Hargrove takes USF2000 opener at Sebring

Scott Hargrove drove to a convincing victory in the opening round of the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda at Sebring International Raceway.

Hargrove, 18, from Vancouver, British Columbia, qualified his Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing car on the pole position with a lap record and finished the 12-lap race almost seven seconds clear of his nearest challenger.

"I am kind of speechless about how the race went," Hargrove said. "The car was just phenomenal; this whole week has been phenomenal. The Cape Motorsports guys have given me an awesome package. Coming into this week I had a lot of confidence from the Cooper Tires Winterfest, and having a win in the regular season means a lot."

Fellow Canadian Garett Grist drove from ninth on the grid to second, passing Danilo Estrela on the final lap for the runner-up spot. Estrela finished third. Eight different teams were represented among the top-10 finishers.