Local driver Evagoras Papasavvas capped a disappointing Friday by taking a clean sweep for Jay Howard Driver Development in the second round of the Tatuus Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio on Saturday afternoon. On pole for the second straight day, Papasavvas, a native of Loveland, Ohio, repeated his first win of last year. He also moved up to second in the USF2000 Presented by Continental Tire standings with his first victory of the season.
Teammate Michael Costello of Naples, Florida, continued his strong recent form with second-place finishes in his last three races, while Elliot Cox of Indianapolis, Indiana, also claimed his second podium of the season with third in his patriotic Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing Development Tatuus USF-22.
Papasavvas has been in fine form all weekend. He confirmed his first pole position of the season yesterday by once again starting from the front of the field, thanks to his second fastest lap in Friday’s only qualifying session, faster than any of his rivals.
The weather changed dramatically on Friday, with a dangerously wet track replaced by perfect summer conditions. And, after making a mistake on the opening lap on Friday afternoon, there were no setbacks today as Papasavvas made a good start to maintain his early lead.
Front-row starter Quinn Armstrong (DEForce Racing) of Newcastle, Australia was unfortunately demoted on the first lap as Costello moved up behind Papasavvas and fellow home-state rider Thomas Schrage of Bethel, Ohio, slipped to third for VRD Racing.
Schrage, a former FRP F1600 champion and Team USA scholarship winner, seems to have had more than his fair share of bad luck since his USF2000 debut at Mid-Ohio last year. Unfortunately, his luck was no better on Saturday afternoon, as his car’s shock cover flew off on lap three… and, incredibly, lodged firmly against the rear wing, robbing his car of downforce.
Schrage fought bravely for a few laps before giving up the uneven fight and heading to the pit lane. With the offending body part replaced, Schrage rejoined the field at the back of the pack and quickly set a series of fastest laps of the race that, along with the better weather conditions on Saturday, were enough to ensure he started the third race of the weekend on Sunday from pole position. Luck was not to be had again, however, as Schrage headed to the pits again with a few laps to go after the car’s fire extinguisher mysteriously went dead.
After a brief full-course neutralisation that ended with four laps to go, Papasavvas got the better of Costello to consolidate a well-deserved victory, while Costello narrowly held off a strong attack from Cox to retain second place.
Behind, Friday’s winner Max Taylor (VRD Racing) of Hoboken, N.J., made an impressive late charge, making three passes in the closing laps to grab fourth ahead of championship leader Max Garcia (Pabst Racing) of Coconut Grove, Fla., Joey Brienza (Exclusive Autosport) of Golden, Colo., and Brazilian Nicolas Giaffone (DEForce Racing).
“The race was incredible,” said Papasavvas. “From the start I had my teammate behind me and we had a plan before the start of the race to stay in front the whole race and just focus on ourselves. We executed and that’s what we did. I stayed in front the whole race and just achieved my goals. The car was very fast and handled very well and I have to thank the team for that. It’s incredible what we did and we won in a magnificent way for the team with a one-two. We had a yellow flag that came and bunched up, but I stuck to my line. It was awesome.”
Taylor’s effort from ninth on the grid earned him his first Tilton Hard Charger award of the season.
The PFC Award was presented to Jay Howard as owner of the winning team.
The weekend will conclude with a third race tomorrow at 9:15 a.m. EDT, just before the NTT INDYCAR SERIES warm-up.
RESULTS
