Andretti Autosport Wins Second USF2000 Team Title
Drivers Spencer Pigot and Zach Veach recorded a total of four wins, seven poles and 13 podium finishes to capture the team USF2000 title with a lead of more than 50 points in the standings. Veach's chief mechanic, Ron Weaver, received the series' 2011 "Mechanic of the Year" award.
In the final rounds of the season, Pigot earned his third race win of the season and finished second in championship points. Pigot, the 17-year-old California native who currently resides in Windermere, Fla., also finished his impressive season with eight podiums and four pole positions. Pigot was also honored at Baltimore as a recipient of the 2011 Team USA Scholarship. As part of the program, Pigot will compete in the premier Duratec class at the Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch in Kent, England on Oct. 15 and 16. He was also awarded the opportunity to drive in the final round of the MSA Formula Ford Championship of Great Britain at Silverstone on Oct. 8 and 9. Pigot was named a Team USA Scholarship winner in 2010 and competed in the Formula Ford Festival as part of the program, qualifying on pole for his heat, finishing fourth in the final, and setting the fastest race lap.
Sixteen-year-old Veach, from Stockdale, Ohio, finished fourth in driver championship points with one win, five podiums and three poles. The talented young driver captured the inaugural Cooper Tires presents the USF2000 Winterfest Championship title earlier this year with two race wins. In 2010, Veach finished fifth in the overall USF2000 driver championship points, despite starting the season two races behind the rest of the field. He secured eight top-five finishes throughout the season, helping Andretti Autosport clinch the team championship title. Veach was recently featured in ESPN The Magazine as a NEXT athlete. The Sept. 19 issue is available on newsstands now.
Sanctioned by INDYCAR, the USF2000 National Championship, presented by Cooper Racing Tires and powered by Mazda, is one of two series part of both the INDYCAR's Mazda Road to Indy ladder system and the MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development driver program. Andretti Autosport is currently the only INDYCAR team with entries in all levels of the Mazda Road to Indy.
MICHAEL ANDRETTI, CHAIRMAN, PRESIDENT AND CEO, ANDRETTI AUTOSPORT:
"Winning the team championship for the second year in a row was a great way to cap off the USF2000 season for Spencer and Zach. They've each brought their own strengths to the team, and I've personally seen them grow as drivers throughout the year. I'm proud of them for their accomplishments on track and I know they have even more success ahead of them."
SPENCER PIGOT, DRIVER, #8 TEAM MAZDASPEED/SKIP BARBER:
"It was really a great year in USF2000. From getting comfortable with the car at the beginning of the season, to a race win at the end of the season in Baltimore, I think we accomplished a lot as a team. I have to thank everyone who helped me this year: MAZDASPEED, Skip Barber and of course Andretti Autosport, along with all of my sponsors."
ZACH VEACH, DRIVER, #7 TEAM ZAKOSI DATA BACKUP:
"I'm proud to be a part of the championship team again this year. We've been so focused and worked really hard all season long, so it's great to see that work pay off. We didn't have the finish we had hoped for at the end of the season, but overall it has been a good learning experience for me. From here, we can start working on plans for next year. Thanks to my team for all of their hard work this year and Zakosi Data Backup for their support."