INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- Memorial Day Weekend was a busy affair for Team Pelfrey, with its Indy Lights outfit competing at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the Freedom 100 race on Friday afternoon. Davey Hamilton Jr., son of Indianapolis 500 veteran Davey Hamilton, qualified seventh and finished seventh in a race that saw over 100 overtakes for position and the top five separated by just three tenths of a second.
Just a few miles west and mere hours later, Team Pelfrey was out in force at the Carb Night Classic at Lucas Oil Raceway for the Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires and the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda. Sting Ray Robb continued his form as of late, charging through from eighth to end up fifth, chasing down the podium finishers in the latter part of the race. Julian van der Watt enjoyed an initially successful oval debut in USF2000, qualifying inside the top 10 and looking set for another strong finish until an unfortunate incident took him out of contention. Bruna Tomaselli and Kyle Dupell both completed their oval debuts on the Mazda Road to Indy with composed drives and making significant gains upon their starting positions.
Julian van der Watt (No. 80 Race Driver SA / Crossley & Webb Team Pelfrey USF2000)
Qualifying: 9th
Race: 19th
“After a bit of confusion with line formation at the start of the race, we fell comfortably into position, running really consistent times, competitive times compared to the leaders. Then, the leaders had a bit if an accident up front, when Alex Baron crashed into the barriers. On the re-start, we were boxed in with the car on the left and I slowed down, and when I did, the car behind me went straight over the back of me and bent my back wing which, ended the race for me. We showed really good pace and the team did a really amazing job this weekend. It was quite challenging, especially at a track like this. The surface isn’t smooth, it’s not really banked, the car set-up was quite important. We showed really good pace all weekend, just a little unfortunate about the result.”
Bruna Tomaselli (No. 82 Bruna & Bia Team Pelfrey USF2000)
Qualifying: 18th
Race: 14th
“Ovals are much more technical than I thought. You need to be concentrating throughout the entire session. I’m happy to have this first oval completed, I gained some good points for the championship, and I just want to keep working hard for the next race at Road America.”
Kyle Dupell (No. 81 Opal Creek Capital/Pro Race Management Team Pelfrey USF2000)
Qualifying: 21st
Race: 17th
"Glad to have my first oval race in the books."
About Team Pelfrey:
Team Pelfrey’s winning heritage dates back to 2011, initially fielding cars in the ultra-competitive Pro Mazda Championship on the Mazda Road to Indy. Since then, Team Pelfrey has won Pro Mazda Championship titles in 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016 and 2017. The team’s winning pedigree has since expanded to the F1600 Championship, USF2000 Championship and Indy Lights series, becoming the first team to compete on all rungs of the Mazda Road to Indy Ladder. To date, the team has achieved 96 race wins, 207 podium finishes and nine championships.