ELKHART LAKE, Wis. – Clearly scoring his first-ever USF Pro 2000 Presented by Continental Tire victory yesterday wasn’t enough for G3 Argyros. The talented young racer from Newport Beach, Calif., started from pole position in this morning’s second leg of The Andersen Companies Grand Prix of Road America Presented by Elite Engines, led every lap and posted the fastest race lap for good measure to become the first driver to accumulate a maximum score of 33 points this season. Oh, and for good measure, Argyros’ latest triumph capped a tremendous weekend for the locally based Pabst Racing team which also won two of the three USF2000 races.
Argyros was trailed closely throughout today’s all-green 15-lap race by series points leader Jack Jeffers (Exclusive Autosport), from San Antonio, Texas, while Andres Cardenas, from Lima, Peru, also remained in very close contention for JHDD powered by ECR.
After starting a career-best third yesterday, Argyros lined up on the inside of the front row for the second leg of the doubleheader by virtue of having recorded the best of each driver’s second-fastest laps during the lone qualifying session on Friday. It was enough to continue the Californian’s sequence of firsts with a maiden Continental Tire Pole Award.
Argyros made a fine start to open up a slight lead over Jeffers on the opening lap, but it soon became apparent that he was merely pacing himself. Jeffers had closed the gap by the time the leaders completed their second lap around the high-speed and supremely challenging 4.014-mile Road America circuit, and Cardenas, too, was right in the mix after passing Florida-based Brazilian Leonardo Escorpioni (Turn 3 Motorsport) on the third lap.
The top three soon began to distance themselves from a pack of cars dicing over fourth position, but the leading trio neither made any significant mistakes nor was able to get close enough to the car in front to effect a pass. Argyros’ strategy of being careful not to abuse his Continental tires came into full focus during the closing stages as he gradually increased his pace. He recorded the fastest lap of the race – slightly quicker than his best from yesterday – with just one lap remaining before flashing across the finish line just over six tenths of a second to the good.
The fight over fourth place was perhaps even more intense as VRD Racing’s Frankie Mossman, from Newport Beach, Fla., sneaked past Escorpioni on the final lap. Thomas Schrage, from Bethel, Ohio, was next for TJ Speed Motorsports, ensuring that six different teams were represented in the top six positions.
Teddy Musella, from Orlando, Fla., finished seventh for VRD Racing after finding a way past TJ Speed Motorsport’s Christian Cameron, from Sonoma, Calif., with five laps remaining.
Sebastian Manson, from Christchurch, New Zealand, claimed the Tilton Hard Charger Award for Turn 3 Motorsport after making up three positions from his grid placing of 13th.
The PFC Award for the winning car owner once again was claimed by Augie Pabst.
The results of today’s race will remain provisional until VP completes and verifies post-race laboratory fuel analysis of the teams’ samples.
The championship chase will continue at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, on the Fourth of July weekend, once again in support of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.
Provisional championship points after seven of 18 rounds:
1. Jack Jeffers, 155
2. G3 Argyros, 135
3. Leonardo Escorpioni, 131
4. Frankie Mossman, 130
5. Michael Costello, 125
6. Andres Cardenas, 113
7. Thomas Schrage, 100
8. Teddy Musella, 88
9. Brady Golan, 80
10. Jacob Douglas, 78
G3 Argyros (#18 Positive Beverage/Elephant Cooperation-Pabst Racing Tatuus IP-22): “Well, they say you get the family you're given and the family you have chosen. And I chose probably the best family in this entire paddock. And it shows by how much work and dedication we put into the program, how amazing the coaching is and how well we get to know each other. With three to go, my incredible engineer said ‘hey, run a 101.8’ and then I just went and got to work. It was the carrot that I needed to go and run away and just make it a pretty decisive one. From start to finish, I knew that we had the same beautiful, amazing car that we had to win yesterday. And today from first, it was a little bit easier. Lap to lap at Pabst's home track is very meaningful. And then especially to sweep and then not only Pro, but also how well our USF2000 boys have done over there. This has been a weekend for the books.”
Jack Jeffers (#92 USF Pro Championships/Exclusive Autosport Tatuus IP-22): “Championship points definitely came to my mind in thinking about the big picture. But we always come here to win. We work hard to win. So, the whole goal was to try to put some pressure on him and maybe see if he can make a bobble and then try to get by him that way. But he stayed pretty consistent. He had a few off tracks, but I couldn't capitalize on them. It was a good result, but we’re always expecting more.”
Andres Cardenas (#6 Java House/Splenda-JHDD powered by ECR Tatuus IP-22): “It's really good points for the championship with this podium. We want to recover from a difficult start to the championship, and I am really happy to come away with two podiums. We can build on it. I know, for example, Mid-Ohio is a little bit tough for us so I'm looking forward to it.”