Two drivers on the podium at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park
CARMEL, Ind. – The USF Pro Championship Presented by Continental Tire was back on track this past weekend as Jay Howard Driver Development (JHDD) drivers battled the .686-mile Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. With five drivers competing in two separate classes, it was Tanner DeFabis who earned his first career victory to put JHDD back on top in USF2000 Presented by Continental Tire. Following closely was Evagoras Papasavvas in third for a pair of JHDD drivers on the podium.
In USF2000 qualifying, DeFabis led the way with a solid third-place effort leading the quartet of JHDD drivers with Papasavvas securing the outside of row three and sixth position for the Freedom 75. Behind them, rookie drivers Michael Costello and G3 Argyros started their 75-lap affair from 15th and 18th on the grid. In the USF Pro 2000 Presented by Continental Tire program, Frankie Mossman would be the lone combatant, and qualified 12th on Thursday evening as he shifted his focus to the Freedom 90 on Friday evening.
With rain moving into the area and two separate storms slamming the small oval, officials delayed the on-track action to Saturday morning to ensure they could run the full race distances. It was DeFabis who didn’t mind the wait as he rolled off the grid third but was the first to see the checkered flag in the 75-lap race. Despite having to overcome a mid-race caution that allowed the rest of the field to close the gap, DeFabis handled it with ease, driving to his first career USF2000 victory and putting JHDD back on top. Behind him and earning his sixth podium result of the season to keep his name in the championship hunt was 2023 race winner Papasavvas. The Ohio native finished third, bringing valuable championship points to his table as he focuses on the long game in 2024.
Both Costello and Argyros survived their first oval experience and moved forward both with speed and attrition. Costello put a trio of JHDD drivers in the top-ten finishing eighth after starting 15th while Argyros, who normally competes in the JHDD USF Juniors program, advanced from 18th to finish 12th as all four drivers finished on the lead lap.
“We have been working hard and it paid off this weekend,” explained Jay Howard. “Great to be back on the top step of the USF2000 podium. Congrats to Tanner on his first career win, the first of many to come I believe and to Evagoras for his sixth podium in 2024. Both Michael and G3 did exactly what they set out to do and gain experience by finishing every lap and were rewarded for their efforts. On to the next one!”
Next stop for Jay Howard Driver Development will be a trip to Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin over the June 6-9 weekend.