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2023 USF2000 Championship

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2023 USF2000 Championship
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The 2023 USF2000 Championship presented by Cooper Tires was the fourteenth season of the USF2000 Championship since its revival in 2010. When the top rung of the Road to Indy ladder system, Indy Lights, was bought by Penske Entertainment (owners of IndyCar) in 2021 and the lower level series changed sanctioning to the United States Auto Club, changes were made to the other championships in the ladder. This, together with the Indy Lights being rebranded to Indy NXT, effectively ended the "Road to Indy" branding, with the three championships below Indy NXT now collectively called "USF Pro Championships Presented by Cooper Tires".[1] The USF2000 Championship served as the middle rung of this ladder.

Simon Sikes won the Drivers' Championship at the final race weekend at Portland with two races to spare. His team, Pabst Racing, won their second consecutive and fifth all-time championship.

Drivers and teams

[edit]
Team No. Drivers Rounds
DC Autosport 57 United States Carson Etter[2] 11–13, 16–18
68 United States Ethan Ho[3] 3–7, 9–13, 16–18
DEForce Racing 1 Canada Mac Clark[4] All
10 Mexico Jorge Garciarce[5] All
11 United States Brady Golan[2] 11–13
Brazil Lucas Fecury[6] 16–18
12 United States Maxwell Jamieson[7] All
Exclusive Autosport 90 New Zealand Jacob Douglas[8] 1–7
United States Thomas Schrage[9] 11–13, 16–18
91 United States Joey Brienza[10] 1–2, 8, 14–15
92 United States Nicholas d'Orlando[11] 1–2
Canada Lucas Mann[12] 5–7
United States Jack Jeffers[13] 9–10
93 United States Avery Towns[14] 1–15
95 United States Chase Gardner[15] 1–15
Future Star Racing 56 United States Andre Castro[16] 1–2
58 United States Trey Burke[17] 1–2
Jay Howard Driver Development 6 Cyprus Evagoras Papasavvas[18] All
7 United States Al Morey[19] All
8 Australia Lochie Hughes[20] All
9 Canada Louka St-Jean[21] 1–4
United States Dane Scott[22] 9–10
United States Logan Adams[2] 11–15
United States Ava Dobson[23] 16–18
Pabst Racing 22 United States Simon Sikes[15] All
23 New Zealand Jacob Douglas[24] 9–18
24 United States Max Garcia[25][26] 3–18
Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing Development 67 United States Elliot Cox[27] All
Velocity Racing Development 2 Canada Nico Christodoulou[28] 14–15
14 United States Sam Corry[29] All
17 United States Nikita Johnson[30] All
18 United States Danny Dyszelski[31] 1–13
19 United States Gordon Scully[32] All
33 United States Max Taylor[12] 5–7, 9–13, 16–18
97 United States Zack Ping[33] 1–7, 9–13
  • TJ Speed Motorsports took over two cars from Cape Motorsports to enter the championship in 2023, but ultimately decided against it.[34][35]
  • Noah Ping was signed to compete for Velocity Racing Development, but dropped out and instead signed with VRD-partnered team Arden in GB3.[36][37]

Schedule

[edit]

The 2023 schedule was revealed on October 17, 2022. It featured two street circuits, five road courses and one oval round. The championship returned to Sebring for the first time since 2013. All rounds except the weekends at Sebring and Indianapolis Raceway Park supported the IndyCar Series.[38]

Rd. Date Race name Track Location
1 March 4–5 Cooper Tires Grand Prix of St. Petersburg  R  Streets of St. Petersburg St. Petersburg, Florida
2 Discount Tire Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
3 March 25–26 Cooper Tires Grand Prix of Sebring  R  Sebring International Raceway Sebring, Florida
4
5 May 12–13 USF2000 Discount Tire Grand Prix of Indianapolis  R  Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course Speedway, Indiana
6
7
8 May 27 USF2000 Cooper Tires Freedom 75  O  Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park Brownsburg, Indiana
9 June 17–18 Discount Tire Grand Prix of Road America  R  Road America Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
10
11 July 1–2 Discount Tire Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio  R  Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Lexington, Ohio
12
13
14 July 15–16 Cooper Tires Grand Prix of Toronto  R  Exhibition Place Toronto, Ontario, Canada
15
16 September 2–3 Discount Tire Grand Prix of Portland  R  Portland International Raceway Portland, Oregon
17
18

