The 2014 Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires kicked off today with Juncos Racing’s Spencer Pigot setting the fastest lap in both practice sessions on the 1.8-mile street course of the Allied Building Products Grand Prix of St. Pete. Teammates José Gutiérrez and Kyle Kaiser finished in the top-five showcasing a strong performance for the team.

Dress rehearsals are over, and now it is show time for Rising Star Racing (RSR) drivers Josef Newgarden, Neil Alberico, and Spencer Pigot. The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg marks the first race of the year for Newgarden’s Verizon IndyCar season as well as a double-header season opener for Alberico and Pigot in the Pro Mazda Championship presented by Cooper Tires.

Three-time champion JDC MotorSports commences the chase for another Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires title this weekend (March 29-30) with a skilled four-car effort in Florida. Ryan Booth, Kyle Connery, Michael Johnson, and Vicky Piria will get behind the wheels, focused on adding to the Minnesota-based squad's winning pedigree during the season-opening doubleheader, as part of the full Mazda Road to Indy program on the streets of St. Petersburg.

Andretti Autosport's Pro Mazda Presented by Cooper Tires duo will start off the 2014 season with a double header on the streets of St. Petersburg.

Michele Bumgarner will compete in the Pro Mazda Championship presented Cooper Tires season with World Speed Motorsports for the 2014 season. This will be Bumgarner’s first full season on the second step of the Mazda Road to Indy ladder.