Parker Thompson Returns to Form in Indy Pro 2000 at Road America

Parker Thompson Returns to Form in Indy Pro 2000 at Road America

ROAD AMERICA CIRCUIT, ELKHART LAKE, WISCONSIN

The Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires visited the famed Road America Circuit this past weekend for its only event in the month of June. After a challenging month of May in the Road to Indy series, Parker Thompson returned to the form he has demonstrated throughout his young racing career. The Alberta native began the weekend by posting the fastest overall time for Race 1 qualifying. In two critical races during the weekend, Thompson would earn two podium finishes.

It was an important result for Thompson and team Abel Motorsports, who divided their crew between Road America, and Pittsburgh International Race Complex for the weekend, where Thompson’s teammate Jacob Abel is also contending for the F3 America’s championship. Veteran engineer on the Road to Indy, Thomas Knapp, was brought in to manage the Indy Pro 2000 crew for the weekend. His championship winning experience played a meaningful role in the team’s result.

In Qualifying 1, Thompson and the #8 Abel Motorsports machine posted the fastest time and earned pole position for the first race of the weekend. Qualifying 2 was more tightly contested. Thompson ran fourth fastest among the thirteen drivers, just one tenth of a second behind the leader.

In race action, that tight competition continued. Both Race 1 and 2 showed multiple position changes among the front runners. Thompson would finish 3rd, taking the final podium step each time. The results earned Thompson valuable points towards what is turning into a very close championship battle. He is currently second in the standings, trailing Swedish rookie Rasmus Lindh, and one point ahead of 2018 USF2000 Champion Kyle Kirkwood.

“It is great to get on the podium here in Road America. Given some of my recent results in this series, a strong showing here was important to staying competitive in this tight 2019 Championship. Wisconsin, and Road America, is also the closest thing that I have to a home outside of Canada. We’ve got a great group of fans and supporters here to cheer us on. We are so happy to be able to pull this result together and celebrate with them all.” 

The Indy Pro 2000 series continues on July 12 – 14, 2019 at the Streets of Toronto for the Honda Toronto Indy. As the only Canadian race on the Road to Indy, the event is always special for Thompson, but this year it will be of extra significance.

As big of a crowd that we had out here at Road America, I expect to see even more fans and supporters in Toronto this year. Not only will I be racing in Indy Pro 2000, but I’ll also be competing in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge. That’s going to make for a great weekend! It’s going to be extra special, because it will also mark my 100TH ever auto race. At my young age, I’m so fortunate to have had a great career, and I’m looking forward to some special festivities to celebrate that landmark.”

Montreal F1 Grand Prix Weekend – Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada & USA Results

Qualifying 1 (pdf)
Qualifying 2 (pdf) 
Race 1 – Round 6 (pdf)
Race 2 – Round 7 (pdf)
Overall Standings (pdf)

 

Next Events

JUN. 28 – 29, 2019– Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA – Watkins Glen International, NY 
JUN 29 – 30, 2019– CTCC Race 5 & 6 – Shannonville Motorsport Park, ON
JUL. 06 – 07, 2019– Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada – CTMP, Bowmanville, ON
JUL. 12 – 14, 2019– Indy Pro 2000 & Porsche GT3 Cup – Streets of Toronto, ON

Thompson Overcomes Challenges in Qualifying To Finish 5TH in Indy Pro 2000 Races In Indianapolis Grand Prix

Thompson Overcomes Challenges in Qualifying To Finish 5TH in Indy Pro 2000 Races In Indianapolis Grand Prix

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – This weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Parker Thompson undertook races 3 and 4 of the 2019 Indy Pro 2000 Championship. As the Championship leader and race lap record holder going into the weekend, all the pressure was on Parker. After struggling in practice and qualifying, Thompson was forced to start both races near the back of the grid. During race action however, he was able to make up a significant number of positions, finishing fifth place in both races. He is currently second in the overall championship standings.

Wet conditions, and an alternator failure significantly impacted testing and set-up for the Abel Motorsports team in only their second Indy Pro 2000 event, and first event at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. When Thompson entered Friday’s qualifying sessions, he had managed only one lap in the first official test session, and never showed the pace necessary to run with the top cars. He would qualify for the weekend’s races in 12th and 13th positions. 

At the drop of the green flag, Thompson demonstrated the race craft which put him on the top step of the podium in the first two races of this 2019 season. In the races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, he made up a total of 15 positions, finishing in 5th place for both races.