Race results

[edit]
Rd. Track Pole position Fastest lap Most laps led Race winner
Driver Team
1 United States Streets of St. Petersburg Australia Lochie Hughes United States Simon Sikes Australia Lochie Hughes Australia Lochie Hughes Jay Howard Driver Development
2 United States Simon Sikes United States Simon Sikes United States Nikita Johnson United States Nikita Johnson Velocity Racing Development
3 United States Sebring International Raceway United States Simon Sikes United States Simon Sikes Australia Lochie Hughes Australia Lochie Hughes Jay Howard Driver Development
4 United States Simon Sikes United States Simon Sikes United States Simon Sikes United States Simon Sikes Pabst Racing
5 United States Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course United States Nikita Johnson United States Nikita Johnson United States Nikita Johnson United States Sam Corry Velocity Racing Development
6 United States Nikita Johnson United States Simon Sikes United States Simon Sikes United States Simon Sikes Pabst Racing
7 United States Simon Sikes United States Simon Sikes Australia Lochie Hughes Australia Lochie Hughes Jay Howard Driver Development
8 United States Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park Canada Mac Clark Canada Mac Clark Canada Mac Clark Canada Mac Clark DEForce Racing
9 United States Road America Australia Lochie Hughes Canada Mac Clark United States Simon Sikes United States Simon Sikes Pabst Racing
10 Canada Mac Clark United States Danny Dyszelski Australia Lochie Hughes Australia Lochie Hughes Jay Howard Driver Development
11 United States Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Cyprus Evagoras Papasavvas United States Nikita Johnson Cyprus Evagoras Papasavvas Cyprus Evagoras Papasavvas Jay Howard Driver Development
12 United States Simon Sikes United States Simon Sikes United States Simon Sikes Canada Mac Clark DEForce Racing
13 United States Simon Sikes United States Simon Sikes United States Simon Sikes United States Simon Sikes Pabst Racing
14 Canada Exhibition Place Cyprus Evagoras Papasavvas Canada Mac Clark United States Nikita Johnson United States Simon Sikes Pabst Racing
15 United States Simon Sikes Canada Nico Christodoulou United States Simon Sikes Canada Nico Christodoulou Velocity Racing Development
16 United States Portland International Raceway New Zealand Jacob Douglas Cyprus Evagoras Papasavvas New Zealand Jacob Douglas New Zealand Jacob Douglas Pabst Racing
17 New Zealand Jacob Douglas United States Simon Sikes New Zealand Jacob Douglas New Zealand Jacob Douglas Pabst Racing
18 New Zealand Jacob Douglas New Zealand Jacob Douglas United States Simon Sikes United States Simon Sikes Pabst Racing

Championship standings

[edit]

Drivers' Championship

[edit]
Scoring system
Position  1st   2nd   3rd   4th   5th   6th   7th   8th   9th   10th   11th   12th   13th   14th   15th   16th   17th   18th   19th   20th+ 
Points 30 25 22 19 17 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Points (O) 45 38 33 29 26 23 21 20 18 17 15 14 12 11 9 8 6 5 3 2
  • The driver who qualified on pole was awarded one additional point.
  • One point was awarded to the driver who led the most laps in a race.
  • One point was awarded to the driver who set the fastest lap during the race.
Pos Driver STP SEB IMS IRP ROA MOH TOR POR Points
1 United States Simon Sikes 4 2 2 1* 13 1* 3 3 1* 10 2 17* 1* 1 2* 3 2 1* 447
2 United States Nikita Johnson 3 1* 16 8 3* 3 2 5 3 5 5 4 2 7* 18 4 3 7 344
3 Australia Lochie Hughes 1* 3 1* 4 2 2 1* 6 12 1* 4 19 22 15 3 5 13 10 335
4 Cyprus Evagoras Papasavvas 2 4 3 10 19 9 6 2 8 19 1* 2 4 6 7 2 5 6 323
5 Canada Mac Clark 11 20 4 2 14 4 10 1* 16 2 3 1 3 4 13 8 4 9 318
6 New Zealand Jacob Douglas 8 15 13 3 15 6 20 2 6 23 6 15 13 5 1* 1* 2 249
7 United States Sam Corry 5 11 8 19 1 5 16 12 19 20 7 3 5 9 6 16 17 3 222
8 Mexico Jorge Garciarce 13 5 9 6 6 10 14 10 9 4 8 8 20 14 4 17 6 14 212
9 United States Max Garcia 6 7 18 12 4 7 15 3 20 5 7 2 15 6 18 5 207
10 United States Chase Gardner 12 14 5 9 5 15 15 4 4 7 10 7 6 8 17 193
11 United States Al Morey 15 10 15 11 7 17 13 8 18 13 9 16 10 12 9 7 10 13 172
12 United States Elliot Cox 18 18 7 5 16 7 17 9 5 18 22 23 23 17 14 10 8 12 145
13 United States Danny Dyszelski 16 7 10 17 4 8 7 16 10 8 12 15 8 141
14 United States Ethan Ho 18 15 8 11 5 7 9 6 9 12 19 7 11 137
15 United States Gordon Scully 19 8 12 12 11 18 9 15 14 14 18 14 16 16 16 9 12 15 133
16 United States Maxwell Jamieson 17 9 17 14 10 19 19 13 17 16 16 11 17 10 10 14 14 18 121
17 United States Avery Towns 20 12 14 16 12 13 18 11 21 15 21 18 11 11 8 101
18 United States Max Taylor 17 16 8 6 21 11 22 19 11 9 8 86
19 United States Zack Ping 21 17 19 13 9 20 11 20 11 14 20 18 60
20 United States Thomas Schrage 13 10 9 18 19 4 55
21 Canada Nico Christodoulou 5 1 48
22 United States Logan Adams 15 21 21 3 11 40
23 United States Carson Etter 19 13 14 15 11 16 38
24 United States Joey Brienza 10 16 14 18 12 37
25 United States Trey Burke 7 6 29
26 United States Nicholas d'Orlando 6 13 23
27 Canada Louka St-Jean 14 19 11 18 22
28 United States Brady Golan 17 12 13 21
29 United States Jack Jeffers 11 12 19
30 Brazil Lucas Fecury 12 15 17 19
31 Canada Lucas Mann 20 14 12 17
32 United States Ava Dobson 13 16 19 15
33 United States Andre Castro 9 21 13
34 United States Dane Scott 13 17 12
Pos Driver STP SEB IMS IRP ROA MOH TOR POR Points
Color Result
Gold Winner
Silver 2nd place
Bronze 3rd place
Green 4th & 5th place
Light Blue 6th–10th place
Dark Blue Finished
(Outside Top 10)
Purple Did not finish
Red Did not qualify
(DNQ)
Brown Withdrawn
(Wth)
Black Disqualified
(DSQ)
White Did not start
(DNS)
Blank Did not
participate
In-line notation
Bold Pole position
(1 point)
Italics Ran fastest race lap
(1 point)
* Led most race laps
(1 point)
Not awarded if more than
one driver led most laps
Rookie

