Wagner to contest Indy Lights Freedom 100 and Enerson to make oval debut during USF2000 Championship Night Before the 500
FORT MYERS, FLA. – For those in motorsports, Memorial Day weekend is synonymous with 'The Greatest Spectacle in Racing'...the Indianapolis 500. This season the combined effort of ZSports/Team E Racing will be part of the festivities, contesting two races in the lead-up the world renowned event as part of the Mazda Road to Indy program. Team E Racing returns to Firestone Indy Lights action on Friday (May 25) at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with series race winner Brandon Wagner getting behind the wheel for the prestigious Freedom 100. On Saturday night (May 26), it will be teenage standout RC Enerson representing the Florida squad, competing in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda at Lucas Oil Raceway as part of the historic Night Before the 500 event.
For ZSports/Team E Racing, the support races of the 96th Indianapolis 500 represent an opportunity to both build on what has already been a successful start to the 2012 USF2000 season, as well as a chance to re-establish its position as a race-winning squad in Indy Lights.
Thanks to a series waiver allowing a National class car to compete in the lone oval round on the calendar - which is normally restricted to Championship class cars - Enerson will be behind the wheel of the No. 10 Patriot Bank/ZSports/Team E Racing entry when the green flag waves under the lights at Lucas Oil Raceway on Saturday night. While the 15 year-old will be making his oval racing debut during the famed Night Before the 500 event, he does so having already impressed on the 0.686-mile banked oval in testing. Making the most of the knowledge gained from the Mazda Road to Indy Oval clinic, which featured IndyCar Series team owner Ed Carpenter, former Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year Steve Knapp, and former Indy 500 winner Bobby Rahal speaking, the Floridian not only gained valuable experience during the one-day outing earlier in the month, but ultimately further indicated why many view him as a driver on the rise, posting the second best time. Add in the fact, Enerson was a perfect two-for-two last time out on the streets of St. Petersburg, Fla., in the National class, both the rookie and the ZSports/Team E Racing staff are confident and excited entering what is the highlight event of the season.
Prior to the squad's USF2000 effort rolling on-course at Lucas Oil Raceway, Team E Racing will be back in action at the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Ending what has been a early season hiatus from Indy Lights competition, the former New Team of the Year award winner will have Wagner in the cockpit for the high profile Freedom 100. The new driver/team partnership, which features support from the Triple XXX Family Restaurant and the American Chiropractor Association, is focused on a return to race-winning form. For the Lafayette, Ind., native that means building on his 2009 pole position at Chicagoland and 2010 championship win at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Add in Team E Racing has enjoyed good success on ovals as well, winning at the Milwaukee Mile and finishing second at the Nashville Superspeedway, and the stage is set for strong outing on Carb Day at the Speedway.
The ZSports/Team E Racing twin effort as part of the Indianapolis 500 festivities commences on Thursday (May 25), with a three-hour morning practice session for the Firestone Indy Lights cars at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. That is followed by single-car qualifying in the early afternoon. Round Four, the Freedom 100, is slated to commence at 12:30 pm local time on Friday (May 25). Live timing and scoring will be available at racecontrol.indycar.com. Friday also marks the start of the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda on-track activities at Lucas Oil Raceway, with three hours of pre-event testing. The lone oval event on the series schedule officially commences on Saturday (May 26), with two 30-minute practice sessions prior to single-car qualifying. Round Five, The Night Before the 500, is slated to begin at 7:40 pm local time under the lights. Live timing and scoring will be available at www.f2000.com/Multimedia/Live.aspx.
To learn more about ZSports, please visit ZSportsMidWest.com. For direct contact, please contact Steve Thomson @ 612-964-9572.
Find out more about Team E Racing at www.TeamERacing.com. For direct contact, please contact Neil Enerson @ Neil@TeamERacing.com.
Keep up to date with RC Enerson via Twitter @ RCEnerson and his Facebook page at RC-Enerson-Racing or at www.rcenerson.com.
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About ZSports:
Driven by a passion for racing, ZSports is a company formed by racers for racers. Based in Minnesota, with winter facilities in Fort Myers, Fla., the squad offers professional engineering and preparation to the developing driver. Since its formation in 2008, ZSports has established itself a leading junior formula car squad, winning four times, standing on the podium six times, and earning 3 pole positions in pro F2000 competition. In 2009, the squad captured the F2000 Championship Series Rookie of the Year award with Ben Searcy. ZSports will contest the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda in 2012 with a multi-car effort.