TJ Speed’s Ariel Elkin wins chaotic USF Pro 2000 opener at Indianapolis

Photo: Gavin Baker Photography

TJ Speed’s Ariel Elkin won a chaotic first race of USF Pro 2000’s triple-header on Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s road course.

The Israeli started on pole alongside Velocity Racing Development’s Max Taylor, with Pabst Racing’s Jacob Douglas and points leader Max Garcia on row two of the grid.

It was three-wide for third place going into the opening corner of the race, while Douglas made a big lock-up as he tried to go around the outside of Elkin for the lead. He went off and rejoined in second, as VRD’s Frankie Mossman lost his front wing and had to pit.

Taylor ended lap one in third ahead of Exclusive Autosport’s Mac Clark and Turn 3 Motorsport’s Alessandro de Tullio, and shortly after a caution period was called for so Mossman’s wing could be retrieved from the turn one run-off.

Racing resumed on lap five, and Douglas made it look easy as he dived down the inside of Elkin at turn one. He concluded the lap 0.65 seconds ahead, and was a second clear by lap seven. The gap between the top two sat at 1.36s when a second caution period began on lap 11 due to DEForce Racing’s Owen Tangavelou stopping off-track near turn seven.

Mossman pitted again, this time for fresh tyres, and the next restart came on lap 14 of 25. At this point Pabst’s Michael Costello was fifth, having passed de Tullio on lap six, and Garcia had gone from his lap two position of ninth back up to seventh by passing TJ Speed’s Sebastian Manson and Jace Denmark.

Taylor went deep on the restart, and Clark tried to get his nose alongside at turn two but then had to spend the rest of that lap and the next defending. Douglas had a turn seven lock-up on lap 15, then slowed at the final corner. He did the same on the next two laps, then pitted on lap 18 after having fallen right down the field.

Elkin took the lead back, as title contender de Tullio picked up damage that sent him down the order then into the pits. Exclusive’s Carson Etter also pitted with suspected technical issues.

Turn 3’s debutant Brady Golan had made it into the top 10 but then crashed out at turn one on lap 19, causing another caution period. The final restart came on lap 21, and Taylor took too much speed into turn one. He slid through the corner and Clark passed him at turn two, as Costello watched on behind.

Garcia got into fifth via a three-way move with Turn 3’s Nicholas Monteiro and Denmark, and Mossman was up to eighth before pitting again.

Elkin kept Clark behind thereon for his maiden win, and Garcia passed Costello on the penultimate lap to further grow his points lead over de Tullio. He rejoined the field to gain some places, despite being three laps down, and similarly Douglas had a second trip to the pits so finished a lapped 14th.

Race results (25 laps)