Circuit of the Americas Trackside Report Day 1

Circuit of the Americas Trackside Report Day 1

Schedule of Today’s Events (All Times Local)

Thursday, September 15, 2017

7:30 a.m.   Registration Opens

7:45 a.m.   Drivers Meeting Starts

8:00 a.m.   F4 Tech & Scales Open

8:15 a.m.   Driver Meeting Ends

8:45 a.m.   F4 U.S. Tech Closes

9:10 a.m.   F4 U.S. Official Practice 1 Starts

9:40 a.m.   F4 U.S. Official Practice 1 Ends

10:00 a.m. F4 U.S. Tech Opens

11:35 p.m. Lunch Starts

1:00 p.m.   Lunch Ends

1:45 p.m.   F4 U.S. Tech Closes

2:35 p.m.   F4 U.S. Official Practice 2 Starts

3:15 p.m.   F4 U.S. Official Practice 2 Ends

3:30 p.m.   Registration Closes

3:30 p.m.   Tire Marking Starts

3:45 p.m.   F4 Tech & Scales Open

4:30 p.m.   Driver Education Seminar Starts

5:00 p.m.   Driver Education Seminar Ends

5:30 p.m.   Tire Marking Ends

5:30 p.m.   F4 Tech & Scales Closes

 

 

 Entry List

Car #:

Driver:

Hometown:

Team:

Engine:

Sponsors:

 

2

 

Skylar Robinson

 

Augusta, GA

 

Momentum Motorsports

 

Honda

 

Momentum Motorsports

 

3

 

Vincent Khristov

 

Delray Beach, FL

 

Indy Motorsports Group

 

Honda

 

CPC Inc

 

4

 

Jim Goughary Jr

 

Jupiter, FL

 

Primus Racing Team

 

Honda

 

Primus Race Parts

 

5

 

Austin McCusker

 

Glen Head, NY

 

Primus Racing Team

 

Honda

 

Dot Works / Primus Racing

 

6

 

Parker Locke

 

San Antonio, TX

Jay Howard’s Motorsports

Driver Development

 

Honda

 

Jay Howard’s Motorsports Driver Development

 

7

 

Blake Mount

 

Denver, CO

 

JDX Racing

 

Honda

 

Expedia / HD Supply / Sobel Westex

 

8

 

Kyle Kirkwood

 

Jupiter, FL

 

Cape Motorsports

 

Honda

 

 

9

 

Mathias Soler-Obel

 

Bogota, Colombia

 

Cape Motorsports

 

Honda

 

 

10

 

Davis Durrett

 

Carmel, IN

 

Indy Motorsports Group

 

Honda

 

 

12

 

Moises de la Vara

 

Guadalajara, Mexico

 

DE Force Racing

 

Honda

 

UAG / Promomin / Repsol

 

14

 

Dalton Peak

 

Taylorsville, KY

Jay Howard’s Motorsports

Driver Development

 

Honda

 

Jay Howard’s Motorsports Driver Development

 

16

 

Kent Vaccaro

 

Plattsburgh, NY

 

Momentum Motorsports

 

Honda

 

Momentum Motorsports

 

19

 

Timo Reger

 

Houston, TX

 

JDX Racing

 

Honda

 

 

22

 

Jacob Abel

 

Louisville, KY

 

Abel Motorsports

 

Honda

 

Abel Construction / Advance Inc

 

24

 

Benjamin Pedersen

 

Copenhagen, Denmark

 

Global Racing Group

 

Honda

DirtFish / Alfa Romeo of Seattle / Egrari Non- Invasive Center

 

25

 

Pierre Thiriet

 

Epinal, France

 

Global Racing Group

 

Honda

 

Global Racing Group

 

27

 

Austin Kaszuba

 

Burleson, TX

 

Crosslink Racing

 

Honda

LVP Powder and Paints / Cross Link Power Coating

 

28

 

Ben Waddell

 

