INDYCARNATION

General:

Drivers today have a clearly defined ladder system as they aspire to reach the top echelons of the sport and the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda represents the first official step on the Mazda Road to Indy. Sanctioned by INDYCAR, the series provides a vital training ground for rising stars in addition to a scholarship package from Mazda to advance to Star Mazda, the next rung on the ladder. While debuting a new generation in 2010, the series boasts a rich history as a revival of the highly regarded national USF2000 series which ran from 1990 through 2006, launching the careers of many of today’s top drivers. It is also part of the prestigious MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development Ladder which assists young drivers in advancing from the Skip Barber Racing School to USF2000.

Administrator:

The Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda is administered by Andersen Promotions. Principals of Andersen Promotions include Dan Andersen, Owner/CEO who founded the original USF2000 National Championship; John Andersen, Pit/Paddock Director; Michelle Kish, Series Manager; Paul Walter, Race Director; Craig Brooks, Technical Director; and Johnny Unser, Technical and Driver Consultant (courtesy of Cooper Tires).

Andersen Promotions Public Relations

10101 U.S. Highway 41 North Tamy Valkosky

Palmetto, FL  34221                         949.459.9172 Office 

941.723.3900                                                 949.842.3946 Cellular

info@usf2000.com                         pr@usf2000.com

First Event:

The series’ first event was a double-header on March 27/28, 2010, at the street circuit in St. Petersburg, Fla., supporting the IZOD IndyCar Series’ Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Both races were won by Sage Karam of Andretti Autosport who went on to become series champion.

Series Sponsors:

Mazda, Cooper Tires, Elite Engines, Carl Haas Automobile Imports, Van Diemen Elan, Performance Friction Brakes, Dynamic Suspensions, VP Racing Fuels, Cosworth, Gerling Sports Travel, Tilton, Racing Communications, Stäubli and the INDYCAR Ministry.

Drivers:

The Cooper Tires Presents the USF2000 National Championship Powered by Mazda is open to drivers age 16 and up (with 15-year-olds eligible through approval by INDYCAR). Drivers who have honed their skills in USF2000 include Indy 500 winners Dan Wheldon, Sam Hornish Jr. and Buddy Rice, rising stars JR Hildebrand and Charlie Kimball, and sports car talents Andy Lally, Memo Rojas and Memo Gidley.

Cars:

There are two classes of competition within the USF2000 series - Championship and National. 

The Championship Class features open-wheel, single-seat, open-cockpit cars with front and rear wings. As a cost constraint, the rules package requires a one-make chassis. Only Van Diemen Elan cars manufactured from 2001 through 2011 are eligible to compete. This allows teams to amortize their purchase over multiple years. The cars are low-budget, easy to work on mechanically and offer multiple tuning adjustments with cornering speeds matching the next level car (Star Mazda). The cars are powered by the Mazda MZR 2-liter powerplant – a four-cylinder, double-overhead-cam, fuel-injected, 2000cc engine generating approximately 170 horsepower and capable of powering cars to speeds of 150 mph. All Mazda MZR engines are prepared and sealed by Elite Engines of West Bend, Wis.

The National Class offers a cost-effective alternative program with the opportunity for advancement to the Championship Class. National Class cars are open-wheel, single-seat, open-cockpit cars with slightly less horsepower. All National Class entries utilize Van Diemen chassis complying to current SCCA Formula Continental class regulations with a manufacture date of 1999 or newer. The cars are powered by a Mazda or Zetec 2-liter powerplant. Carl Haas Auto is the official parts supplier to the series. For 2012, the class has been expanded to include SCCA Enterprises’ Formula Enterprises (FE) cars which conform to SCCA General Competition Rules and Specifications (GCR).

Tires:

Thirteen-inch slick and rain tires co-branded COOPER/F2000 as manufactured by Cooper Tires are mandatory in both classes.

Prize Money and Awards:

The Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda will distribute more than $500,000 in prizes and awards in 2012. The winner of the Championship Class will receive a scholarship package from Mazda to advance to Star Mazda competition in 2013. The winner of the National Class will receive a scholarship package to advance to the Championship Class the following year. 

Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda Schedule:

March 15-16  Races 1/2 Sebring International Raceway

March 24-25  Races 3/4 Streets of St. Petersburg

May 26  Race 5 Lucas Oil Raceway

August 4-5  Races 6/7 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course

August 17-18  Races 8/9/10 Road America

Sept. 1-2           Races 11/12 Streets of Baltimore

Sept. 14-15  Races 13/14 Virginia International Raceway

Cooper Tires Winterfest Championship (six race mini-series):

February 6-7  Sebring International Raceway

February 11-12  Palm Beach International Raceway

Series Open Tests/Oval Clinic:  

May 2-3  Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course

May 4  Oval Clinic at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

May 5  Lucas Oil Raceway

June 25-26  Road America

Date TBA  Virginia International Raceway

Additional Benefits:

The Mazda Road to Indy Summit and Oval Clinic is a three-part educational and promotional program held during the season. The platform not only provides valuable education on a variety of topics including marketing/business, media training, career growth and development, social media and a comprehensive introduction to oval track racing, but also features activities such as a networking reception, shop tour and question and answer session with an IZOD IndyCar Series team and high-profile autograph sessions. Additionally, the winner of the “Night Before the 500” will pace the Firestone Freedom 100 Indy Lights field on Carburetion Day and be interviewed in front of the Indianapolis 500 crowd only minutes before the race.

Point System:

Per race, for drivers competing in the Championship class: 30 points - 1st, 25 - 2nd, 22 - 3rd, 19 - 4th, 17 - 5th, 15 - 6th, 14 - 7th, 13 - 8th, 12 - 9th, 11 - 10th, 10 - 11th, 9 - 12th, 8 - 13th, 7 - 14th, 6 - 15th, 5 - 16th, 4 - 17th, 3 - 18th, 2 - 19th, 1 - 20th and beyond.

One bonus point is awarded to the winner of the pole position.

One bonus point is awarded to the driver who led the most laps.

One bonus point is awarded to the driver who set the fastest lap during the race.Per race, for drivers competing in the National class: 22 points - 1st, 18 - 2nd, 15 - 3rd, 12 - 4th, 10 -5th, 8 - 6th, 6 - 7th, 4 - 8th, 2 - 9th, 1 - 10th and beyond.