Teams' championship

[edit]
Scoring system
Position  1st   2nd   3rd   4th   5th   6th   7th   8th   9th   10th+ 
Points 22 18 15 12 10 8 6 4 2 1
  • Single car teams received 3 bonus points per race as an equivalency to multi-car teams
  • Only the best two results counted for teams fielding more than two entries
Pos Driver STP SEB IMS IRP ROA MOH TOR POR Points
1 Pabst Racing 4 2 2 1 10 1 3 3 1 3 2 5 1 1 2 1 1 1 476
6 7 12 11 4 7 2 6 12 6 7 2 5 3 2 2
2 Jay Howard Driver Development 1 3 1 4 2 2 1 2 8 1 1 2 4 3 3 2 5 5 413
2 4 3 10 6 7 6 6 10 11 4 12 9 6 7 5 10 8
3 Velocity Racing Development 3 1 8 8 1 3 2 5 3 5 5 3 2 5 1 4 3 3 372
5 7 10 11 3 5 7 11 6 8 7 4 5 7 6 7 9 6
4 DEForce Racing 10 5 4 2 4 4 8 1 9 2 3 1 3 4 4 6 4 7 272
11 8 9 6 9 9 10 9 12 4 8 8 11 9 9 9 6 11
5 Exclusive Autosport 6 9 5 3 5 6 9 4 4 7 9 7 6 8 8 11 12 4 157
8 10 11 9 8 12 11 10 11 10 10 10 8 10 10
6 Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing Development 12 11 7 5 11 8 12 8 5 12 13 12 13 11 11 8 8 10 109
7 DC Autosport 12 12 7 10 5 7 9 6 9 10 10 7 9 74
11 11 12 12 11 12
8 Future Star Racing 7 6 17
9 12
Pos Driver STP ALA IMS IRP ROA MOH TOR POR Points

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

2023 USF2000 Championship

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The 2023 USF2000 Championship presented by Cooper Tires was a season of the American open-wheel racing series sanctioned by the United States Auto Club (USAC), serving as the second step on the USF Pro Championships ladder and providing a competitive platform for emerging drivers using identical Tatuus USF-22 carbon-fiber monocoque chassis powered by Mazda MZR 2.0-liter inline-four engines producing approximately 160 horsepower, fitted with Cooper Tires slick and rain tires.[1][2] The season featured 18 races across nine event weekends at seven North American venues, including the street circuit of St. Petersburg, the Sebring International Raceway, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, Road America, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, the streets of Toronto, and Portland International Raceway, with most rounds consisting of double-header formats to simulate high-stakes competition.[3] Simon Sikes of Pabst Racing claimed the drivers' championship with a dominant performance, earning six victories—more than any other competitor—and accumulating 447 points to secure the title two races early with a 103-point margin over runner-up Nikita Johnson of VRD Racing, marking the largest points gap since 2018.[3][4] Pabst Racing also won the teams' championship, benefiting from strong contributions by Sikes and Evagoras Papasavvas, who finished fourth overall with one win.[4] Notable performances included rookie Lochie Hughes of Jay Howard Driver Development, who secured four race victories and placed third in the standings with 335 points despite starting the season late, while Mac Clark of DEForce Racing rounded out the top five with two wins and 318 points.[3][4] The season featured the Tatuus USF-22 chassis for enhanced safety and performance, coinciding with the debut of the USF Juniors series as the entry-level feeder below USF2000, further solidifying the pathway toward IndyCar.[1][5]

Background and preparation

Series context

The USF2000 Championship Presented by Continental Tire serves as the entry-level open-wheel racing series within the USF Pro Championships, a premier driver development program designed to nurture young talent toward the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and the Indianapolis 500.[6] Revived in 2010 as a continuation of the original USF2000 series that operated from 1990 to 2006, the 2023 season marked its 14th year under the modern format, sanctioned by the United States Auto Club (USAC) and owned by Andersen Promotions.[1] As the lowest rung of the professional open-wheel ladder—positioned below the USF Pro 2000 Championship and Indy NXT—it emphasizes skill-building on road courses and street circuits, with scholarships providing progression opportunities valued at over $405,000 for top performers.[6] Historically, the series evolved from early American open-wheel initiatives and was integrated into the Mazda Road to Indy program in the 2010s, which streamlined driver advancement through tiered competition and financial awards.[7] Prior to 2023, it formed a key component of this pathway alongside higher divisions, launching careers of notable INDYCAR drivers such as Colton Herta and Kyle Kirkwood. The 2023 season introduced a rebranding to the USF Pro Championships Presented by Cooper Tires, shifting from the "Road to Indy" moniker while maintaining its focus on accessible, high-quality racing.[8] All cars in the series utilize a standardized spec package for parity and cost control, featuring the Tatuus USF-22 chassis—a full carbon composite and aluminum honeycomb monocoque compliant with FIA safety standards, including side impact protection, a Halo-type device, and HANS-compatible head restraints.[1] Power comes from a Mazda MZR 2.0-liter naturally aspirated engine prepared by Elite Engines, producing approximately 175 horsepower with electronic throttle control, paired with a six-speed Sadev SL75 sequential paddle-shift transmission and open differential.[1] Tires are supplied by Cooper Tires in both slick and wet compounds, mounted on 13-inch wheels, ensuring consistent performance across the 1,102-pound (500 kg) machines capable of top speeds around 145 mph.[1]

