BROWNSBURG, Ind. – Since 2001, reigning Cooper Tires USF2000 champions Cape Motorsports have based their operation from their shop in St. Petersburg, Fla.
That will change this year as the team has relocated its program to Brownsburg, Ind. Located just west of Indianapolis only 10 miles from Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Brownsburg has become a hub of motorsports companies and race teams in recent years.
The Cape brothers – Nicholas and Dominic – are currently completing the move of their cars and equipment to the new shop.
“It’s a really big move for us and both companies,” offered the Capes, who also have a custom car building operation. “We’ve been living in Florida longer than we lived in the UK. We’ve raised our families here in Florida and almost moved to Indy numerous times. Once we heard that Roger Penske had bought the Speedway, we said if it’s good enough for Roger, then it’s good enough for us. After the Mid-Ohio race last summer, we met with Indiana State representatives for economic development and the Hendricks County guys, which helped us make our decision. With the added help of Wayne Taylor and Travis Houge, we were able to locate our headquarters quite quickly after the Chris Griffis test. We’re really excited at the opportunity to be based in Indy and we think it will be really positive for the race team and the speed shop.”
The shop’s primary focus is the four Tatuus USF-17 race cars that they’ll campaign this year in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship as the team chases its 10th series title.
The sibling duo also launched their Cape Brothers Speed Shop in 2014, building one-of-a-kind custom hot rods for select clients. They recently displayed a car at the SEMA show in Las Vegas, and their 1954 Buick Wagon – ‘Fat and Sassy’ – was featured in a photo shoot for Mob Steel, a custom car wheel manufacturer.