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USF Pro Championships
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The USF Pro Championships Presented by Continental Tire, formerly known as the Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires, is a racecar driver development program, providing a scholarship-funded path to reach the IndyCar Series and Indianapolis 500.[1] Sanctioned by the United States Auto Club (USAC), the series are owned and managed by Andersen Promotions.
Since its launch in 2010, the ladder system has attracted competitors from around the globe, who have showcased their talents at premier venues on a mix of road courses, temporary street circuits, and ovals.
Participating series (in order from lowest to highest ranking)
[edit]| Series Name | Description | Year founded |
|---|---|---|
| USF Juniors | A first step on the pathway for younger drivers. Sanctioned by USAC | 2022 |
| USF2000 Championship | Competing for a scholarship to the next stage of the pathway. Sanctioned by USAC | 1990 |
| USF Pro 2000 Championship | Competing for a scholarship to the next stage of the pathway. Sanctioned by USAC | 1991 |
| Indy NXT | A developmental championship supporting IndyCar Series at specific races across the season. Sanctioned by IndyCar | 1977 (predecessor) 1986 (original) 2002 (current ) |
| IndyCar Series | Highest class of regional North American open-wheel single-seater formula racing cars. Sanctioned by IndyCar | 1996 with history going back to the early 1900s |
In 2021 Kyle Kirkwood won the Indy Lights championship and became the first driver to win a championship and thus scholarship at every rung of the ladder on his way to IndyCar. However, both Sage Karam and Matthew Brabham won scholarships from U.S. F2000 and made it to IndyCar. Karam, Brabham, Tristan Vautier, Oliver Askew, and Spencer Pigot have all won two scholarships on their way to IndyCar. In 2017, Josef Newgarden became the first Road to Indy graduate and scholarship winner to win the IndyCar Series championship.
Mazda Road to Indy Shootout
[edit]From 2016 to 2018, a shootout race for up-and-coming talents was held. In a knock-out format, drivers who won championships in various beginner-level series were invited to compete for a $200,000 scholarship to race in the USF2000 series.
Shootout winners
[edit]| Year | Track | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca |  Oliver Askew
|
| 2017 | Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park |  Keith Donegan
|
| 2018 | Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park |  Hunter McElrea
|
Champions
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ "Mazda Road to Indy". Retrieved 25 March 2014.
USF Pro Championships
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History
Origins and Launch
The Road to Indy program was launched on December 10, 2009, by the Indy Racing League (IRL) for the 2010 season, with the aim of establishing a structured, scholarship-funded development pathway for young drivers progressing from entry-level open-wheel racing to the IZOD IndyCar Series and ultimately the Indianapolis 500.[4] This initiative sought to consolidate existing junior series into a cohesive ladder system, providing clear progression opportunities and promotional exposure alongside IndyCar events to attract global talent and support driver careers.[4] Key organizational elements included the revival of the USF2000 National Championship by Andersen Promotions under owner Dan Andersen, who had previously founded the series in 1990 and brought it back after a four-year hiatus; the Star Mazda Championship, led by founder Gary Rodrigues; and the established Firestone Indy Lights series.[5] Sanctioned initially by the IRL (later INDYCAR), the program focused on these three stepping-stone series—USF2000 as the entry level, Star Mazda as the intermediate step, and Indy Lights as the final rung before IndyCar—emphasizing spec-series racing on road and street courses to build skills in high-profile environments.[4][6] From its inception, the program's core objectives centered on financial incentives to lower barriers for aspiring drivers, offering scholarships and awards across the ladder, including more than $200,000 for select winners to secure seats in the next series tier, such as advancing from USF2000 to Star Mazda or ultimately to Indy Lights (now known as Indy NXT), with prizes valued at up to $1.5 million for Star Mazda and approximately $4 million for Indy Lights participants.[7][4] These prizes were designed to fund full-season entries and testing, ensuring merit-based advancement without prohibitive costs. Over time, total annual scholarships grew to over $3 million. The inaugural 2010 season featured 12 to 14 races per series, primarily supporting IndyCar weekends on road and street circuits like the Streets of St. Petersburg, Iowa Speedway, and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during Memorial Day weekend, with additional events at venues such as O’Reilly Raceway Park to provide diverse track experience.[4] This setup allowed junior series drivers to race in front of IndyCar audiences, fostering visibility and sponsorship opportunities while integrating seamlessly into the IRL's event calendar. Over time, the Road to Indy evolved into the USF Pro Championships, expanding its scope while retaining the foundational driver development focus.[8]Rebranding and Expansion
In 2019, following Mazda's withdrawal as title sponsor at the end of the 2018 season, the development program underwent a rebranding, dropping "Mazda" from its name to become the Road to Indy presented by Cooper Tires. This change reflected Mazda's strategic refocus on other motorsport activities, while Cooper Tires assumed a more prominent role as the presenting sponsor across the ladder's series. The rebranding ensured continuity in the program's structure and scholarship offerings, with the overall pathway remaining intact for aspiring IndyCar drivers. As part of this, the intermediate series transitioned from Pro Mazda (which replaced Star Mazda in 2013 after its acquisition by Andersen Promotions) to Indy Pro 2000. The program's evolution continued in October 2022, when Andersen Promotions announced a further rebranding to the USF Pro Championships presented by Cooper Tires, effective for the 2023 season. This shift emphasized the United States Formula (USF) branding for its core series—USF Pro 2000, USF2000, and the newly introduced USF Juniors—while aligning more closely with IndyCar's ecosystem. To bolster the junior ladder, USF Juniors was launched in 2022 as the entry-level series for drivers aged 14 and older, utilizing Ligier JS F4 chassis powered by Honda engines on select road courses to provide foundational open-wheel experience. Sponsor transitions marked additional growth, with Cooper Tires' partnership concluding after the 2023 season; Continental Tire became the presenting sponsor and official tire supplier starting in 2024, maintaining the program's commitment to high-value awards. Annual scholarships and prizes have been preserved at over $1.4 million, supporting driver advancement across the ladder. Expansion efforts culminated in the 2026 schedule announcement, featuring a total of 32 races in support of IndyCar events, including an increase in oval racing for USF Pro 2000 with the addition of a second oval at The Milwaukee Mile alongside the event at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.Program Structure
Participating Series
The USF Pro Championships consist of three core series, structured as a progressive ladder from entry-level to advanced development, designed to cultivate open-wheel racing talent. The lowest tier, USF Juniors, serves as an introductory platform for emerging young drivers, typically those transitioning from karting or junior formulas, emphasizing fundamental skills in a controlled environment.[9] USF Juniors was introduced in 2022 as the foundational step in the program, initially utilizing a Ligier JS F4 chassis paired with a 160 horsepower 2.0-liter Honda Performance Development engine, before transitioning to the Tatuus JR-23 chassis in 2023 for alignment with higher series components. The current setup features the Tatuus JR-23, a carbon composite and aluminum honeycomb monocoque chassis compliant with FIA safety standards, powered by a restricted Mazda MZR 2.0-liter engine producing approximately 150 horsepower, prepared by Elite Engines. The series schedule comprises 16 races across six events annually, contested exclusively on road and street courses such as Homestead-Miami Speedway and Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, with a focus on double- and triple-header weekends to build racecraft without oval exposure. Sanctioned by the United States Auto Club (USAC), USF Juniors prioritizes accessibility and safety for drivers aged 14 to 20.[9][10][11][12] Advancing to the mid-level, the USF2000 Championship, established in 1990, bridges introductory and professional open-wheel racing by introducing foundational skills including limited oval experience. It employs the Tatuus USF-22 chassis, an evolution of the USF-17 model introduced in 2017, featuring a full carbon fiber monocoque for enhanced durability and safety, powered by a Mazda MZR 2.0-liter naturally aspirated engine delivering around 175 horsepower after a 2025 restrictor plate removal that boosted output by 20 horsepower. The season includes 14 to 18 races over eight events, incorporating road courses, street circuits, and select ovals like Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, with formats typically involving two races per weekend to develop adaptability across track types. This series hones core open-wheel techniques such as drafting and traffic management, preparing competitors for higher-stakes competition.[13][14][15] At the pinnacle of the USF Pro Championships, the USF Pro 2000 Championship, founded in 1991 as the Star Mazda Championship Pro Series and rebranded in 2013, targets drivers ready for near-professional levels, emphasizing preparation for Indy NXT with increased power and oval demands. It utilizes the Tatuus IP-22 chassis, sharing the same base monocoque design as lower series for cost efficiency and seamless progression, equipped with a race-built Mazda MZR 2.0-liter engine producing approximately 200 horsepower, enhanced by a 2025 rev limiter increase to 8,350 rpm yielding up to 40 horsepower gains at lower RPMs. The calendar features 14 to 18 races across eight events, including two ovals in 2026 such as the Milwaukee Mile, alongside road and street venues, with race formats that include longer distances to simulate Indy NXT conditions. Sanctioned by USAC, this top tier focuses on advanced strategy and endurance.[3][16][17][12] Across all three series, events primarily support NTT IndyCar Series weekends, providing exposure to professional infrastructure while utilizing spec-series chassis and engines to cap operational costs at $200,000 to $400,000 per season, depending on the level, thereby democratizing access to elite development. This unified approach ensures technical parity and facilitates driver advancement through shared components and scholarship pathways.[18][3][19]Driver Development Pathway
The USF Pro Championships provide a structured, scholarship-funded ladder for young drivers to progress through open-wheel racing, beginning with USF Juniors and advancing through USF2000 and USF Pro 2000 to INDY NXT and the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.[3] This tiered system emphasizes competitive performance, with the champion of each series earning a substantial scholarship to the next level: the USF Juniors champion receives $249,675 toward a USF2000 season, the USF2000 champion is awarded $405,050 for USF Pro 2000, and the USF Pro 2000 champion secures $594,500 for a full INDY NXT season.[9][1][3] Additional incentives, including prize money for podium finishes and consistent top results, support runners-up and further encourage progression, with the top three finishers in each series eligible for supplementary awards.[20] In total, the program distributes over $1.48 million annually in scholarships, prize money, and awards across its series, fostering a merit-based pathway that has proven effective in talent identification and development.[3] For instance, top USF Pro 2000 finishers, particularly champions, receive guaranteed opportunities such as INDY NXT test sessions as part of their scholarship packages, facilitating a seamless transition to higher competition.[21] The system's success is evident in its track record: all eight USF Pro 2000 champions from recent years have advanced to INDY NXT or INDYCAR, and by the 2025 season, 16 USF Pro graduates occupied starting positions on the INDYCAR grid, representing alumni such as Kyle Kirkwood, Patricio O'Ward, and Rinus VeeKay.[18][22]Mazda Road to Indy Shootout
Event Format
The Mazda Road to Indy Shootout was an annual two-day competition held from 2016 to 2018, designed as a key entry mechanism for international junior drivers into the USF2000 series within the broader USF Pro Championships ladder.[23][24][25] The inaugural event took place on December 6-7, 2016, at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California, while the 2017 and 2018 editions were hosted on December 9-10 at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in Chandler, Arizona, utilizing the facilities of the Bondurant Racing School on a 1.6-mile, 15-turn road course.[23][24][25] The event format emphasized a combination of on-track performance and off-track assessments to evaluate drivers' racing skills and professional potential. Participants drove identical Formula Mazda cars equipped with Cooper Tires, engaging in multiple on-track sessions that included practice testing, two qualifying rounds to set lap times, and a mock race simulation to demonstrate racecraft under competitive conditions.[23][24][25] Off-track elements featured interviews and evaluations by a panel of judges, including Mazda representatives and series alumni, to assess attributes such as media savvy, teamwork, and career motivation.[23][25] The winner was selected and announced at the conclusion of the second day, typically in the late afternoon, based on a holistic scoring of these components.[25] Eligibility targeted top junior drivers aged 14 to 25 as of September 30 of the event year, primarily from non-U.S. open-wheel and karting series equivalent to Formula 4 levels, such as Formula Ford, Formula 1600, or regional junior formulas.[23][24][26] Invitations were extended to approximately 20-25 competitors, consisting of series champions from around 20 global junior championships—spanning nine or more countries—plus a few at-large selections based on exceptional prior results from nearly 400 eligible drivers worldwide.[23][24][25] The primary purpose was to scout and reward emerging international talent with a fully funded entry into the USF2000 Championship, providing a $200,000 scholarship covering a complete season in the Tatuus USF-17 chassis to facilitate progression through the USF Pro Championships pathway.[23][24][25] The Shootout concluded after the 2018 edition as part of Mazda's strategic refocus of its motorsport activities, which included withdrawing title sponsorship from the Road to Indy program to prioritize sports car racing initiatives.[27][28]Winners and Impact
The Mazda Road to Indy Shootout, held from 2016 to 2018, awarded full-season scholarships in the USF2000 Championship to its winners, providing a direct pathway for emerging international talent into the USF Pro Championships ladder. In its inaugural edition in 2016, American driver Oliver Askew from Jupiter, Florida, emerged victorious at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, securing a $200,000 scholarship that funded his 2017 USF2000 season with Cape Motorsports. Using the scholarship, Askew won the 2017 USF2000 Championship. His rapid progression through the program culminated in winning the 2019 Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires championship with Andretti Autosport, earning him a $1.1 million scholarship guaranteeing at least three NTT IndyCar Series races in 2020 and securing a full-time seat with Arrow McLaren SP, where he competed in 12 events before partial seasons with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing in 2021 and 2022. As of 2025, Askew serves as a reserve driver in the FIA Formula E World Championship with Andretti Global.[29][30][31] The 2017 shootout at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park was won by Irish driver Keith Donegan from Dublin, who earned his $200,000 scholarship after finishing second in the Formula Ford Festival. Donegan made his USF2000 debut in 2018 with BN Racing, achieving a podium including a third-place finish at Road America, before returning to Europe to pursue further opportunities in regional series. By 2022, he had transitioned into team ownership with Race Performance Motorsport in the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine, where he also competed as a driver that season; he has not driven competitively since.[32][33][34] New Zealand's Hunter McElrea, born in California but raised in Australia, claimed the 2018 shootout victory at Bondurant Racing School, again securing a $200,000 USF2000 scholarship. In 2019, McElrea finished runner-up in the USF2000 Championship with Pabst Racing, highlighted by multiple podiums and a win at Road America. He advanced to Indy Pro 2000 in 2020–2021, achieving third place overall in 2021, before progressing to Indy Lights with Andretti Autosport in 2022 and Indy NXT by Firestone in 2023, where he secured second in the championship. In 2024, McElrea switched to sportscar racing, competing in IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship LMP2 with TDS Racing and winning the Michelin Endurance Cup LMP2 class; as of November 2025, he is signed with United Autosports for the 2026 Rolex 24 at Daytona in LMP2.[35][36][37][38][39] The shootout's emphasis on global champions from junior series—drawing entrants from up to 11 countries in its final year—introduced international diversity to the USF Pro Championships, with non-U.S. winners like Donegan and McElrea exemplifying its role in broadening the talent pool beyond American drivers. This contributed to the program's growing international appeal, as evidenced by grids featuring drivers from 17 nations across its series by 2017. The event was discontinued after 2018 following Mazda's withdrawal of sponsorship at the end of that season to refocus its motorsport efforts. In its place, the USF Juniors Presented by Continental Tire series launched in 2019 as a sanctioned, cost-controlled entry-level step, filling the need for accessible domestic and international progression into USF2000 without the shootout format.[40][41][27][42]Champions and Achievements
Series Champions
The USF Pro Championships program, launched in 2010, has recognized individual series champions annually across its ladder, with the USF2000 and USF Pro 2000 series (formerly Star Mazda and Pro Mazda) competing from the outset and USF Juniors added in 2022 as the entry-level tier.[13][3][9] Champions are determined by cumulative points from race finishes, with awards including scholarships to advance up the development pathway. By the end of the 2025 season, the USF2000 series had produced 16 champions, the USF Pro 2000 series 16, and USF Juniors 4, with no ties recorded in any season.[13][3][43] The following table lists all series champions from program inception through 2025, including driver and team details.| Year | USF2000 Champion (Team) | USF Pro 2000 Champion (Team) | USF Juniors Champion (Team) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Sage Karam (Andretti Autosport) | Conor Daly (Juncos Racing) | — |
| 2011 | Petri Suvanto (Cape Motorsports w/Wayne Taylor Racing) | Tristan Vautier (JDC MotorSports) | — |
| 2012 | Matthew Brabham (Cape Motorsports w/Wayne Taylor Racing) | Jack Hawksworth (Team Pelfrey) | — |
| 2013 | Scott Hargrove (Cape Motorsports w/Wayne Taylor Racing) | Matthew Brabham (Andretti Autosport) | — |
| 2014 | Florian Latorre (Cape Motorsports w/Wayne Taylor Racing) | Spencer Pigot (Juncos Racing) | — |
| 2015 | Nico Jamin (Cape Motorsports w/Wayne Taylor Racing) | Santiago Urrutia (Team Pelfrey) | — |
| 2016 | Anthony Martin (Cape Motorsports w/Wayne Taylor Racing) | Aaron Telitz (Team Pelfrey) | — |
| 2017 | Oliver Askew (Cape Motorsports) | Victor Franzoni (Juncos Racing) | — |
| 2018 | Kyle Kirkwood (Cape Motorsports) | Rinus VeeKay (Juncos Racing) | — |
| 2019 | Braden Eves (Cape Motorsports) | Kyle Kirkwood (RP Motorsport USA) | — |
| 2020 | Christian Rasmussen (Jay Howard Driver Development) | Sting Ray Robb (Juncos Racing) | — |
| 2021 | Kiko Porto (DEForce Racing) | Christian Rasmussen (Jay Howard Driver Development) | — |
| 2022 | Michael d'Orlando (Cape Motorsports) | Louis Foster (Exclusive Autosport) | Mac Clark (DEForce Racing) |
| 2023 | Simon Sikes (Pabst Racing) | Myles Rowe (Pabst Racing) | Nicolas Giaffone (DEForce Racing) (389 points) |
| 2024 | Max Garcia (Pabst Racing) | Lochie Hughes (Turn 3 Motorsport) | Max Taylor (VRD Racing) |
| 2025 | Jack Jeffers (Exclusive Autosport) | Max Garcia (Pabst Racing) | Leonardo Escorpioni (Zanella Racing) (403 points) |