Mazda Road to Indy Scholarship Winner McElrea Takes a Fighting Second

The famed “Brickyard” will host two races for each of the three levels on the acclaimed Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires open-wheel development ladder – Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires, the Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires and the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship – providing the stars of the future with an opportunity to race alongside their heroes in the NTT IndyCar Series at the Racing Capital of the World.

The 19-year-old Ohioan, who swept both races at the season opener at St. Pete, details a challenging 2018 that saw him make his Road to Indy debut, earn a Team USA Scholarship - but deal with an aneurysm in his arm that nearly derailed his career

Following an accomplished victory yesterday by Braden Eves, from New Albany, Ohio, the team which has won the last eight Driver Championships in succession seemed to be moments away from celebrating another first USF2000 victory – this time for Florida racer Darren Keane – when the pole-sitter and race-long leader lost control under braking for Turn 13 on the final lap while under intense pressure from Jay Howard Driver Development’s Christian Rasmussen.​

Eves, who secured the pole position in qualifying yesterday afternoon, was never seriously challenged during a crash-marred 40-minute race that saw Alex Baron escape a Turn 1, Lap 1 incident unscathed