Denver, CO

 

JDX Racing

 

Honda

 

Stoner Car Care / USWAG

 

29

 

Jonathan Scarallo

 

Smithtown, NY

 

Group A Racing

 

Honda

 

 

30

 

Russ McDonough IV

 

Little Rock, AR

 

Group A Racing

 

Honda

 

 

35

 

Nick Andries

 

Pinellas Park, FL

 

Indy Motorsport Group

 

Honda

 

Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh

 

37

 

Jordan Sherratt

 

Durban, South Africa

 

Crosslink Racing

 

Honda

 

Crosslink Powder Coating

 

39

 

Justin Sirgany

 

Kingston, Jamaica

 

Global Racing Group

 

Honda

JFP / Your Complete Décor Solution / Bob Marley Foundation

 

40

 

Jack William Miller

 

Westfield, IN

Miller Vinatieri Leguizamon Motorsports

 

Honda

 

Indy Dental Group LLC / Blue Marble

 

41

 

Braden Eves

 

Gahanna, OH

Jay Howard’s Motorsports

Driver Development

 

Honda

Jay Howard’s Motorsports Driver Development

/ Lucas Oil / Green 1 / Team One Cure

 

45

 

Baltazar Leguizamon

 

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Miller Vinatieri Leguizamon Motorsports

 

Honda

 

Motorola

 

61

 

John Paul Southern Jr

 

Westlake, OH

Jay Howard’s Motorsports

Driver Development

 

Honda

 

Pittsburgh International Race Complex

 

62

 

Raphael Forcier

 

Montreal, Quebec

 

Indy Motorsports Group

 

Honda

 

Parizeau Pawulski Deslandes Architetcs

 

68

 

Jacob Loomis

 

Corinth, TX

 

Global Racing Group

 

Honda

 

Optima Anesthesia / Epic Electric

 

77

 

Kory Enders

 

Warwick, NY

 

DE Force Racing

 

Honda

 

MBSugerland

 

85

 

Dakota Dickerson

 

San Diego, CA

 

Kiwi Motorsport LTD

 

Honda

 

 

86

 

Brendon Leitch

Invercargill, New Zealand

 

Kiwi Motorsport LTD

 

Honda

 

ITM / Kiwi Motorsport

 

96

 

Lawson Nagel

 

Fort Worth, TX

Miller Vinatieri Leguizamon Motorsports

 

Honda

 

 

07

 

Steve Bamford

 

Toronto, Ontario

 

Cape Motorsports

 

Honda

 

Rice Race Prep

 

***

Teams started arriving at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, around 7:30 a.m. The temperature was 73 degrees. Shortly after arrival a short pop-up shower moved through the area. It lasted just long enough to dampen the track, however, the asphalt was so warm that it was dry before the first practice session.

***

The F4 U.S. competitors participated in a drivers’ meeting at 7:45 a.m. reviewing flags and race footage.

***

The first morning practice session began at 9:10 a.m. and lasted 30 minutes. Thirty-two of the 34 cars competed. Series newcomer Pierre Thiriet of Epinal, France, did not pass preliminary tech height requirements. Steve Bamford of Toronto did not participate in either practice due to travel delays from Hurricane Irma. Dalton Peak of Taylorsville, Kentucky, participated in the session but did not record time due to a faulty transponder. The session was without yellow or red flags, however Braden Eves of Gahanna, Ohio, ran out gas and required a tow. Kent Vaccaro of Plattsburgh, New York, suffered a flat tire at the beginning of practice but was able to complete the first session after it was changed.  Eves completed practice with the fastest lap (2:17.068) with Benjamin Pedersen of Copenhagen, Denmark, finishing just .177 seconds behind him.

Pos

No.

