Rinus VeeKay, from Hoofddorp, Netherlands, Braden Eves, from New Albany, Ohio, and Christian Rasmussen from Copenhagen, Denmark, set the pace today as the ninth annual Chris Griffis Memorial Road to Indy Test kicked off at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Grand Prix road course

The tires and engines have barely cooled down after a rousing final weekend for all three open-wheel development racing series that comprise the Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires on the West Coast, yet an intriguing mix of veteran and rookie drivers will converge this week on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Grand Prix course, anxious to begin preparations for the 2020 season.

Open-Wheel Champions Askew, Kirkwood, Eves the Big Winners in Monterey

Eves vaulted from third to first on the opening lap, then held off a series of challenges throughout a thrilling 20-lap contest to claim the victory – his sixth of the season – and put the championship beyond the reach of McElrea

McElrea now leads Eves by 12 points, 342-330, although he will start 18th and last for tomorrow’s season finale following a mechanical problem in qualifying this morning while Eves will line up in third