St. Petersburg, Fla. – Americans Jake Eidson and Aaron Telitz led the way after two practice sessions for the Cooper Tires Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, which will constitute the opening two rounds of the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda.

Eidson, 19, who splits his time between Littleton, Colo., and Destin, Fla., was fastest in both sessions for Pabst Racing, turning a best lap of 1:14.9865 (86.416 mph) in the afternoon session which was interrupted by a rain shower.

Aaron Telitz, from Birchwood, Wis., was just over a tenth of a second slower for St. Petersburg-based Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing.

USF2000 cars will begin the track activities tomorrow (Saturday, March 28) with a half-hour qualifying session starting at 8:00 am. The first race will start a little later in the morning at 10:15.