Native driver Evagoras Papasavvas put a disappointing Friday firmly behind him as he sped to a flag-to-flag victory for Jay Howard Driver Growth in Saturday afternoon’s second leg of the Tatuus Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio tripleheader. On pole for the second straight day, Papasavvas, from Loveland, Ohio, repeated his maiden success from one yr in the past. He additionally moved as much as second place within the USF2000 Introduced by Continental Tire level standings along with his first win of the season.
Teammate Michael Costello, from Naples, Fla., maintained his latest sturdy kind by claiming a second runner-up end in his final three races, whereas Elliot Cox, from Indianapolis, Ind., additionally snagged his second podium end of the season with third in his patriotically liveried Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing Growth Tatuus USF-22.
Papasavvas has been the shape man all weekend. He backed up his first Continental Tire Pole Award of the season yesterday by as soon as once more beginning on the entrance of the sector, courtesy of his second-fastest lap in the course of the solitary qualifying session on Friday being faster than all of his rivals.
The climate turned a 180-degree change from Friday, with a treacherously moist monitor changed by excellent summer season circumstances. And, having made a mistake on the opening lap on Friday afternoon, there was no such hiccup immediately as Papasavvas made a clear getaway to keep up the early benefit.
Entrance row starter Quinn Armstrong (DEForce Racing), from Newcastle, Australia, was sadly shuffled down the order on the opening lap as Costello took up place behind Papasavvas and one other home-state driver, Thomas Schrage, from Bethel, Ohio, slipped into third for VRD Racing.
Schrage, a former FRP F1600 champion and Workforce USA Scholarship winner, has seemingly endured greater than his justifiable share of misfortune since making his USF2000 debut at Mid-Ohio final yr. Sadly, his luck was no higher Saturday afternoon as his automobile’s shock-absorber cowl flew off on the third lap… and, extremely, lodged itself firmly towards the rear wing, stripping his automobile of downforce.
Schrage battled on gamely for a couple of laps earlier than giving up the unequal wrestle and heading for pit lane. As soon as the offending piece of bodywork had been changed, Schrage rejoined behind the sector and promptly turned a collection of quickest laps of the race which, with the improved climate circumstances Saturday, had been sufficient to make sure that he’ll begin Sunday’s third race of the weekend from pole place. Woman Luck nonetheless wasn’t performed, nevertheless, as Schrage headed to the pits as soon as once more with simply a few laps remaining after the automobile’s hearth extinguisher mysteriously discharged.
Following a short full-course warning which concluded with 4 laps remaining, Papasavvas edged away from Costello to cement a well-deserved victory, whereas Costello simply held off a robust assault from Cox to keep up second.
Behind, Friday’s winner, Max Taylor (VRD Racing), from Hoboken, N.J., mounted a formidable late cost by making three passes within the closing few laps to annex fourth place forward of championship chief Max Garcia (Pabst Racing), from Coconut Grove, Fla., Joey Brienza (Unique Autosport), from Golden, Colo., and Brazilian Nicolas Giaffone (DEForce Racing).
“The race was unbelievable,” Papasavvas stated. “Simply from the beginning, I had my teammate behind me and we had a plan earlier than the beginning of the race to remain in entrance the complete race and simply deal with ourselves. We executed and that’s what we did. I stayed in entrance the complete race and simply hit my marks. The automobile was actually quick and felt nice and I’ve to thank the group for that. It’s unbelievable what we did and we received in nice vogue for the group with a one-two. We had a yellow that got here and that bunched up again collectively however I simply caught to my line. It was nice.”
Taylor’s effort from ninth on the grid secured his first Tilton Laborious Charger Award of the season.
The PFC Award went the way in which of Jay Howard because the successful group proprietor.
The weekend will conclude with a 3rd race tomorrow at 9:15 a.m. EDT, instantly earlier than the NTT INDYCAR SERIES warmup.
