
2023 USF Pro 2000 Presented by Cooper Tires
The newly rebranded USF Pro 2000 Presented by Cooper Tires (formerly Indy Pro 2000) has served as a vital step on the career path of many of today’s top drivers. It is the third official step on the USF Pro Championships ladder. The series is sanctioned by USAC and owned and operated by Andersen Promotions.
Louis Foster, 19, from Basingstoke, England, driving for Exclusive Autosport captured the 2022 Indy Pro 2000 title and scholarship package valued at $614,425 to advance to Indy Lights in 2023.
HISTORY
USF Pro 2000’s roots date back to 1991 with the Star Mazda Championship, which ceased operation in 2012 after 22 years. Andersen Promotions founded what is now USF Pro 2000 in December of 2012 to replace the void left by Star Mazda. Graduates include Oliver Askew, Conor Daly, James Hinchcliffe, Sage Karam, Kyle Kirkwood, Patricio O'Ward, Graham Rahal and Rinus VeeKay as well as reigning Indy Lights champion Linus Lundqvist.
2023 PRIZE MONEY AND AWARDS
The 2023 USF Pro 2000 champion will receive a scholarship valued at $664,500 to advance to INDY NXT in 2024 via the Discount Tire Driver Advancement Scholarship Program. Additional prize money and awards include the Cooper Tires Pole Award for each race as well as season-ending awards for Rookie of the Year, Championship Team, Mechanic of the Year, Hard Charger, Move of the Year and Spirit Award.
In total, the USF Pro Championships Presented by Cooper Tires will distribute over $1.6M in prize money and awards.
2023 SCHEDULE - Nine Events/18 Races
ROUND |
DATE |
TRACK
|
VENUE |
1/2 |
March 4-5
|
Streets of St. Petersburg
|
1.8-mile street circuit
|
3/4
|
March 25-26
|
Sebring International Raceway
|
3.74-mile road course
|
5/6
|
May 12-13
|
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
|
2.439-mile road course |
7
|
May 26
|
Lucas Oil Raceway |
0.686-mile oval |
8/9
|
June 17-18 |
Road America
|
4.014-mile road course
|
10/11
|
July 1-2
|
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
|
2.258-mile road course |
12/13
|
July 15-16
|
Streets of Toronto
|
1.786-mile street circuit
|
14/15
|
August 26-27
|
Circuit of The Americas
|
3.41-mile road course
|
16/17/18
|
September 2-3
|
Portland International Raceway
|
1.967-mile road course
|
Spring Training will take place at Sebring International Raceway on February 27-28, with the annual USF Pro Fall Combine taking place at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course in October of 2023. Six pre-event test days include the Indianapolis Motor Speedway May 11, Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park May 25, Road America June 15, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course June 29, Circuit of The Americas August 24 and Portland International Raceway August 31.
SERIES PARTNERS
Cooper Tires, AMR INDYCAR Safety Team, Bell Helmets, Carl Haas Auto, Cosworth, Dynamic Suspensions, Elite Engines, Hi-Tide Boat Lifts, Hyperco, INDYCAR Ministry, Kids On Track, Lucas Oil School of Racing, PFC Brakes, RACER, Racing Communications, Rotiform, Sabelt, SimMetric Driver Performance Labs, Tatuus, Tilton, Toyota Gazoo Racing New Zealand, VP Racing Fuels
COVERAGE
Coverage of USF Pro 2000 will feature worldwide live streaming. Full race shows and highlight shows will be available on the series YouTube channel after each event.
CAR | ENGINE
Significant chassis enhancements took place in 2022 with new cars in USF Pro 2000 and USF2000. The Tatuus IP-22 in USF Pro 2000 and the USF-22 in USF2000 featured new advancements to extend competition life to at least 2027.
The 2022 upgrades included a new, wider monocoque with the addition of a Halo-type device as well as new sidepods, underfloor, engine cover, air ducts, damper covers and fuel cell.
The IP-22 is a full carbon composite and aluminum honeycomb monocoque manufactured by Tatuus Racing meeting current FIA 2020 GEN 1 with Halo-type device and safety standards including side impact panels, front and rear impact structures, HANS-compliant INDYCAR head restraint, front and rear wheel tethers, upgraded uprights and upgraded front bulkhead structure for USA specific oval racing circuits.
The 2.0-liter Mazda developed MZR-PM18A (250 HP) is prepared by Elite Engines, with a maximum torque of 190 ft. lbs. utilizing a fly-by-wire throttle system and Cosworth SQ6 engine management system.
The IP-22 utilizes the same base chassis as USF2000 and USF Juniors allowing drivers and teams to continue to advance up the world's most complete driver development system with a forward-thinking three-step concept.
VP is the Official Fuel of the USF Pro 2000 series.
TIRES
Slick/rain tires co-branded COOPER/USFPRO2000 as manufactured by Cooper Tires.
POINT SYSTEM
ROAD/STREET COURSES
1st............................... 30 8th...............................13 15th............................ 6
2nd.............................. 25 9th................................12 16th............................ 5
3rd............................... 22 10th..............................11 17th............................ 4
4th............................... 19 11th..............................10 18th............................ 3
5th............................... 17 12th.............................. 9 19th............................ 2
6th............................... 15 13th.............................. 8 20th+.......................... 1
7th............................... 14 14th.............................. 7
One additional point is awarded for pole position, most laps led and fastest race lap
OVALS
1st............................... 45 8th...............................20 15th............................ 9
2nd.............................. 38 9th................................18 16th............................ 8
3rd............................... 33 10th..............................17 17th............................ 6
4th............................... 29 11th..............................15 18th............................ 5
5th............................... 26 12th..............................14 19th............................ 3
6th............................... 23 13th..............................12 20th+.......................... 2
7th............................... 21 14th..............................11
One additional point is awarded for pole position, most laps led and fastest race lap
TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS
1st............................... 22 6th................................ 8
2nd..............................18 7th................................. 6
3rd.............................. 15 8th................................. 4
4th.............................. 12 9th................................. 2
5th.............................. 10 10th+............................. 1
Single car teams will receive three bonus points as an equivalency to multi-car teams. Only the two best results will count in the team championship for teams fielding more than two entries.