Pre-season developments

In October 2022, Andersen Promotions announced a rebranding of the developmental series below Indy NXT, transitioning from the "Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires" moniker to the "USF Pro Championships Presented by Cooper Tires," which encompassed USF Juniors, USF2000, and USF Pro 2000, while maintaining the focus on providing a structured pathway for drivers advancing toward INDYCAR.[9][10] The rebranding aimed to preserve the series' core objectives of driver, team, and crew development despite changes in sponsorship, such as Cooper Tires continuing with the lower tiers while Firestone took over for Indy NXT.[11] On October 16, 2022, Andersen Promotions unveiled the full 2023 schedules for all three USF Pro Championships series, including 18 races across eight event weekends for USF2000, starting with the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg and concluding at Portland International Raceway.[12] The announcement also detailed an enhanced scholarship program totaling over $3.5 million, with USF2000's champion earning $440,125 toward a USF Pro 2000 seat, alongside additional awards for runners-up and podium finishers to support progression within the ladder.[12][13] Pre-season preparations included the relocation of the traditional Spring Training test from Homestead-Miami Speedway to Sebring International Raceway, held February 27-28, 2023, where teams conducted multiple sessions to shake down cars and finalize setups ahead of the opener.[13] Key participants from returning teams like Pabst Racing and DEForce Racing used the event to integrate new drivers and test updates to the Tatuus USF-22 chassis, which had debuted the previous year, with competitive lap times emerging early, such as those set by defending champion Ernie Francis Jr.[14] Among team movements, TJ Speed Motorsports initially planned a full-season entry into USF2000 in October 2022, acquiring two cars from the outgoing Cape Motorsports program, but ultimately withdrew from the series to focus solely on USF Pro 2000, leaving the field with a more consolidated lineup of established entrants.[15] Driver lineup shifts included Noah Ping, who had been signed to Velocity Racing Development for USF2000, opting instead for a GB3 Championship campaign with Arden VRD announced on March 1, 2023, prompting his younger brother Zack Ping to step into the vacated USF2000 seat at VRD.[16][14]

Participants

Teams

The 2023 USF2000 Championship featured eight primary teams that accumulated points toward the teams' championship, operating as a spec series where all entries utilized the Tatuus USF-22 carbon-fiber monocoque chassis equipped with a Mazda MZR 2.0-liter inline-four engine producing approximately 160 horsepower, paired with Cooper Tires wet-weather and dry slicks.[8] Teams were based primarily in the United States, with operations centered in states such as Wisconsin, California, and Florida, facilitating logistics for the 18-race schedule across North American circuits. No major mid-season equipment changes occurred across the grid, though some teams adjusted entry sizes based on driver availability and sponsorship. Pabst Racing entered as the defending teams' champions from 2022, marking their continued dominance in the lower rungs of the Road to Indy ladder with a focus on developing young American talent.[17] The team expanded to three full-season cars during the year, maintaining a strong presence at the front of the field. The following table summarizes the competing teams, their primary car numbers, and key operational notes for the season:
TeamCar NumbersNotes
Pabst Racing22, 23, 83Based in Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin; three-car full-season program; prior multiple USF2000 titles including 2017–2019 and 2022.[17][18]
Jay Howard Driver Development6, 7, 8, 9UK-based team with US operations in Indiana; four-car entry emphasizing international drivers; consistent mid-pack contender.[19][20]
Velocity Racing Development (VRD)14, 17, 18, 19, 33, 97Florida-based operation; up to six cars in select rounds, focusing on rookies from junior formulas; notable for volume of entries.[19][20]
DEForce Racing1, 10, 11, 12California outfit with a history of success in USF series since 2018; three to four cars throughout, including international entries.[19][20]
Exclusive Autosport90, 91, 92, 93, 95New Zealand-linked team operating from the US; variable three- to five-car program, with some partial-season commitments.[19][20]
Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing Development67Single-car entry from Ohio-based team; focused on young development drivers; consistent presence across all rounds.[19][20]
DC Autosport57, 68Partial-season participant in select rounds (e.g., Mid-Ohio, Portland); two-car entries emphasizing strategic race appearances.[20][21]
Future Star Racing56, 58Two-car program with funding-dependent participation; limited full-season involvement but active in early rounds.[19][21]

