Lochie Hughes takes lead of USF2000 championship with Indy podium
Lochie Hughes claimed a podium finish and the lead of the championship standings in the first race of the USF2000 weekend at the Indianapolis Grand Prix.
Lochie Hughes, Sam Corry, and Nikita Johnson celebrate on the podium in Indianapolis. (Gavin Baker Photography / USF Pro Championships)
Sam Corry started 12th on the grid and positioned his VRD Racing machine perfectly to take advantage and strike when the cars ahead made contact.
"Everyone loves a comeback story," said Corry, from Cornelius, North Carolina.
"I just tried to stay out of trouble at the beginning and just try to hit my marks. There was some carnage in front of me and I got out of that clean and led the last lap."
"Again, just trying to hit my marks, and I did and it came to me."
Sam Corry celebrates victory in pit lane. (Gavin Baker Photography / USF Pro Championships)
Queenslander Lochie Hughes crossed the line in second place, just inches ahead of polesitter Nikita Johnson.
"It was a pretty good race," said Hughes.
"To start from 11th, which is not ideal, and come through to lead at one point, you can’t ask for more really."
"It’s great points for the championship. It was a crazy race. We made contact with a few different cars. To come out second in the end, I am very happy.”
Four different drivers led throughout the race, with Corry into the top spot on the last lap when Mac Clark and Simon Sikes came together.
The USF2000 field runs almost five-wide at the start of race one. (Gavin Baker Photography / USF Pro Championships)
Nikita Johnson led away from pole, with the field compressed into the first corner, at times almost running five-wide.
Kiwi Jacob Doulas spun out and was collected by several other runners, with three cars left stranded on track after turn one. Jorge Garciarce and Douglas were both able to resume the race, while Lucas Mann was stopped further along the track.
It was side-by-side for the lead between Nikita Johnson and Simon Sikes when the full course yellow fell, bringing out the safety car to recover Mann's stranded car.
Johnson led away well at the restart, but the field compressed once again into turn one, with Lochie Hughes up into third and threatening a three-way battle for the lead. The action didn't last long, with Max Garcia airborne after collision at turn seven, bringing out the safety car once again.
It was on for young and old at the restart, with polesitter Johnson running wide at turn one, and Aussie Hughes into the lead past Simon Sikes. The pair duked it out over the following lap, with the wheel-to-wheel pressure allowing Mac Clark and his distinctive #1 DEForce Racing car into the lead, with Hughes falling to fourth behind Sam Corry.
With just one lap remaining, Clark and Sikes collided into turn one, gifting the lead and race victory to Corry. Hughes took second, with Johnson recovering to third just inches behind the Gold Coast native.
Kiwi Jacob Doulas was 15th and the final classified driver after his early-race drama.
Aussie Hughes now leads the USF2000 standings on 129 points, ahead of Simon Sikes on 115 points, with Douglas ninth in the championship.
The USF2000 weekend resumes with race two at 10pm Saturday (AEST) and race three at 2am Sunday.
