LEXINGTON, Ohio – Italian-Canadian racer Devlin DeFrancesco has set his sights on an Indy Pro 2000 Championship presented by Cooper Tires fightback after a frustrating weekend at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

DeFrancesco entered the weekend in second place in the championship but was struck with an engine problem and didn’t finish the first race of the weekend on Saturday.

The Andretti Steinbrenner Autosport team was greeted with heavy rain on Sunday for the second weekend and DeFrancesco suffered a brake issue and was one of several racers who ended up off track in the Ohio downpour.

The race was red flagged and restarted under completely dry conditions later in the afternoon. Restarting 13th, DeFrancesco fought his way up to 10th at the start, eventually crossing the finish line in the 11th position.

Despite the challenges of the weekend, DeFrancesco remains in second place in the championship standings, 49 points back, with five races still remaining.

The championship next heads to the 2.25-mile, 12-turn, New Jersey Motorsport Park on October 9-11

DeFrancesco’s Indy Pro 2000 campaign is supported by Kimoa - the fashion, clothing, and accessories brand founded by Fernando Alonso; world-class racing simulator manufacturer Allinsports; Apple’s largest premium retail partner, Simply Mac; Engine Media; Pure Kana and One Plant Merchandise.

DEVLIN DEFRANCESCO
“That was certainly a frustrating weekend but, we’re second in points with five races left to run and are still well in the championship hunt.

“The engine issue on Saturday was a huge disappointment. I felt like we really could have made up some positions in that race and hopefully claw back some points in the championship.

“The conditions in race two were pretty treacherous at the start. I had a brake issue and there were quite a few of us that were caught out by the water in the first corner that really had our race ruined right off the bat. And then, restarting in the dry after prepping for a wet race was challenging.

“I was happy to make up a few positions, but passing is already hard at Mid-Ohio, and especially so in a car that really wasn’t set up for that scenario.

“I’m looking forward to heading to New Jersey Motorsport Park and trying a new track. I have a couple of weeks to record plenty of laps on my Allinsports simulator to be as well prepared as possibly can.

“My Andretti Steinbrenner team has done a brilliant job for me this season and I’m looking forward to putting the No.17 Kimoa car back on the top step of the podium soon.”