Canadian driver turns in flawless performance to gain valuable experience

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – If the Verizon IndyCar Series is the goal, a driver with career aspirations must learn to master the art of oval racing. JDC MotorSports took its young Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda driver Parker Thompson to the ‘Day Before the 500’ FreedomFest at the banked 5/8-mile Lucas Oil Raceway on Saturday, May 23 and the Canadian put in an extremely impressive performance in the 75-lapper. The 17-year-old rookie from Red Deer, Alberta ran strong, stayed out of trouble, handled lapped cars like a seasoned veteran and delivered a fine sixth-place result, his seventh top-10 result of the year. JDC MotorSports continues to show well with their one-car team, led by a teenage freshman pilot.

“We’d love to have a teammate for Parker, but as a one-car team, I’m really pleased with what our guys have been able to accomplish,” commented John Church, JDC MotorSports Team Principal. “Parker continues to impress us with his development and his increasing understanding of car dynamics, and he’s showing maturity behind the wheel as well. Running on the oval at Lucas Oil Raceway is a challenge and it requires a unique skill set, and I’m thrilled with how he approached the weekend. Despite limited track time, he brought the car home in one piece with a great result. This is his seventh finish in the top seven, and I know we’ll be challenging for podiums over the second half of the season.”

Thompson laid down a two-lap combined time of 44.792 seconds in qualifying with a fast lap of 22.388 to grid up seventh in the 75-lap event. A strong start at the green flag put Parker in a battle for sixth, but he was too strong for his challengers and took full control of the position. The race would go green to checker with no cautions, eliminating the opportunity for him to get back in striking distance of the top five. By the end of the race, Parker had maintained a half-second advantage over Keyvan Andres to finish sixth. The result further strengthens his hold on fifth in the championship standings heading to the Honda Indy Toronto event on June 12-14.

JDC MotorSports races with associate sponsorship from RedLineOil.com , HR Sportswear and Showdown Displays.

Parker Thompson - #80
Qualified: 8th – 44.7924 (two-lap combined total)
Race: 6th

Driver Quote: “Going into Lucas Oil Raceway, I didn't know what to expect. There were so many firsts for me. It was a tough to get on pace due to the limited track time. We only had a few sessions to get the car set-up developed and my driving to where it needed to be. I still struggled with getting everything I could out of the car. But, at the end of the day, the risks can be much higher than the rewards at an oval, and to come out of this weekend with a clean sixth place is pretty good, I think. I am proud of all the hard work my JDC MotorSports boys did to pull off this result. They did a great job, as always. Now the focus will be on preparing for my home race in Toronto.”

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. The following year, JDC continued its winning ways, earning the Rookie of the Year award in the Star Mazda Championship with Connor De Philippi, and scoring a non-points win in the USF2000 National Championship. In 2011, the Minneapolis-based squad captured its third Star Mazda Championship title with Tristan Vautier, scored a win in the USF2000 National Championship, and made its Prototype Lites Championship debut, earning five podium finishes. JDC Motorsports added to its Star Mazda Championship win tally, USF2000 Championship podium total, and finished as the Prototype Lites Championship runner-up in 2012. Last year, the squad continued its run of Pro Mazda and USF2000 podium finishes, and was third in the Prototype Lites title fight.