INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing claimed its fourth win at Lucas Oil Raceway in as many years with Neil Alberico’s victory in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda Night Before the 500.
The race, which is held the night before the Indy 500 and only minutes from the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway, is one of the biggest nights of the year for USF2000. After a disappointing start to the season, Alberico picked the right night to turn his luck around.
Cape driver Scott Hargrove won the pole with a fantastic qualifying run, the team’s eighth straight at Lucas Oil Raceway and the fastest two qualifying laps at the track in more than 10 years. But Hargrove couldn’t hold off his teammate as Alberico got the jump on him at the start and never looked back in the 75-lap race. There was an intense battle behind Alberico, but the young driver was able to maintain the lead for a 0.251s victory.
Alberico’s win is the team’s fourth straight Night Before the 500 victory, and the fifth straight win of the 2013 season. The team drivers have also combined to win all five poles.
“What a night,” said team owners Dominic and Nicholas Cape. “This is one of our favorite races of the year, and we couldn’t have asked for a better finish. We also had no idea Neil was auditioning for American Idol with his rendition of 'I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles' sang like a true Hammers fan on his victory lap. A massive thank you has to go to all three drivers and the team for another great effort in the teams never-ending pursuit of victory.”
Cape driver James Fletcher struggled initially to come to grips on the oval, but he worked hard all weekend, and his perseverance, grit and unwavering determination won through in the end culminating with two fantastic qualifying laps. During the race he was just a victim of circumstance racing in a big pack of cars from start to finish.
Hargrove remains the points leader heading into the next races on the Streets of Toronto, July 13-14. He has a commanding 53-point lead. Alberico is eighth and Fletcher is tied for 18th.
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