Hello all, I wanted to write a short update on what the final part of my season looks like – or at least inform you on what we know at this point. To catch you up or remind you of where we stand, I was involved in a crash on the last lap of the third and final race of the 4th of July weekend event at Mid-Ohio. The damage bill put a pretty large obstacle in the way of finishing the full USF2000 season. I had the budget to do the full season, but just barely and the repairs took the remainder of the funds we had for the rest of the season, especially factoring in likely crash damage on a street course. So, that is why I was absent at the Honda Indy Toronto event and will also miss the final rounds at Portland this weekend.
However, I am not done driving this year. It sounds like I will get my first chance to test an Indy Pro 2000 car very soon! This is the next level on the Road to Indy and is certainly a step up in machinery. The Indy Pro 2000 car is the same chassis, but makes about 100 more horsepower than the USF2000 and is fit with bigger Cooper tires and creates more aerodynamic downforce. It should be a blast to drive, and I can’t wait to see how I stack up. We plan to use this test as an opportunity to evaluate me and see if I am ready to move up or if I should spend another year developing in USF2000 or potentially another similar series.
We’ve had some good initial conversations with our current partners for 2023 and some potential new partners to put us in a better financial situation for next year. I think I may also have a chance to race a car with a roof before the end of the year! Hopefully, news to come.
In the meantime, I’ll make good use of an unexpected off weekend by coaching at the kart track at New Castle Motor Sports Park and then heading to Sebring on Sunday afternoon to coach future Road to Indy drivers in the Lucas Oil School of Racing on Monday and Tuesday. I’ll be rooting for my Cape Motorsports teammates Michael, Jagger and Nicky this weekend in Portland. We still have a chance at the team championship and Michael is fighting for the driver championship! I took a big step this year in my development with Dominic, Nicholas, Reggie and the rest of the team. Hopefully I can rejoin them in a couple of years in Indy Lights – where they are headed in 2023.
As always, I owe huge thanks to those who have supported me over the course of the season.
Stay Fast,
Jackson