Schrage wins IMS race two as Jeffers seizes USF2000 lead

Photo: Gavin Baker Photography

Thomas Schrage became the second first-time USF2000 winner of the weekend in race two on the Indianapolis road course.

Schrage took the win from VRD Racing team-mate Teddy Musella, while third place Jack Jeffers moved into the championship lead.

A strong race for Lucas Fecury brought him from the tail end of the grid up to sixth before a problem on the last lap dropped him back to the back of the field.

After starting third on the grid, Schrage found a way past Jeffers on the opening lap, bringing Simon Sikes with him and demoting Jeffers to fourth. He immediately put the pressure on Musella ahead and passed for the race lead on the second lap. Before Musella could fight back, the yellow flags were waved for an off for Timothy Carel at turn seven.

Racing resumed on lap four and it was Jeffers who was on the attack. He went side by side with Musella, giving Schrage some breathing room. Musella held off Jeffers, and the Exclusive Autosport driver fell into a fight with Caleb Gafrarar, Evan Cooley and Sikes. They ran four-wide on approach to turn one and were squeezed together. Gafrarar and Cooley, trapped on the inside, made contact and locked together, heading into the run off and bringing out the pace car again.

Drama immediately resumed on the restart when Cooley lost control of his car at the first corner, spinning and collecting Christian Cameron. Both cars were able to continue, but Cooley was missing his rear wing.

The second pace car had put Jeffers back on Musella’s tail, but neither driver at the front of the order put a wheel wrong. Schrage finished 0.9501s clear of Musella, who was in turn 0.4771s clear of Jeffers. G3 Argyros came through to take fourth ahead of Sikes

Sikes spent the closing stages of the race trying to defend against Brad Majman and Fecury.

Fecury had started on the penultimate row of the grid and slowly worked his way up through the order. By the final restart he was seventh, directly behind Majman. They went three wide with Sikes at the restart, with Fecury coming through to take sixth. But after turn seven on the final lap Fecury suddenly slowed and plummeted down the order. He came home 14th, the final driver on the lead lap.

The problem promoted Majman back to sixth ahead of Ayrton Houk. Eddie Beswick, Patrico Gonzalez, and Wian Boshoff completed the top 10.

Race results (15 laps)