PALMETTO, Fla. – Nineteen drivers and nine teams are lined up for a head start on their 2012 campaigns when the USF2000 Cooper Tires Winterfest Championship kicks off next week. The six-race mini-series organized by the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda will visit two Florida road courses in the span of seven days with tripleheader rounds of competition taking place on February 6/7 at Sebring International Raceway and February 11/12 at Palm Beach International Raceway.

“This is our second year of hosting the Cooper Tires Winterfest and we are extremely pleased with the interest level and tremendous growth in our pre-season series,” said Dan Andersen, Owner and CEO of Andersen Promotions, the series promoter. “We have a terrific entry list and look forward to some great racing as drivers and teams work together for the first time in a race setting. The talent level is high and clearly this event will be a fantastic launch pad for the 2012 USF2000 Championship, which is shaping up to be our best season yet.”

The first official step on the Mazda Road to Indy ladder system, USF2000 is in its third year of sanction by INDYCAR and is riding a wave of momentum. The series is enjoying growth in all areas in 2012 with an expanded, high-profile 14-race schedule in support of INDYCAR and the American Le Mans Series, a series-high confirmed car count of 20 entries with additional announcements expected, six new team entries and an expanded National class which will welcome SCCA Enterprises’ FE entries. In addition, the series will see its 2011 Champion Petri Suvanto join Team Pelfrey and graduate to the Star Mazda ranks with his scholarship package from the Mazda Road to Indy.

The opening rounds of the Cooper Tires Winterfest at Sebring International Raceway are a precursor to the ALMS official “Winter Test” which takes place on February 8/9. USF2000 will share the 3.7-mile, 17-turn circuit with the IMSA Development Series Winter Test running alongside the Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Championship Powered by Mazda and IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge.

The series’ first appearance at the 2.034-mile, 11-turn Palm Beach International Raceway road course four days later will run in conjunction with test sessions for the Star Mazda Championship Presented by Goodyear and Firestone Indy Lights in addition to the Cooper Tires Prototype Lites.

Entries currently include Shelby Blackstock and Thomas McGregor of Andretti Autosport; Scott Anderson, Luca Forgeois, Roman Lagudi and Colin Thompson with Belardi Auto Racing; Matthew Brabham, Trent Hindman and Spencer Pigot of Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing; Jason Wolfe with JAY MotorSports; Neil Alberico, Scott Hargrove, Michael Johnson and Zac Silver with JDC MotorSports; James Dayson with Jensen MotorSport, Inc.; Matthew Di Leo with MDL Racing; Dalton Kellett and J.R. Smart with Pabst Racing Services; and Paul Alspach with Robinson Motor Sports. 

The inaugural Cooper Tires Winterfest Championship title was won by Zach Veach of Andretti Autosport. In addition to bragging rights, competitors in this year’s championship will vie for $15,000 in prizes including awards for individual race winners, overall champion, second-place overall, National Class champion and team champion.

Live Timing and Scoring will be available at www.usf2000.com.

The doubleheader opening rounds of the 2012 USF2000 season will take place at the 60th Anniversary Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh from Florida on March 14-17.

2012 USF2000 Cooper Tires Winterfest Schedule
All Times Eastern

(with Cooper Tires Prototype Lites/IMSA GT3 Cup)
  9:50 am -  10:20 am Practice
  1:30 pm -    2:00 pm Qualifying
  4:20 pm -    5:00 pm Race #1

(with Cooper Tires Prototype Lites/IMSA GT3 Cup)
  9:40 am -  10:10 am Practice
  1:20 pm -    2:00 pm Race #2
  4:20 pm -    5:00 pm Race #3

February 11 – Palm Beach International Raceway 

(with Cooper Tires Prototype Lites/Star Mazda/Firestone Indy Lights)
  9:40 am -  10:10 am Practice
12:20 pm -  12:50 pm Qualifying
  4:20 pm -    5:00 pm Race #1

  8:00 am -    8:30 am Practice
10:55 am -  11:35 am Race #2
  3:15 pm -    3:55 pm Race #3

*The grids for Race 2/3 are set by fastest race laps.

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