After making headlines with a four-wide finish at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Firestone Indy Lights returns to the track at the Milwaukee Mile. The four drivers who featured prominently in the Indianapolis finish lead the series point standings. Carlos Munoz has won two races and leads the standings over Indianapolis winner Peter Dempsey by 27 points but Gabby Chaves (-28 points) and Sage Karam (-29 points) are just behind. Will the race for the Firestone Firehawk Cup be as close as the Indy finish?
Munoz chasing Firestone Indy Lights title
Andretti Autosport's Carlos Munoz, who won Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year after finishing second, has been equally impressive in his second season in Firestone Indy Lights. The Colombian has won three poles and two races in four starts. Can he continue his strong start as the series races on short ovals in the next two weeks?
Irish driver prepares for "home" race at Milwaukee
Firestone Freedom 100 winner Peter Dempsey is a native of Ireland, but considers the Milwaukee Mile his home track. The Ashbourne, Ireland native makes his home in the northern suburbs of Chicago - about an hour away from The Milwaukee Mile. Can Dempsey make it two wins in a row?
Can Schmidt Peterson Motorsports win at Milwaukee again?
Schmidt Peterson Motorsports with Curb-Agajanian has won three of the eight previous Firestone Indy Lights races under INDYCAR sanction at Milwaukee with drivers Alex Lloyd (2007), Esteban Guerrieri (2011) and Tristan Vautier (2012). The team returns this season with three cars for drivers Gabby Chaves, Jack Hawksworth and Sage Karam. Will one of those drivers keep up the string of team success?
Veach searches for first win at Milwaukee
Young American driver Zach Veach comes to Milwaukee in search of his first Firestone Indy Lights win. The teenager from Stockdale, Ohio is moving up the Mazda Road to Indy under the tutelage of Michael Andretti. Can Veach score his first win at a track where Andretti won five times as a driver?
Mazda Road to Indy scholarship winners excelling in 2013
Three drivers who moved up the racing ladder as part of the Mazda Road to Indy are off to strong starts in 2013. 2012 Star Mazda Championship winner Jack Hawksworth is fifth in the Firestone Indy Lights standings and won his series debut, while 2012 USF2000 National Championship Matthew Brabham leads the Pro Mazda Championship for Andretti Autosport. Both will be trying to emulate 2012 Firestone Indy Lights champion Tristan Vautier, who has been impressive as an IZOD IndyCar Series rookie with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports. All three drivers will be racing this weekend at Milwaukee.
Race Notes:
This is the 25th Firestone Indy Lights race at Milwaukee since the series began in 1986. Didier Theys (1987), Mike Groff (1989), Paul Tracy (1990), Bryan Herta (1993), Steve Robertson (1994), Greg Moore (1995), Scott Dixon (2000), Townsend Bell (2001), Alex Lloyd (2007) and Tristan Vautier (2012) won at Milwaukee and the Firestone Indy Lights title in the same season.
Schmidt Peterson Motorsports has won three of the eight races under INDYCAR sanction at the Milwaukee Mile. Andretti Autosport, Team E, Kenn Hardley Racing and Hemelgarn Racing have won one race each.
Carlos Munoz, Peter Dempsey and Jack Hawksworth are the only drivers entered in the Milwaukee 100 who have previously won a race in Firestone Indy Lights.
Season To Date:
Peter Dempsey won the Firestone Freedom 100 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with a dramatic four-wide pass on the final lap. Dempsey's margin of victory was .0026 of a second, the closest finish on the famed IMS oval.
Sage Karam won his first pole position in Firestone Indy Lights at Indianapolis.
Carlos Munoz won back-to-back races at Barber Motorsports Park and the Streets of Long Beach. They were his third and fourth career Firestone Indy Lights wins, respectively. Munoz has three Sunoco Pole Awards this season.
Jack Hawksworth won his Firestone Indy Lights debut at St. Petersburg. He became the 11th driver to win his first Firestone Indy Lights start.
Milestones:
Jack Hawksworth claimed his first career win at St. Petersburg. It was Schmidt Peterson Motorsports' seventh win at St. Petersburg.
Gabby Chaves, Jack Hawksworth, Sage Karam, Ethan Ringel and Zach Veach made their series debut at St. Petersburg.
Matthew Di Leo made his series debut at Long Beach.
Peter Dempsey won his first Firestone Indy Lights race at Indianapolis. It was Belardi Auto Racing's first win in Firestone Indy Lights.
Kyle O'Gara and Jimmy Simpson made their series debut at Indianapolis.
At-Track Schedule (all times local):
Friday, June 14
9-9:45 a.m. - Firestone Indy Lights practice
Noon-12:45 p.m. - Firestone Indy Lights practice
3:30-4 p.m. - Firestone Indy Lights Sunoco Pole Qualifying
Saturday, June 15
12:45 p.m. - Milwaukee 100 pre-race
1 p.m. - Milwaukee 100 (100 laps/100 miles), NBC Sports Network (Same-day tape) 3 p.m. (ET).