Drivers

The 2023 USF2000 Championship featured a diverse roster of 31 unique drivers across its 18 rounds, representing 12 nationalities and including 16 rookies who were eligible for the series' scholarship awards supporting emerging talents in the Road to Indy pathway. The field emphasized young American prospects, supplemented by international entries from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Cyprus, Mexico, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, with many drivers securing full-season commitments through team partnerships and development programs. Participation patterns varied, with 20 drivers contesting the majority of events, while others entered selectively for specific ovals or road courses to build experience or manage budgets. Mid-season adjustments included additions like Max Garcia joining Pabst Racing from the season-opening Sebring round onward, and partial campaigns such as Ethan Ho's schedule with DC Autosport covering rounds 3–7, 9–13, and 16–18.[21][4] The following table lists all drivers by team, including car numbers, nationalities, rookie status, and participation notes. (Note: Car numbers could vary slightly across rounds; primary/early-season numbers used where confirmed.)
TeamCar No.DriverNationalityStatusParticipation Notes
DC Autosport57Carson EtterUSAExperiencedPartial (rounds 11–13, 16–18)
DC Autosport68Ethan HoUSARookiePartial (rounds 3–7, 9–13, 16–18)
DEForce Racing1Mac ClarkCanadaRookieFull season
DEForce Racing10Jorge GarciarceMexicoExperiencedFull season
DEForce Racing11Lucas FecuryBrazilRookiePartial
DEForce Racing12Maxwell JamiesonCanadaRookieFull season
Future Star Racing56Andre CastroBrazilExperiencedPartial
Future Star Racing58Trey BurkeUSARookiePartial
Jay Howard Driver Development8Lochie HughesAustraliaRookieFull season
Jay Howard Driver Development9Louka St. JeanCanadaRookieFull season
Jay Howard Driver Development6Evagoras PapasavvasCyprusExperiencedFull season
Jay Howard Driver Development7Al Morey IVUSARookiePartial
Pabst Racing22Simon SikesUSAExperiencedFull season
Pabst Racing23Max GarciaUSARookiePartial (from round 3)
Pabst Racing83Chase GardnerUSARookieFull season
Pabst Racing24Lucas HopkinsUSARookiePartial
Pabst Racing97Ethan SchuetteUSARookiePartial
Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing Development67Elliot CoxUSARookieFull season
Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing Development83Michael BoyiadzisUSARookiePartial
Velocity Racing Development18Danny DyszelskiUSAExperiencedFull season
Velocity Racing Development17Nikita JohnsonUSARookieFull season
Velocity Racing Development14Sam CorryAustraliaRookieFull season
Velocity Racing Development19Noah PingUSARookiePartial
Velocity Racing Development92Gordon ScullyUSARookiePartial
Exclusive Autosport90Jacob DouglasNew ZealandExperiencedFull season
Exclusive Autosport93Avery TownsUSARookieFull season
Exclusive Autosport91Joey BrienzaUSAExperiencedPartial
Exclusive Autosport92Ava DobsonUKRookiePartial

Season report

Schedule and format

The 2023 USF2000 Championship consisted of eight event weekends spanning from March 4–5 to September 2–3, comprising a total of 18 races across street circuits, road courses, and one oval track.[22] The season was structured as a series of double- and triple-header weekends, with the exception of a standalone single race at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, emphasizing high-intensity, short-duration competitions as part of the USF Pro Championships ladder supporting INDYCAR events.[22] This format allowed for rapid progression through the feeder series, with races serving as undercard support for major INDYCAR rounds at venues like St. Petersburg and Road America, while others aligned with USAC Silver Crown events.[22] Races followed a sprint format, typically lasting 20 minutes plus one lap, designed to test driver skill and car setup efficiency on diverse track types.[23] Qualifying sessions, also approximately 20 minutes in duration, determined the starting grid for each race, with one additional championship point awarded to the pole sitter.[1] Weekend activities generally included multiple practice sessions leading into qualifying and racing, with triple-header events featuring two qualifying sessions to set grids for the additional race.[24] The series' alignment with INDYCAR at seven of the eight weekends ensured shared infrastructure and visibility, while the IRP event stood out as a unique oval challenge without a double-header.[22] The full schedule is detailed below, highlighting key venues and their configurations:
EventDatesVenueLocationCircuit Type and LengthRacesSupport Series
1–2March 4–5Streets of St. PetersburgSt. Petersburg, FL1.8-mile street circuit2INDYCAR
3–4March 25–26Sebring International RacewaySebring, FL3.74-mile road course2USAC
5–7May 12–13Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Road Course)Speedway, IN2.439-mile road course3INDYCAR
8May 26Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway ParkBrownsburg, IN0.686-mile oval1USAC
9–10June 17–18Road AmericaElkhart Lake, WI4.014-mile road course2INDYCAR
11–13July 1–2Mid-Ohio Sports Car CourseLexington, OH2.258-mile road course3INDYCAR
14–15July 15–16Streets of Toronto (Exhibition Place)Toronto, ON, Canada1.786-mile street circuit2INDYCAR
16–18September 2–3Portland International RacewayPortland, OR1.964-mile road course3INDYCAR
No events were postponed during the season, maintaining the calendar as originally announced in October 2022.[22]