Name

Best Tm

Diff

In Lap

Hometown

Team

Sponsor

1

41

Braden Eves

2:17.068

 

9

Gahanna Ohio

Jay Howard’s Motorsports Driv

Jay Howard’s Motorsports Driver Developm

2

24

Benjamin Pedersen

2:17.245

0.177

10

Copenhagen DNK

Global Racing Group

Dirtfish/Alfa Romeo of Seattle/Egrari Non-In

3

62

Raphael Forcier

2:17.601

0.533

12

Montreal Qué. Can.

Indy Motorsports Group

Parizeau Pawulski Deslandes Architects

4

45

Baltazar Leguizamon

2:17.689

0.621

12

Buenos Aires ARG

Miller Vinatieri Leguizamon M

Motorola

5

8

Kyle Kirkwood

2:17.712

0.644

12

Jupiter Fla.

Cape Motorsports

Cape Motorsports

6

12

Moises de la Vara

2:17.742

0.674

6

Guadalajara MEX

DE Force Racing

UAG/Promomin/Repsol

7

77

Kory Enders

2:17.793

0.725

10

Warwick N.Y.

DE Force Racing

MBSugerland

8

68

Jacob Loomis

2:18.150

1.082

9

Corinth Texas

Global Racing Group

Optima Anesthesia / Epic Electric

9

85

Dakota Dickerson

2:18.163

1.095

11

San Diego Calif.

Kiwi Motorsport

Kiwi Motorsport

10

37

Jordan Sherratt

2:18.237

1.169

9

Durban ZAF

Crosslink Racing

Crosslink Powder Coating / Patrick Flynn Mo

11

35

Nick Andries

2:18.500

1.432

11

Pinellas Park Fla.

Indy Motorsports Group

Indy Motorsports Group

12

28

Ben Waddell

2:18.551

1.483

10

Denver Colo.

JDX Racing

Stoner Car Care / USWAG

13

9

Mathias Soler-Obel

2:18.569

1.501

11

Bogota COL

Cape Motorsports

Cape Motorsports

14

22

Jacob Abel

2:18.674

1.606

11

Louisville Ky.

Abel Motorsports

Abel Construction / Advance Inc

15

19

Timo Reger

2:18.765

1.697

12

Houston Texas

JDX Racing

JDX Racing

16

86

Brendon Leitch

2:19.066

1.998

9

Invercargill NZL

Kiwi Motorsport

ITM/ Kiwi Motorsport

17

39

Justin Sirgany

2:19.315

2.247

12

Kingston JAM

Global Racing Group

JFP / Your Complete Décor Solution / Bob M

18

2

Skylar Robinson

2:19.322

2.254

10

Augusta Ga.

Momentum Motorsports

Momentum Motorsports

19

27

Austin Kaszuba

2:19.425

2.357

9

Burleson Texas

Crosslink Racing

LVP Powder and Paints/Crosslink Powder Co

20

61

John Paul Southern Jr

2:19.449

2.381

9

Westlake Ohio

Jay Howard’s Motorsports Driv

Pittsburgh International Race Complex/ Jay

21

29

Jonathan Scarallo

2:19.605

2.537

11

Smithtown N.Y.

Group A Racing

Group A Racing

22

10

Davis Durrett

2:19.892

2.824

10

Carmel Ind.

Indy Motorsports Group

Underwood Machinery Transport / Tag  Heu

23

40

Jack William Miller

2:19.930

2.862

12

Westfield Ind.

Miller Vinatieri Leguizamon M

Indy Dental Group LLC / Blue Marble

24

6

Parker Locke

2:20.129

3.061

11

San Antonio Texas

Jay Howard’s Motorsports Driv

Jay Howard’s Motorsports Driver Developm

25

5

Austin McCusker

2:20.285

3.217

7

Glen Head N.Y.

Primus Racing Team

Dot Works / Primus Racing

26

7

Blake Mount

2:20.429

3.361

9

Denver Colo.

JDX Racing

Expedia / HD Supply / Sobel Westex

27

4

Jim Goughary Jr

2:21.087

4.019

9

Jupiter Fla.

