PORTLAND, Ore. – This weekend’s Cooper Tires Grand Prix of Portland brought down the curtain on another successful season for the Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires.
Having arrived in the Pacific Northwest with a comfortable lead in the Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires, Exclusive Autosport’s Louis Foster was able to put the title beyond the reach of his rivals during the first of three races on Friday at the Portland International Raceway road course.
In contrast, the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship went down to the wire with three drivers still in for a chance at the crown prior to the final 25-lap race. Once the dust had settled, Michael d’Orlando profited from several incidents on the opening lap to emerge from behind and claim a victory for Cape Motorsports.
The achievements of both rising stars were lauded yesterday evening during the traditional Championship Celebration which began with a spectacular reception beside the Columbia River and with the majestic Mount Hood clearly visible in the background.
Over $1.1 million in scholarships and prizes subsequently were distributed in front of almost 200 in attendance.
Foster, a 19-year-old rookie from Basingstoke, England, in his very first season of racing in North America, earned a scholarship package valued at $614,425 to ensure his progression into Indy Lights, the next step on the unique open-wheel driver development ladder, in 2023.
Similarly, d’Orlando, 20, from Hartsdale, N.Y., took home a scholarship valued at $406,925 to make the step up to Indy Pro 2000 next season.
Both young drivers have their sights set firmly on a future in the NTT IndyCar Series and the Indianapolis 500.
Another highlight of the evening was provided by the presentation of a first-ever Road to Indy Lifetime Achievement Award to brothers Dominic and Nicholas Cape.
Their Cape Motorsports team has enjoyed unparalleled success in USF2000, claiming 10 of the last 12 championships, and will also graduate along the Road to Indy in 2023 by fielding a new program in Indy Lights.