Team Pelfrey F1600 Duo Get Team USA Nod
"I am incredibly honored to be selected for the Team USA interview process, just to be considered as a candidate is an achievement in my career," said Osborne. "I can't thank Team Pelfrey and all others who have given me the opportunity to pursue my dream of making a career in auto racing. I look forward to meeting Jeremy Shaw and the entire Team USA supporters, as well as the other candidates on Friday at Mid-Ohio."
"It's an honor to be nominated as a candidate for the Team USA Scholarship. Many great drivers have come through this program and I look to follow in their footsteps. It would be a dream come true to represent the USA at this year's Formula Ford Festival and Walter Hayes trophy," added Kotyk. "From track time to a strong field of competition, FRP and the F1600 Series offer a great platform. I look to take what I have learned from Team Pelfrey and the Pro Series into the coming events in preparation for the selection process over the coming weeks."
The Team USA Scholarship is one of the most successful and longest established driver development programs in the world. Almost a quarter of the drivers in this year’s Verizon IndyCar Series (five out of 21 full-season campaigners: Charlie Kimball, JR Hildebrand, Josef Newgarden, Conor Daly and Spencer Pigot), plus IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship stand-outs Dane Cameron, Joel Miller, Joey Hand, Andy Lally and Bryan Sellers, along with IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Championship leader Trent Hindman, are all Team USA alumni.
The first stage of the selection process will comprise a series of interviews to be conducted before a panel of judges during this week’s Honda Indy 200 Verizon IndyCar Series event in Lexington, Ohio.
Kotyk, 23, drives the No. 81 Mygale/Honda and is from Atlantic Beach, Florida. David Osborne, 21, drives the No. 82 entry and is out of Cincinnati Ohio. Both drivers will miss Friday practice for Team USA functions and arrive in Pittsburgh in time for Saturday morning qualifying.