, competing in IKF region 11 action. Over the course of four seasons (2004-07), the young talent captured the Junior Sportsman, Junior Super Sportsman, and Junior Puma championship titles. In 2008, Alberico first got behind the wheel of a race car, graduating from the Skip Barber 2-day Advanced school at Laguna Seca prior to participating in the Formula BMW recruitment day at Miller Motorsports Park. Continuing to race in the karting ranks while raising funds to pursue a career in motorsports, Alberico won the Snap-On Stars of Karting Series National finale in Las Vegas in 2009, before finishing third in CKI National TAG Senior championship. Alberico built on this success in 2010, winning the TaG Senior class in the WSK North American Series, as well as the Bondurant Championship Race Series, capturing 10 wins in first full season of car competition. As part of the prize package for winning the Bondurant Championship, the teenager tested a Pro Formula Mazda with World Speed Motorsports and a Formula Atlantic Swift 016.a with Finlay Motorsports. In 2011, Alberico made his European racing debut, competing in the world-renowned Formula Ford Championship of Great Britain with Irish-based Cliff Dempsey Racing. Finish ninth in his maiden FF season, the Californian earned a Team USA Scholarships. As a Team USA driver, he captured a Semi-Final win and finished third in the historic 40th Formula Ford Festival. Alberico joins the Mazda Road to Indy program in 2012, driving for JDC MotorSports in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship powered by Mazda.