ESR "ROAD TO INDY"
Background: Eddie Sachs is the son of the late, "Clown Prince," Eddie Sachs, Sr., a 8-time starter of the Indianapolis 500, 1957–64. Eddie carries on the family passion of racing and continues to field cars in the USAC divisions.
Goal: Long term, Eddie hopes to honor his father by some day fielding a car in the Indy 500. As a step into the Indy Car series, in the near future, ESR would like to put together an Indy Lights program for the Freedom 100 at IMS. In order for the both of these programs to come together, the team needs to locate additional partnerships to put the final pieces in place.
About the Indy Lights Series: The Mazda Road to Indy is the only driver development program in the world to feature a champion’s scholarship at every level to advance to the next step on the ladder system. The Indy Lights champion is awarded a $1M scholarship toward the Verizon IndyCar Series with three guaranteed races including the Indianapolis 500. Team and driver prize packages total over $1.9 million.
The highly acclaimed series, which has a rich history as a development platform for many of today’s top drivers, was transformed in 2015 with the introduction of a new equipment package to complement the arrival of Cooper Tires as the Official Tire of Indy Lights and presenting sponsor in 2014.
The Dallara IL-15 is a collaboration between Dallara’s Italian headquarters in Varano Melegari (Parma) and Dallara LLC in Speedway, Ind. The new car offers a modern, stylish appearance and provides the proper training required for drivers as the final step on the ladder to the Verizon IndyCar Series.
The chassis is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged Mazda MZR-R engine. Developed in conjunction with Advanced Engine Research (AER), the MZR-R was first campaigned by Mazda in the American Le Mans Series and Mazda customer teams in the European Le Mans Series. The engine enjoyed several milestone victories including Mazda’s first-ever major success in North American sports car racing and the 2011 LMP1 engine manufacturers championship. The engine, further developed by AER, will produce 450 horsepower and last an entire season without a rebuild.
Spencer Pigot of Juncos Racing won this year's championship and $1M scholarship. He will advance to the Verizon IndyCar Series in 2016 driving for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.
HISTORY
Indy Lights has produced some of the Verizon IndyCar Series’ biggest names during its 28-year history. Its 100+ graduates include Marco Andretti, Helio Castroneves, Scott Dixon and Tony Kanaan to name a few. More recently, several Indy Lights champions and front-runners have gone on to pursue their dream of racing in the IndyCar Series and the famed Indianapolis 500. Among them are 2015 champion Spencer Pigot, 2014 champion Gabby Chaves, 2013 champion Sage Karam, 2012 champion Tristan Vautier, 2011 champion Josef Newgarden, 2010 title runner-up James Hinchcliffe, 2010 fourth-place finisher Charlie Kimball and 2009 champion JR Hildebrand.
SCHEDULE
On the heels of a successful debut of the Mazda-powered Dallara IL-15, Indy Lights will see an expanded schedule of 18 races in 2016 with the addition of three new circuits – Phoenix International Raceway, Road America and the Streets of Boston. The blend of three ovals, three street circuit and five road course events will include doubleheader rounds at all street and road course venues with the exception of the Boston race.
A new qualifying feature – the Cooper Tires Lightning Round – will also debut at select circuits next year featuring the top three drivers from qualifying in a one-lap shootout on a new, softer compound Cooper RS3 racing slick for the coveted Cooper Tires Pole Award.
All but one event will be in support of the Verizon IndyCar Series as the season finale for all three Mazda Road to Indy ladder series will take place at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in September.
The focal point in the 2016 schedule will be the month of May at Indianapolis. The Grand Prix of Indianapolis, which proved popular with fans and racers alike during its inaugural running in 2014, will continue to feature all three Mazda Road to Indy series at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. Two weeks later, the crown jewel of the Indy Lights season – the Freedom 100 – will continue to be the traditional 100-mile race on Carb Day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval.
TELEVISION
Indy Lights will continue to enjoy one-hour race broadcasts on the NBCSN as well as live broadcasts on the IMS Radio Network to Sirius XM Satellite Radio, indycar.com, indycarradio.com and the INDYCAR app from Verizon. ESPN International holds the international broadcast rights with races airing in Canada, Colombia, Mexico and Australia amongst others.
All races will feature live streaming on indycar.com, usf2000.com and the RoadtoIndy.TV App including pre- and post-race coverage in the shows. Additional coverage such as post-race press conferences and special events will be streamed on the series website and the RoadtoIndy.TV App.
The popular RoadToIndy.TV will continue to provide behind-the-scenes access to all competitors on the Mazda Road to Indy.
CARS
New state-of-the-art single-seat, open-wheel, Indy car-style chassis manufactured by Dallara Automobili, complete with paddle shifters, push-to-pass and safety components meeting INDYCAR and FIA standards.
ENGINES
2.0-liter turbocharged Mazda MZR-R developed in conjunction with Advanced Engine Research (AER) producing 450 HP with 50 HP push-to-pass for high speed overtaking and capable of running an entire season without a rebuild.
TIRES
Cooper Tires
How to Help: If you or you know someone, or a business who would like to support our racing team and it's goal, please contact us direct here. Thank you!