Thompson’s performance during race action made him the biggest mover of the weekend. In comparison, Nikita Lastochkin, Antonio Serravalle, and teammate Jacob Abel all tied for second spot in this statistic, each gaining six positions during race action. Thompson more than doubled that number.

The end results of the weekend show Thompson swapping positions in the overall Indy Pro 2000 championship standings with Rasmus Lindh. After his dominant performance in St. Petersburg, Thompson is currently in 2nd position, just eleven points back from the Swedish native. There are twelve events remaining in the Indy Pro 2000 Championship.

IndyCar is the end goal. I’ve had my sights on it ever since I started racing cars. Many of my experiences suggest that I already have the skills to pilot the big cars, but auto racing is often about more than performance behind the wheel. At every level, it is a team sport that requires involvement from a big group of people both on and off the track. For now my focus is set on the second stop of the Indy Pro 2000 series. I had a great weekend in St. Petersburg with Abel Motorsports, and I’d love the opportunity to repeat that in Indianapolis this May.” – Parker Thompson

Alberta Native Makes a Big Splash to Start the 2019 Road to Indy Race Season

Alberta Native Makes a Big Splash to Start the 2019 Road to Indy Race Season

ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – The 2019 NTT IndyCar season began this weekend in St. Petersburg, Florida, and Alberta native Parker Thompson was there to race in the Indy Pro 2000 category. A feeder series for the top-level IndyCar championship, Indy Pro 2000 is contested by young professional racers from all over the globe. Parker Thompson dominated the weekend. The Red Deer, Alberta native qualified on pole position for both Indy Pro 2000 races, set a new track record, and converted his starts from the lead position into victories for both races. With that he has established a big lead in the championship standings with Sweden’s Rasmus Lindh, and Singapore’s Danial Frost in second and third positions behind him.

Twenty-one-year-old Thompson is an established racer who has had the attention of the racing community since childhood. At age thirteen, he was ranked 3rdon the globe in Rotax Max karts. 2017 saw him dominate the Canadian F1600 Super Series Championship. The Road to Indy has been Thompson’s most recent conquest. Having twice finished second in the season championship, he is still seeking an overall title win. Double victories in St. Petersburg indicate that 2019 could be Thompson’s best season yet. Uncertainties off the track though, mean that his focus is not solely on driving.

In St. Petersburg, Thompson joined Kentucky based Abel Motorsports as their team took on the Indy Pro 2000 series for the first time. Thompson did so with a single-race contract which leaned on his experience in the series to help the Abel Motorsports team, and young lead driver Jacob Abel, adapt their experience in other series, to Indy Pro 2000. The partnership worked. Twin pole positions, twin victories, and a new track record mark a monumental achievement for a rookie team in the series. With such a strong performance, Thompson demonstrated that his skill and understanding of the car and series are second to none. A full season commitment, however, will require extended sponsorship support.

With the next event in the Indy Pro 2000 Championship occurring May 9th to 11th in Indianapolis, Indiana, Thompson has nearly two months to solidify the partnerships that will allow him to continue his pursuit of a championship title in 2019, and set the stage for a rise into IndyCar.

IndyCar is the end goal. I’ve had my sights on it ever since I started racing cars. Many of my experiences suggest that I already have the skills to pilot the big cars, but auto racing is often about more than performance behind the wheel. At every level, it is a team sport that requires involvement from a big group of people both on and off the track. For now my focus is set on the second stop of the Indy Pro 2000 series. I had a great weekend in St. Petersburg with Abel Motorsports, and I’d love the opportunity to repeat that in Indianapolis this May.” – Parker Thompson

THOMPSON AND ABEL MOTORSPORTS SWEEP ST. PETE WEEKEND

THOMPSON AND ABEL MOTORSPORTS SWEEP ST. PETE WEEKEND

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Parker Thompson and Abel Motorsports ensured a virtually perfect commencement to their fresh partnership as the gifted Canadian led from start to finish in today’s Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Presented by Allied Building Products.

Thompson, who celebrated his 21st birthday just one week ago, backed up his victory in yesterday’s opening round of the Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires by posting the fastest time in qualifying earlier this morning. The native of Red Deer, Alb., Canada, then catapulted immediately into a lead he never looked likely to relinquish.

Kyle Kirkwood, from Jupiter, Fla., who won last year’s Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship, the first step on the unique Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires open-wheel development ladder, bounced back from a disappointing result on Friday to finish second for RP Motorsport USA. Danial Frost, from Singapore, overcame a two-position grid penalty to complete the podium for Exclusive Autosport.