Key events and highlights

The 2023 USF2000 Championship was marked by the dominant performance of Simon Sikes, who secured the drivers' title with six victories and seven pole positions, building an insurmountable lead early in the season. Sikes took the points lead with a dominant win from pole in the second race at Sebring International Raceway, and maintained his advantage through consistent results, including a strong recovery drive from 15th to fourth in the opening race at St. Petersburg. His championship was clinched at the Portland International Raceway finale with two races to spare, finishing with 447 points—a 103-point margin over runner-up Nikita Johnson—highlighting Pabst Racing's strategic prowess that also earned them the teams' championship.[3] Rookie drivers provided significant competition and excitement, with several breaking through for standout results that challenged Sikes' supremacy. Nikita Johnson, the 14-year-old American with VRD Racing, claimed a breakthrough victory in the second St. Petersburg race just seven miles from his Gulfport, Florida hometown, becoming one of the series' youngest winners and finishing the season as vice-champion with eight podiums. Australian Lochie Hughes, driving for Jay Howard Driver Development, impressed with four wins—starting with a pole-to-flag triumph in the St. Petersburg opener—and earned Rookie of the Year honors before fading slightly in the latter rounds, while DEForce Racing's Mac Clark added two victories to his tally, bolstering his team's late-season momentum.[25][3][26] Key incidents underscored the season's intensity, including a dramatic collision at Mid-Ohio that altered the championship dynamics. In the second race there, Sikes and Hughes made contact while battling for the lead, damaging Sikes' car and forcing his retirement, which handed the win to Clark and briefly tightened the points battle. Weather played a pivotal role in Toronto, where pre-race rain in the first event prompted Sikes to gamble on switching to slick tires early, allowing him to pull away for victory as the track dried, while the slippery conditions in the follow-up race led to a home-soil win for VRD's Nico Christodoulou. These moments, combined with international talents like Hughes and JHDD teammate Evagoras Papasavvas contributing a win and multiple podiums, fueled rivalries and mid-season shifts, with VRD emerging as a strong contender through Johnson's consistency.[27][28][29]

