Indy Pro 2000
Hunter McElrea (main image) lost some footing in the Indy Pro 2000 standings after a testing weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway but remains in high spirits.
McElrea lined up seventh for the start of the first of two races today.
The Kiwi was quickly up to fourth after a frenetic lap one, which had the polesitter spin at turn one.
Unfortunately, McElrea made a costly mistake on the restart, dropping him towards the rear of the pack.
The Pabst Racing team then decided to pit him for a fresh set of rubber.
The idea was for McElrea to set a rapid lap and secure a solid starting position for race three.
He finished race two in eighth.
Starting seventh for the weekend’s finale, McElrea ran a clean race and brought his car home in the same position.
McElrea slips back to fifth in the standings following the tough weekend but is keeping his head high.
“Not the weekend I want or expected,” he wrote on social media.
“Took a hit in the championship points…but I have pulled back a gap like this before.
“Time to do it again.”
USF2000
Today marked the 400th USF2000 race in the category’s history, and our two Kiwi hopefuls had their work cut out for them.
Billy Frazer lined up 16th for the day’s sole race and made up a handful of positions to finish 12th.
Meanwhile, Peter Vodanovich again proved overtaking is possible at Indy and cut his way from 24th to 16th.
The race also had a significant portion of it run under caution, meaning both drivers could well have made up more places before the chequered flag.
Championship-wise, Frazer still sits in tenth and is the third-highest rookie, while Vodanovich is 23rd.
Both drivers now prepare for their first and only oval race of the season at Lucas Oil Raceway on May 28.