INDIANAPOLIS – As the Mazda Road to Indy season came to a close, Team Pelfrey participated in the annual Chris Griffis Memorial Test at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course this weekend. Further showcasing the #PelfreyPower development ladder system, five out of seven drivers have previously raced for Team Pelfrey in the F1600 Championship and/or the Mazda Road to Indy.
USF2000
MICHAEL D’ORLANDO:
No. 80 Team Pelfrey Tatuus USF-17 Mazda
• Karting driver Michael d’Orlando made his USF2000 debut finishing seven out of eight sessions within the top-10.
• The fifteen-year-old continued to improve over the course of the weekend with a best result of sixth.
“It’s amazing for a young driver coming out of karting to get into this kind of stuff. It blows me away thinking I am already at this stage. Hopefully in 2018, I am competing in USF2000 Series because it’s a great car and a great series.”
JACOB LOOMIS:
No. 81 Team Pelfrey Tatuus USF-17 Mazda
• The USF2000 rookie made his first test appearance after racing with Team Pelfrey earlier this year at Road America, making an impressive debut.
• Loomis finished fourth in the penultimate session of the weekend, in front of 2016 Pro Mazda Champion Aaron Telitz.
“This weekend couldn’t have gone better. Considering the lack of experience in the car, we showed great pace. Once I adapted to the car and track, we were consistently toward the front of the pack. The Pelfrey crew was very welcoming and extremely helpful. I’m happy with the speed we showed and the knowledge I have gained. I’m looking forward to learning more next year with the Team Pelfrey crew.”
DAVID OSBORNE:
No. 82 Team Pelfrey Tatuus USF-17 Mazda •David Osborne made the transition from F1600 to USF2000 after finishing fifth in the 2017 F1600 Championship with Team Pelfrey.
• Osborne ran with Trinity Karting, Team Pelfrey’s official Gokart development team, leading into the 2017 season.
• Osborne showed great progression during the single day outing for Team Pelfrey and placed within a second of the much more experienced drivers by the end of the day.
“I had a great first time in the USF2000 car. Being at IMS is always special, but being here for the Chris Griffis test with Team Pelfrey made it all that much more fantastic. Being able to move from the F1600 series to USF2000 within the same team made everything seem very familiar and made the transition to a bigger, faster car easier. Overall, I was very pleased with my pace for a first outing in the USF2000 car and looking forward to improving every session.”
Team Pelfrey now continues its off-season testing program as it prepares for the 2018 Mazda Road to Indy season, which kicks off with the St. Petersburg Grand Prix in March. Driver announcements are expected to be made in the next few weeks.