Primus Racing Team

Primus Race Parts

28

96

Lawson Nagel

2:21.214

4.146

10

Fort Worth Texas

Miller Vinatieri Leguizamon M

Marc  Samuels Jewelers

29

3

Vincent Khristov

2:21.406

4.338

6

Delray Beach Fla.

Indy Motorsports Group

Counter Pressure  Casting Machines

30

16

Kent Vaccaro

2:21.754

4.686

10

Plattsburgh N.Y.

Momentum Motorsports

Momentum Motorsports

31

30

Russ McDonough IV

2:23.847

6.779

8

Little Rock Ark.

Group A Racing

Group A Racing

32

14

Dalton Peak

 

 

0

Taylorsville Ky.

Jay Howard’s Motorsports Driv

Jay Howard’s Motorsports Driver Developm

 

 

***

11:35 p.m. Competitors and staff broke for lunch

***

The second F4 U.S. practice session started after lunch at 2:45 p.m. Thirty-two cars participated, with Thiriet and Bamford withdrawing for the day. Peak did not record practice times. His transponder problem is anticipated to be resolved by qualifying tomorrow. Some off-track activity caused area yellows and several in-session drive through penalties were issued due to competitors exceeding track limits. Track officials issued a memo after the practice ended to inform drivers that the penalty for exceeding track limits is a removal of the driver’s fastest lap for each infraction. Enforcement of the rule will start tomorrow during qualifying. Austin McCusker of Glen Head, New York, turned the most laps with 12. Pedersen secured the F4 U.S. fastest lap (2:17.1) with Eves just .36 off his time.

Pos

No.

Name

Best Tm

Diff

In Lap

Hometown

Team

Sponsor

1

24

Benjamin Pedersen

2:17.110

 

8

Copenhagen DNK

Global Racing Group

Dirtfish/Alfa Romeo of Seattle/Egrari Non-In

2

41

Braden Eves

2:17.470

0.360

9

Gahanna Ohio

Jay Howard’s Motorsports Driv

Jay Howard’s Motorsports Driver Developm

 o3

8

Kyle Kirkwood

2:17.529

0.419

6

Jupiter Fla.

Cape Motorsports

Cape Motorsports

4

85

Dakota Dickerson

2:17.653

0.543

8

San Diego Calif.

Kiwi Motorsport

Kiwi Motorsport

5

37

Jordan Sherratt

2:17.663

0.553

8

Durban ZAF

Crosslink Racing

Crosslink Powder Coating / Patrick Flynn Mo

6

35

Nick Andries

2:17.665

0.555

5

Pinellas Park Fla.

Indy Motorsports Group

Indy Motorsports Group

7

77

Kory Enders

2:17.753

0.643

6

Warwick N.Y.

DE Force Racing

MBSugerland

8

12

Moises de la Vara

2:17.781

0.671

10

Guadalajara MEX

DE Force Racing

UAG/Promomin/Repsol

9

68

Jacob Loomis

2:18.080

0.970

8

Corinth Texas

Global Racing Group

Optima Anesthesia / Epic Electric

10

28

Ben Waddell

2:18.121

1.011

5

Denver Colo.

JDX Racing

Stoner Car Care / USWAG

11

9

Mathias Soler-Obel

2:18.193

1.083

7

Bogota COL

Cape Motorsports

Cape Motorsports

12

62

Raphael Forcier

2:18.388

1.278

6

Montreal Qué. Can.

Indy Motorsports Group

Parizeau Pawulski Deslandes Architects

13

86

Brendon Leitch

2:18.429

1.319

9

Invercargill NZL

Kiwi Motorsport

ITM/ Kiwi Motorsport

14

45

Baltazar Leguizamon

2:18.430

1.320

8

Buenos Aires ARG

Miller Vinatieri Leguizamon M

Motorola

15

2

Skylar Robinson

2:18.435

1.325

8

Augusta Ga.