After being jumped on the start yesterday, Thompson this time made an exemplary getaway to lead outside front row qualifier Kirkwood into Turn One on the first of 30 laps. Behind, Frost made amends for being assessed a two-grid-positions penalty this morning after failing to acknowledge the checkered flag at the end of qualifying by vaulting from sixth on the grid to third ahead of Juncos Racing teammates Sting Ray Robb, from Payette, Idaho, and Rasmus Lindh, from Gothenburg, Sweden. Moises de la Vara, from Guadalajara, Mexico slotted into sixth for DEForce Racing ahead of Los Angeles, Calif.-based Russian Nikita Lastochkin (Exclusive Autosport).

Thompson turned a string of quick laps in the early stages to extend his advantage over Kirkwood to a hair under two seconds at the end of Lap Eight. The margin grew as high as three seconds with two-thirds of the race completed, whereupon Kirkwood found some extra pace and whittled the deficit to just 1.4334 seconds at the checkered flag. Kirkwood also “stole” an additional championship point from under Thompson’s nose by posting a new fastest race lap on the 29th and penultimate lap.

After picking up Abel Motorsports’ second PFC Award of the weekend for the winning car owner, Thompson holds an early 19-point lead, 64-45 over Lindh in the quest for a scholarship valued at nearly $600,000 to graduate into Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires, the top step of the Road to Indy, in 2020. Up next are two more races at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course on May 10-11.

It is unbelievable to sweep the weekend. All the credit goes to Abel Motorsports – coming for a brand-new team on the Road to Indy, racing in a completely new category, to take both wins, that is amazing. I can’t thank them enough for this opportunity. We went into St. Pete not thinking anything past this weekend, so hopefully you’ll see more of us this season.

 

The next races of the 2019 Indy Pro 2000 season take place on May 10th & 11th at the Indianapolis road course. 

For more information on schedule and standings visit: https://promazda.com/

THOMPSON SCORES DEBUT INDY PRO 2000 VICTORY FOR ABEL MOTORSPORTS

THOMPSON SCORES DEBUT INDY PRO 2000 VICTORY FOR ABEL MOTORSPORTS

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Two weeks ago, Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires veteran Parker Thompson wasn’t even sure he would be on the grid this season. How quickly things can change. After concluding a late deal to join debutant team Abel Motorsports, Thompson, from Red Deer, Alb., Canada, came from behind to take the checkered flag comfortably clear of impressive rookie Rasmus Lindh (Juncos Racing).

Lindh’s teammate, Sting Ray Robb, from Payette, Idaho, matched his career-best finish in third.

Unlike the earlier Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship curtain-raiser, the start for this afternoon’s opening round of the newly rebranded Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires was relatively clean. Thompson, mindful of the notoriously problematic Turn One, elected to take a conservative approach which allowed an opportunist Lindh, who qualified second, to drive around the outside and assume the lead at Turn Two. Robb, who started fourth, also snuck past last year’s USF2000 champion, Kyle Kirkwood (RP Motorsport USA) in the opening sequence of turns, whereupon Kirkwood’s attempt to regain third place in Turn Five resulted in contact between the pair and a broken front wing for Kirkwood.

Lindh, who finished second in last year’s USF2000 Championship, also as a rookie, put his head down on the opening lap to open up over two seconds on the field, but it didn’t take Thompson long to reduce that deficit to just a few car lengths. Robb, too, followed in Thompson’s wheel tracks such that the three leaders were back in nose-to-tail formation as they completed the fifth of 25 laps.

Their battle was then interrupted by the first of two full-course cautions. Kirkwood’s troubled Indy Pro 2000 debut had ended prematurely in Turn Three after he had slid almost to the back of the field and then made additional contact with Locke (Exclusive Autosport), who was fortunately able to continue unscathed.

Lindh picked up from where he left off at the restart. So, too, did Thompson, who, on Lap 15, used his superior traction out of the final corner to gain a run on race leader Lindh, then take the lead in style under braking for Turn One.

“This is huge for us, especially since we’re under the pressure of a one-race deal. It’s great to finally stand on the top step of the podium, since a win in St. Pete has always eluded me. It’s one of my favorite races and I’m always fast here but somehow I haven’t won it, so my mission is complete. I knew how good the car was; the Abel Motorsports guys gave me a rocket ship. I knew I was faster than Rasmus, though he did a better job at the start, but I worked him over, used my experience and the raw pace of the car to come through with the victory.”