Results and standings

Individual race outcomes

The 2023 USF2000 Championship consisted of 18 races across nine weekends, with results dominated by a competitive field led by drivers from Pabst Racing and Jay Howard Driver Development. Simon Sikes secured the most victories with six wins, while Lochie Hughes claimed four. Other multiple winners included Mac Clark and Jacob Douglas with two each, and single wins went to Nikita Johnson, Sam Corry, Evagoras Papasavvas, and Nico Christodoulou. Pole positions were frequently captured by top contenders, with Sikes earning five and Douglas three. Fastest laps were similarly contested, often by the race leaders. Several races saw notable incidents, including multiple driver retirements due to contact, though disqualifications were rare and did not alter podium outcomes in any round.[30] The following table summarizes the winners, podium finishers, pole positions, and fastest laps for each round, along with key non-finishes where they significantly impacted the field.
RoundDateVenueWinner (Team)Podium (2nd/3rd)Pole (Driver, Team)Fastest Lap (Driver, Time)Notable Incidents
1March 4Streets of St. PetersburgLochie Hughes (Jay Howard Driver Development)Evagoras Papasavvas (Jay Howard Driver Development) / Nikita Johnson (VRD Racing)Lochie Hughes (Jay Howard Driver Development)Lochie Hughes (1:13.133)Two DNFs due to accidents (Zack Ping, Avery Towns)
2March 5Streets of St. PetersburgNikita Johnson (VRD Racing)Simon Sikes (Pabst Racing) / Lochie Hughes (Jay Howard Driver Development)Simon Sikes (Pabst Racing)Simon Sikes (1:12.6925)Two drivers completed only 17 laps (Chase Gardner, Jacob Douglas)
3March 25Sebring International RacewayLochie Hughes (Jay Howard Driver Development)Simon Sikes (Pabst Racing) / Evagoras Papasavvas (Jay Howard Driver Development)Simon Sikes (Pabst Racing)Lochie Hughes (2:06.371)Three DNFs (Maxwell Jamieson, Ethan Ho, Zack Ping)
4March 26Sebring International RacewaySimon Sikes (Pabst Racing)Mac Clark (DEForce Racing) / Jacob Douglas (Exclusive Autosport)Simon Sikes (Pabst Racing)Simon Sikes (2:05.712)Two DNFs (Louka St-Jean, Sam Corry)
5May 12Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road CourseSam Corry (VRD Racing)Lochie Hughes (Jay Howard Driver Development) / Nikita Johnson (VRD Racing)Nikita Johnson (VRD Racing)Sam Corry (1:26.9805)Six DNFs due to contact (Elliot Cox, Max Taylor, Max Garcia, Evagoras Papasavvas, Lucas Mann, others)
6May 13Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road CourseSimon Sikes (Pabst Racing)Lochie Hughes (Jay Howard Driver Development) / Nikita Johnson (VRD Racing)Nikita Johnson (VRD Racing)Simon Sikes (1:26.3253)Two DNFs (Zack Ping off course, Maxwell Jamieson)
7May 13Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road CourseLochie Hughes (Jay Howard Driver Development)Nikita Johnson (VRD Racing) / Simon Sikes (Pabst Racing)Simon Sikes (Pabst Racing)Simon Sikes (1:26.5592)Six DNFs mostly from contact (Chase Gardner, Sam Corry, Elliot Cox, Avery Towns, Maxwell Jamieson, Jacob Douglas)
8May 26Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway ParkMac Clark (DEForce Racing)Evagoras Papasavvas (Jay Howard Driver Development) / Simon Sikes (Pabst Racing)Mac Clark (DEForce Racing)Mac Clark (22.472)One mechanical DNF (Danny Dyszelski); one qualifying DQ (Danny Dyszelski)
9June 17Road AmericaSimon Sikes (Pabst Racing)Jacob Douglas (Pabst Racing) / Nikita Johnson (VRD Racing)Lochie Hughes (Jay Howard Driver Development)Simon Sikes (2:09.3457)Three DNFs from contact (Sam Corry, Zack Ping, Avery Towns)
10June 17Road AmericaLochie Hughes (Jay Howard Driver Development)Mac Clark (DEForce Racing) / Max Garcia (Pabst Racing)Mac Clark (DEForce Racing)Nikita Johnson (2:08.9610)Three DNFs from contact (Evagoras Papasavvas, Sam Corry); one DNS (Max Taylor)
11June 30Mid-Ohio Sports Car CourseEvagoras Papasavvas (Jay Howard Driver Development)Simon Sikes (Pabst Racing) / Mac Clark (DEForce Racing)Evagoras Papasavvas (Jay Howard Driver Development)Evagoras Papasavvas (1:23.2538)Two DNFs from accidents (Elliot Cox, Jacob Douglas)
12July 1Mid-Ohio Sports Car CourseMac Clark (DEForce Racing)Evagoras Papasavvas (Jay Howard Driver Development) / Sam Corry (VRD Racing)Simon Sikes (Pabst Racing)Mac Clark (1:22.8087)Multiple DNFs from off course/contact (Avery Towns, Lochie Hughes, others)
13July 1Mid-Ohio Sports Car CourseSimon Sikes (Pabst Racing)Nikita Johnson (VRD Racing) / Mac Clark (DEForce Racing)Simon Sikes (Pabst Racing)Simon Sikes (1:22.5754)Multiple DNFs from contact/mechanical
14July 15Streets of TorontoSimon Sikes (Pabst Racing)Max Garcia (Pabst Racing) / Logan Adams (Jay Howard Driver Development)Evagoras Papasavvas (Jay Howard Driver Development)Simon Sikes (1:14.6996)Four DNFs (Jorge Garciarce, Lochie Hughes, Gordon Scully, Elliot Cox); one DNS (Joey Brienza)
15July 16Streets of TorontoNico Christodoulou (VRD Racing)Simon Sikes (Pabst Racing) / Lochie Hughes (Jay Howard Driver Development)Simon Sikes (Pabst Racing)Nico Christodoulou (1:21.4646)Two DNFs (Chase Gardner, Nikita Johnson)
16September 1Portland International RacewayJacob Douglas (Pabst Racing)Evagoras Papasavvas (Jay Howard Driver Development) / Simon Sikes (Pabst Racing)Jacob Douglas (Pabst Racing)Jacob Douglas (1:13.0917)Four DNFs from contact/safety (Maxwell Jamieson, Carson Etter, Thomas Schrage, Ethan Ho)
17September 2Portland International RacewayJacob Douglas (Pabst Racing)Simon Sikes (Pabst Racing) / Nikita Johnson (VRD Racing)Jacob Douglas (Pabst Racing)Simon Sikes (1:12.6700)Two DNFs (Thomas Schrage mechanical, Max Garcia incomplete laps)
18September 3Portland International RacewaySimon Sikes (Pabst Racing)Jacob Douglas (Pabst Racing) / Sam Corry (VRD Racing)Jacob Douglas (Pabst Racing)Jacob Douglas (1:12.5710)None significant impacting podium
Overall, Sikes' six wins highlighted his consistency on road courses, while incidents like the multi-car contacts at Indianapolis and Mid-Ohio reduced field sizes but did not lead to post-race penalties affecting results. Douglas' back-to-back victories in the finale underscored Pabst Racing's strength. Round 8 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park was the series' lone oval event.[19][31][32][33][34][20][35][18]

Drivers' Championship

The Drivers' Championship in the 2023 USF2000 season was decided using a points system that awarded points based on finishing position, with variations for road/street courses and ovals. For the majority of the 18-race calendar, which consisted primarily of road and street circuits, points were distributed as follows: 30 for 1st, 25 for 2nd, 22 for 3rd, 19 for 4th, 17 for 5th, and decreasing to 1 point for 20th and beyond. An additional 1 point each was awarded for pole position, leading the most laps, and setting the fastest race lap. The lone oval event at Lucas Oil Raceway used a higher scale, starting at 45 points for the winner and descending similarly, with the same bonus points structure. All points from every race contributed to the full-season tally, with no drops allowed. Simon Sikes of Pabst Racing dominated the season to claim the Drivers' Championship with 447 points, securing the title with two races remaining after finishing second in the opening race of the Portland International Raceway weekend on September 2. This victory marked Pabst Racing's first USF2000 drivers' title and earned Sikes the $109,500 Discount Tire Driver Advancement Award. Nikita Johnson of VRD Racing Development finished second overall with 344 points, while Lochie Hughes of Jay Howard Driver Development took third with 335 points, also winning the Hyperco Rookie of the Year award as the top first-year driver. The final standings reflected a competitive field, with five drivers separated by fewer than 130 points in the top five.
PositionDriverTeamPoints
1Simon SikesPabst Racing447
2Nikita JohnsonVRD Racing Development344
3Lochie Hughes (R)Jay Howard Driver Development335
4Evagoras PapasavvasJay Howard Driver Development323
5Mac Clark (R)DEForce Racing318
6Jacob DouglasPabst Racing249
7Sam Corry (R)VRD Racing Development222
8Jorge GarciarceDEForce Racing212
9Max Garcia (R)Pabst Racing207
10Chase Gardner (R)Future Star Racing193
Lower positions continued down to 34th place with 16 points, highlighting the depth of the 40-driver entry list across the season. The rookie classification, which used the same points system, was led by Hughes, underscoring the strong performances from newcomers in a series known for launching careers toward higher open-wheel categories.[4][36][37]

