Piedrahita and Lagudi battled for positions throughout IndyCar Series doubleheader event
MINNEAPOLIS, MN. – JDC MotorSports enjoyed a solid return to the Cooper Tires Presents the USF2000 National Championship powered by Mazda this past weekend (August 6-7) at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, as the Minnesota-based squad earned four top-10 finishes during Rounds Seven and Eight. Rookies Juan Piedrahita and Roman Lagudi showed good speed and car control in their first visit to the technically demanding road course, with the Colombian finishing seventh and eighth in the two races, and the Australian-American coming home ninth in the two rounds. Team newcomer Rodin Younessi gained valuable experience in the doubleheader, finishing fourth and fifth in the National class.
After two very good oval rounds – earning a pair of podium finishes – the JDC drivers and crew were excited to end the summer hiatus with a trip to Mid-Ohio. Given the undulating technical nature of the 2.25-mile road course, the immediate goal upon rolling the cars off the trailer was to develop a good baseline setup during the two promoter’s day test sessions. With all three racers continually working with the talented JDC crew, Piedrahita turned the sixth best time in the quicker second run, and Lagudi posted the ninth best time in his No.10 High Performance Distributors/Red Line Oil/JDC MotorSports entry.
The JDC MotorSports racers continued to build momentum one day later, when the action officially got underway via a pair of practice runs. Piedrahita’s No. 19 Petrosur/GFK Motors/Montopharma/Colombia es pasion/Red Line Oil/JDC MotorSports entry moved up to fourth in the faster afternoon session, while Lagudi was now seventh quickest. Younessi, in his first event with the multiple junior formula car champions, also found more speed.
With passing opportunities likely limited come race time, the goal during the lone qualifying run was to get most from the track and the car. The end result was a solid performance by all three racers, with Piedrahita earning a row three starting place via the fifth best time, Lagudi turning the ninth best lap, and Younessi qualifying sixth in the National class.
Returning to the cockpits a short time later, race one of the IndyCar Series event doubleheader proved to be an exciting affair for the JDC racers. In what were the best fights for position during the 20-lap race, Piedrahita and Lagudi regularly traded places with the drivers around them, dueling for sixth through ninth. Not to be out done, Younessi also fought lap after lap for National class positions. When the checkered flag waved, Piedrahita was seventh, just ahead of his rookie counterpart Lagudi in ninth. Younessi emerged from his duel with a fourth place class result.
Utilizing each driver’s best lap from race one to form the grid, the JDC pairing of Piedrahita and Lagudi lined-up eighth and ninth for Round Eight in front of the large Mid-Ohio crowd on Sunday afternoon. While the opening lap or two of the 20-lap race featured plenty of jockeying for position, the cars quickly became evenly spaced out. Piedrahita and Lagudi in the end held station, crossing the stripe were they had started, in eighth and ninth. Younessi’s No. 16 Younessi Racing/ Red Line Oil/JDC MotorSports entry likewise crossed the stripe in the same position it had started, fifth in class.
“It was a hard weekend for us in Mid-Ohio,” stated Piedrahita. “We couldn’t find the speed we needed to challenge for the top-three. For sure we will be better at Road America. I’m really looking forward to that race, and be back challenging for a podium finish.”
JDC MotorSports and its talented driver line-up resume pursuit of that first Cooper Tires Presents the USF2000 National Championship powered by Mazda win of 2011 on August 19-20, when Road America plays hosts to Round Nine and Ten. Piedrahita leads the team charge entering the Wisconsin doubleheader, currently fifth in the championship standings. The Minnesota-based squad is fourth in the Team points.
JDC MotorSports races with associate sponsorship from www.RedLineOil.com
Additional information on JDC MotorSports can be obtained from the team’s website @ www.jdcmotorsports.com For direct contact, please contact John Church @ 952-233-3075.
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About JDC MotorSports:
Involved in formula car racing since its inception in 1994, JDC MotorSports has established itself as one of the leading junior open-wheel teams in North America. Initially making its mark in the F2000 class of club racing competition, JDC MotorSports was soon a team worth watching in the pro ranks. Competing in the Formula Ford 2000 Zetec Championship, the team not only won races, but also helped develop multiple young drivers. In 2005, JDC MotorSports expanded its efforts, entering the Star Mazda Championship. Quickly becoming one of the top teams in the series, JDC captured both the driver and team titles in 2007, as well as Rookie of the Year honors, with Dane Cameron scoring a series-high three wins. In 2008, JDC MotorSports was the runner-up in the Star Mazda Championship and finished fourth in its inaugural season of F2000 Championship Series competition. The Minnesota-based team won the Star Mazda Championship title with Rookie of the Year Adam Christodoulou, and the F2000 Championship Series title with Chris Miller in 2009. This past year, JDC continued its winning ways, earning the Rookie of the Year award in the Star Mazda Championship with Connor De Phillippi, and scoring a non-points win in the USF2000 National Championship. The Minneapolis-based squad will compete in the Star Mazda Championship, USF2000 National Championship and Prototype Lites Championship in 2011 via multi-car operations.