CURRENT TRACK RECORDS
Streets of St. Petersburg
|
Qualifying: Sting Ray Robb
|
1:07.6015 = 95.856 mph
|
10/24/2020
|
|
Race: Sting Ray Robb
|
1:08.1141 = 95.134 mph
|
10/25/2020
|
Barber Motorsports Park |
Qualifying: Braden Eves
|
1:16.1542 = 108.727 mph
|
4/16/2021
|
|
Race: Christian Rasmussen
|
1:16.6098 = 108.080 mph
|
4/18/2021
|
Indianapolis Motor Speedway RC |
Qualifying: Rasmus Lindh
|
1:18.9953 = 111.151 mph |
5/10/2019 |
|
Race: Kyle Kirkwood
|
1:19.3332 = 110.677 mph
|
5/10/2019
|
Lucas Oil Raceway
|
Qualifying: Matthew Brabham
|
19.744 = 125.081 mph
|
5/25/2013
|
|
Qualifying: Matthew Brabham
|
39.526 = 124.961 mph +
|
5/25/2013
|
|
Race: Matthew Brabham
|
20.174 = 122.415 mph
|
5/25/2013
|
Road America |
Qualifying: David Malukas |
1:59.8151 = 120.606 mph |
6/22/2018 |
|
Race: Toby Sowery |
2:01.3306 = 119.099 mph |
6/22/2018 |
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course |
Qualifying: David Malukas |
1:14.8576 = 108.590 mph |
7/28/2018 |
|
Race: Rinus VeeKay |
1:16.3310 = 106.494 mph |
7/29/2018 |
Streets of Toronto
|
Qualifying: Kyle Kirkwood
|
1:07.3800 = 95.423 mph
|
7/12/2019
|
|
Race: Rasmus Lindh
|
1:07.0213 = 95.934 mph
|
7/14/2019
|
World Wide Technology Raceway
|
Qualifying: Rasmus Lindh
|
31.446 = 143.102 mph
|
8/23/2019
|
|
Race: Kory Enders
|
31.4483 = 143.092 mph
|
8/24/2019
|
Portland International Raceway
|
Qualifying: Rinus VeeKay
|
1:05.8973 = 107.294 mph
|
9/1/2018
|
|
Race: Rinus VeeKay
|
1.07.1597 = 105.277 mph
|
9/1/2018
|
+ = two lap average
MILESTONES (Road to Indy Era 2010-2022):
Most Starts |
Sting Ray Robb
|
61 |
|
Most Wins |
Matthew Brabham |
13 |
|
Most Poles |
Jack Hawksworth |
11 |
|
Most Podiums |
Connor De Phillippi |
19 |
|
Most Top-Fives
|
Parker Thompson
|
35
|
|
Most Top-10s
|
Sting Ray Robb
|
56
|
|
PAST CHAMPIONS:
Year |
Champion |
Team |
2022
|
Louis Foster
|
Exclusive Autosport
|
2021
|
Christian Rasmussen
|
Jay Howard Driver Development
|
2020
|
Sting Ray Robb
|
Juncos Racing
|
2019
|
Kyle Kirkwood
|
RP Motorsport USA
|
2018
|
Rinus VeeKay
|
Juncos Racing
|
2017
|
Victor Franzoni
|
Juncos Racing
|
2016 |
Aaron Telitz |
Team Pelfrey |
2015 |
Santiago Urrutia |
Team Pelfrey |
2014 |
Spencer Pigot |
Juncos Racing |
2013 |
Matthew Brabham |
Andretti Autosport
|
2012 |
Jack Hawksworth |
Team Pelfrey |
2011 |
Tristan Vautier |
JDC MotorSports |
2010 |
Conor Daly |
Juncos Racing |
2009 |
Adam Christodoulou |
JDC MotorSports |
2008 |
John Edwards |
AIM Autosport |
2007 |
Dane Cameron |
JDC MotorSports |
2006 |
Adrian Carrio |
World Speed Motorsports |
2005 |
Raphael Matos |
Ocean Tomo Racing |
2004 * |
Michael McDowell |
Valley Motor Center |
2003 |
Luis Schiavo |
Racers Edge Motorsports |
2002 |
Guy Cosmo |
Racers Edge Motorsports |
2001 |
Scott Bradley |
World Speed Motorsports |
2000 |
Bernardo Martinez |
Team Bucknum |
1999 + |
Joey Hand |
S3 Racing |
1998 |
Ian Lacy |
S3 Racing |
1997 |
Tony Buffomante |
Valley Motor Center |
1996 |
Rich Stephens |
Miller Team Racing |
1995 |
Mark Rodrigues |
Valley Motor Center |
1994 |
Brad Loehner |
Loehner Racing |
1993 |
Ben Massey |
World Speed Motorsports |
1992 |
Chuck West |
World Speed Motorsports |
1991 |
Mark Rodrigues |
Valley Motor Center |
|
|
|
(*) Series switched from tube-frame cars to carbon-fiber cars in 2004.
(+) First season of unified national Star Mazda Championship series. From 1991 – 1999 the series crowned regional and oval-track champions.