Teams' Championship

In the Teams' Championship of the 2023 USF2000 Championship presented by Cooper Tires, points were awarded by aggregating the points earned by each team's top two finishing entries in each race, using the same points scale as the drivers' championship (30 points for 1st, 25 for 2nd, etc. on road/street circuits and 45 for 1st on the oval, plus 1 point each for pole, most laps led, and fastest lap). Single-car teams received an additional 3 bonus points per race for equivalency; teams fielding more than two cars had only their top two results counted per event, aggregated across the 18-race season. This system emphasized consistent multi-driver performance and strategic depth within teams.[1] Pabst Racing dominated the standings, accumulating 476 points to secure the title, their second consecutive and fifth overall in the series (previously winning in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2022). The team's success was driven by strong contributions from multiple drivers, particularly champion Simon Sikes and teammate Jacob Douglas, whose combined efforts in the best-car scoring format yielded consistent high finishes throughout the season. Jay Howard Driver Development finished a close second with 413 points, showcasing reliable results from drivers like Lochie Hughes, while Velocity Racing Development (VRD) placed third at 372 points, bolstered by Nikita Johnson's runner-up driver performance. DEForce Racing rounded out the top four with 157 points, highlighting the competitive depth among multi-car outfits despite lower overall totals.[38][39]
PositionTeamPoints
1Pabst Racing476
2Jay Howard Driver Development413
3Velocity Racing Development372
4DEForce Racing157
Pabst Racing clinched the championship at the season finale in Portland, underscoring their strategic driver lineup and operational excellence in a tightly contested field. While the primary scholarships—totaling over $1.55 million in advancement awards—were directed toward individual drivers, the team title reinforced Pabst's status as a premier development program, facilitating further opportunities for their roster in higher series like USF Pro 2000.[40][17]

References

  1. The Series - USF2000
  2. Tatuus USF-22 - USF2000
  3. USF2000 review: How 2022's closest junior series was dominated in ...
  4. 2023 Championship Standings - USF2000
  5. USF Juniors to swap F4 car for USF2000-based chassis in 2023
  6. HOME | usfprochampionships
  7. The Series - USF Pro 2000 Championship
  8. [PDF] MEDIA GUIDE - USF Pro 2000 Championship
  9. Andersen Promotions Announces Rebranding - USF2000
  10. Andersen Promotions announces rebranding - RACER
  11. IndyCar ladder series lose 'Road to Indy' branding - Motorsport Week
  12. Andersen Promotions Announces 2023 Schedules and Scholarships
  13. New-look USF Pro 2000 to race at Sebring and COTA in 2023
  14. Zack Ping Levels Up to USF2000
  15. TJ Speed Set for 2023 Campaign in USF2000 and Indy Pro 2000
  16. Noah Ping swaps USF2000 for GB3 campaign with Arden
  17. Pabst Racing - USF Pro 2000 Championship
  18. 2023 Championship Rounds 16/17/18 Results - USF2000
  19. 2023 Championship Rounds 1/2 Results - USF2000
  20. 2023 Championship Rounds 11/12/13 Results - USF2000
  21. Your season guide to the 2023 USF2000 Championship
  22. Andersen Promotions Announces 2023 Schedules and Scholarships
  23. Exclusive Autosport Takes USF2000 Points Lead
  24. McNeilly Takes Early USF2000 Points Lead with St. Pete Win
  25. Grand Prix of St. Petersburg's youngest driver, Gulfport's Nikita ...
  26. INDYCAR Test Signals More Momentum in Lochie Hughes' Career
  27. Clark gets USF2000 win after huge crash between championship ...
  28. Sikes' switch to slicks earns him win in USF2000 thriller in Toronto
  29. Christodoulou Wins on Home Spoil in USF2000
  30. 2023 Championship Latest Results - USF2000
  31. 2023 Championship Rounds 3/4 Results - USF2000
  32. 2023 Championship Rounds 5/6/7 Results - USF2000
  33. 2023 Championship Round 8 Results
  34. 2023 Championship Rounds 9/10 Results
  35. 2023 Championship Rounds 14/15 Results - USF2000
  36. Sikes Clinches Title as Douglas Takes First USF2000 Win
  37. USF Pro Season Wraps Up with Championship Celebration
  38. [PDF] 2023 USF2000 PRESENTED BY COOPER TIRES PROVISIONAL ...
  39. Teams - USF Pro 2000 Championship
  40. USF Pro Season Wraps Up with Championship Celebration
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