Less than two weeks after thrilling road course encounters as part of the inaugural Grand Prix of Indianapolis, all three steps on the Mazda Road to Indy – the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda, the Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires and Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires – will return to the Indianapolis area this week for some oval track competition.

Driver trio fired up for trip to Lucas Oil Raceway oval and Night Before The 500

Toppe ready for first speedway event of the season

A week of firsts for Nathan Blok challenged the driver from Beachburg, Ont., Canada as he visited the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) and competed in an open wheel car for the first time since August 2012. For Blok it was a brand new car in a new series for him, a new team at their first race together, while racing on a brand new road course at a track facility he had never been to before. Thankfully quick-learning and adaptability are two of Blok’s strengths and he quickly acclimated to the USF2000 No.33 of John Cummiskey Racing.

Race-winning USF2000 team Afterburner Autosport made its debut at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway this past weekend (May 8-10), running in the fifth and sixth rounds of the Cooper Tire USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda.