Forty-nine Indy Lights, Pro Mazda and USF2000 entries add to excitement of kickoff weekend for the Month of May 

IRVINE, Calif. (May 10, 2018) – Mazda’s commitment to American open-wheel racing and young driver development will be on display throughout the Month of May at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, beginning with this weekend’s INDYCAR Grand Prix.  The three series on the Mazda Road to Indy ladder will compete on Friday and Saturday in support of the INDYCAR Grand Prix, the fifth round of the Verizon IndyCar Series.

Creating and supporting opportunities for people to realize their highest potential is an important part of Mazda – which has been a challenger brand since its beginning. Helping young drivers overcome the many challenges on the career path to top-level racing is a highly fulfilling pursuit for Mazda. Since 2010, the Mazda Road to Indy has provided a scholarship-funded path for young drivers to reach the IndyCar Series and the Indianapolis 500. Through scholarships provided to the season champions in each MRTI series, culminating in a prize package for the Indy Lights champion that includes an entry to the Indianapolis 500, Mazda is committed to supporting the young men and women in the MRTI series. Mazda provides the gateway to realizing their racing dreams and allowing them to be their best self.

The INDYCAR Grand Prix will have numerous former MRTI champions taking the green flag, including defending Indy Lights champion Kyle Kaiser and former champions Ed Jones and Spencer Pigot. No less than 17 graduates of the MRTI ladder will start this Saturday’s race IndyCar Series race.

Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires. With three wins from four races, Pato O’Ward has taken control of the Indy Lights championship with a 16-point lead over Santi Urrutia, who has scored one race victory this year. Colton Herta, son of two-time Indy 500 winning team owner Bryan Herta, is third in the championship.

Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires. Parker Thompson has taken the lead of the Pro Mazda championship after the first four rounds of the season held at St. Petersburg and Barber Motorsports Park. With a victory and two runner-up finishes, he holds a four-point championship lead ahead of Rinus Veekay, who has claimed two victories, while David Malukas is third in the championship. Harrison Scott, who won the previous race at Barber Motorsports Park, is fourth in the championship.

USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda. A 26-car field will contest the USF2000 races this weekend, the third and fourth rounds of the season. Kyle Kirkwood enters the weekend as the championship leader after winning the first race of the season at St. Petersburg. Jose Sierra occupies second in the championship and third is Igor Fraga. The winner of the second race at St. Petersburg, Alex Baron, is fourth in the championship.

The MRTI races at the INDYCAR Grand Prix will be streamed live throughout the weekend at www.RoadToIndy.tv and the Road to Indy app:

Friday, May 11

Indy Lights                                 1:30 PM ET
USF2000                                    2:45 PM ET
Pro Mazda                                 3:35 PM ET

Saturday, May 12

USF2000                                    9:15 AM ET
Pro Mazda                                 10:10 AM ET
Indy Lights                                 1:15 PM ET

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