Corry wins behind the pace car in USF2000 race one in Toronto

Photo: Gavin Baker Photography

USF2000’s first race at Toronto featured lengthy running behind the pace car, which ultimately ensured Pabst Racing’s Sam Corry was the winner.

His team-mate Max Garcia started on pole, and after resisting an opening corner attack from Corry he led the way though the first 12 laps of the race.

There were crashes and pitters on lap two, but no need for a caution period, and behind the top two were Velocity Racing Development’s Max Taylor, Exclusive Autosport’s Evan Cooley and Jay Howard Driver Development’s debuting Liam McNeilly after he passed fellow series newcomer Eddie Beswick on lap six.

Exclusive driver Beswick then lost out to JHDD’s Michael Costello at the end of lap eight, but moved back ahead of him on lap 10 as Costello crashed out. This time a caution period was required, and racing resumed on lap 13 with Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing Development’s Elliot Cox in sixth and Beswick in seventh.

Garcia left it late to return to racing speed, and it was a plan that cost him as Corry managed to get past into the lead and immediately pulled away once he was ahead.

Cooley passed Taylor for third, but they then swapped places again later in the lap.

Taylor went down the inside of Garcia for second on lap 14, and the lap after DEForce Racing’s Quinn Armstrong nudged Beswick in a three-wide moment which sent him into McNeilly and put both of them out of the race. They blamed one another for the incident, as Armstrong continued in eighth place, and a caution period was called for due to their cars being firmly connected together at turn five.

The recovery filled up the last quarter of the 20-lap race, meaning Corry led home Taylor, Garcia, Cooley and Cox. DEForce’s Nicolas Giaffone made his way into sixth before the race was neutralised.

The incident also helped JHDD’s Evagoras Papasavvas, who had pitted with wing damage early on and finished a lap down but in 12th place thanks to the retirees.

Race result (20 laps)