British driver finished first in opening race of Portland tripleheader to secure title
PORTLAND, OR – Entering the Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires season finale at Portland International Raceway on Friday morning, Exclusive Autosport’s Louis Foster held a commanding 77-point lead in the Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires title chase.
In the opening race of the weekend’s tripleheader, Foster finished first to clinch the title, delivering Exclusive Autosport its first Road to Indy Driver Championship which it now pairs with the Team Championship they won in 2021. Foster qualified first and then drove a calculated race to lock in the title and the scholarship that will allow him to move to Indy Lights in 2023. For Exclusive Autosport, this championship adds another prestigious accomplishment to the team’s expanding resume.
“I’m thrilled for Louis, I’m thrilled for this team and I’m honestly humbled,” said Michael Duncalfe, Exclusive Autosport Team Principal. “We’ve finished second twice in the Indy Pro 2000 Championship, our first time in 2018 with Parker Thompson which was our first year in Indy Pro and then second again last year with Braden Eves and also won the team championship.
"To come into 2022 with a rookie driver, and a phenomenal rookie driver, and to win the drivers title is amazing. It is absolutely amazing. I’m so thankful to each and every member of the Exclusive Autosport program. Whether they’re on an USF2000 car or an Indy Pro car, it doesn’t matter, everyone had a part in it. Everyone played an integral part in working towards this championship and I’m so thrilled for every individual that came together as a team and put this team on the top.”
“Obviously, it was a really good race today,” said Louis Foster, Indy Pro 2000 Champion. “I managed to get pole position and Reece challenged me quite hard going in to Turn One but I managed to get him back in Turn Two. From there, it was really just preserving tires. This track is really hard on tires, and it was quite hot today as well. I was just waiting for his tires to drop off and once they did, the gap opened up to three seconds. In winning the race, I became the 2022 champion. It has been an amazing day so far and there is still one race to go and I am going to try to win that one as well. I can’t thank the team enough for this year. They have been amazing and the series has been amazing. I have really enjoyed my first year in the States.”
Foster had a strong test day on Thursday, turning his first laps at the 1.964-mile, 12-turn Portland International Raceway circuit in his #90 Exclusive Autosport Copart Tatuus IP-22, preparing for this morning’s qualifying session. The 19-year Brit posted the fastest time of the session to start the 30-lap race from the inside of the front row, posting his fifth pole of the season. Foster bolted away at the green flag, and extended his lead, crossing the line 2.41 seconds over second place. It was his seventh win of the year.
Exclusive Autosport is pleased to have been able to share the celebration of this tremendous accomplishment with a great partner - Corpay Cross-Border Solutions (https://cross-border.corpay.com/exclusive-autosport/) - which specializes in helping companies of all sizes power their international payments, execute plans to manage their currency risk and support their growth around the world. Corpay has a large group of guests trackside in Portland, and their attendance has made this championship event more satisfying.
Foster and his Exclusive Autosport teammates will be back on-track later today (Friday) for the second races of the weekend and will cap the 2022 Road to Indy program on Saturday with the final events of the season.