Momentum Motorsports

Momentum Motorsports

16

39

Justin Sirgany

2:18.627

1.517

4

Kingston JAM

Global Racing Group

JFP / Your Complete Décor Solution / Bob M

17

19

Timo Reger

2:18.765

1.655

3

Houston Texas

JDX Racing

JDX Racing

18

5

Austin McCusker

2:18.779

1.669

12

Glen Head N.Y.

Primus Racing Team

Dot Works / Primus Racing

19

29

Jonathan Scarallo

2:18.875

1.765

7

Smithtown N.Y.

Group A Racing

Group A Racing

20

27

Austin Kaszuba

2:19.146

2.036

9

Burleson Texas

Crosslink Racing

LVP Powder and Paints/Crosslink Powder Co

21

61

John Paul Southern Jr

2:19.172

2.062

9

Westlake Ohio

Jay Howard’s Motorsports Driv

Pittsburgh International Race Complex/ Jay

22

22

Jacob Abel

2:19.208

2.098

6

Louisville Ky.

Abel Motorsports

Abel Construction / Advance Inc

23

7

Blake Mount

2:19.562

2.452

9

Denver Colo.

JDX Racing

Expedia / HD Supply / Sobel Westex

24

6

Parker Locke

2:19.717

2.607

5

San Antonio Texas

Jay Howard’s Motorsports Driv

Jay Howard’s Motorsports Driver Developm

25

16

Kent Vaccaro

2:20.098

2.988

10

Plattsburgh N.Y.

Momentum Motorsports

Momentum Motorsports

26

40

Jack William Miller

2:20.412

3.302

8

Westfield Ind.

Miller Vinatieri Leguizamon M

Indy Dental Group LLC / Blue Marble

27

96

Lawson Nagel

2:20.486

3.376

10

Fort Worth Texas

Miller Vinatieri Leguizamon M

Marc  Samuels Jewelers

28

3

Vincent Khristov

2:20.538

3.428

2

Delray Beach Fla.

Indy Motorsports Group

Counter Pressure  Casting Machines

29

14

Dalton Peak

2:20.764

3.654

9

Taylorsville Ky.

Jay Howard’s Motorsports Driv

Jay Howard’s Motorsports Driver Developm

30

4

Jim Goughary Jr

2:20.993

3.883

4

Jupiter Fla.

Primus Racing Team

Primus Race Parts

31

30

Russ McDonough IV

2:21.112

4.002

7

Little Rock Ark.

Group A Racing

Group A Racing

32

10

Davis Durrett

2:32.153

15.043

1

Carmel Ind.

Indy Motorsports Group

Underwood Machinery Transport / Tag  Heu

 

***

4:30 p.m. The educational portion of the event was canceled by series director Chip Robinson. The guest‘s flight was delayed.   

***

Tech closed for the day at 5:30 p.m. Minor infractions were found besides the height restrictions for GRG.

***

Quotes from Practice Results

Benjamin Pedersen, Global Racing Group- It was really nice to end the day with a P2 in Official Practice 1 and P1 in Practice 2! I look forward to carrying the speed over into qualifying and to hopefully be at the front again! I know we have the speed to do it and qualifying can't come soon enough!

Blake Mount, JDX Racing- Today was a great day, COTA has proven to be my favorite track on the 2017 F4 line up. I spent FP1 learning and then beginning to set the car up on the track. Minor changes in between sessions allowed me to dial in my personal best lap for the day in FP2. I wasn't able to stack up against the competition as well as I would have liked however ending the day on a purple sector one amongst my teammates left me content with my performance. We have made some minor changes and will attack the track tomorrow morning for qualifying.

Austin Kaszuba, Crosslink Racing- Today was a learning experience for us. Our pace was off but we recovered enough at the end of the second practice to put together a solid qualifying run for tomorrow 

Photos

Full Results