Multiple series champion earned one top-five at the challenging street circuit
MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. – The second event on the Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires calendar this past weekend (March 23-24) proved to be a experience building affair for JDC MotorSports. As part of the IndyCar Series season-opener in St. Petersburg, Fla., the talented foursome of Nick Andries, Zack Meyer, Juan Piedrahita, and Lloyd Read showcased their racecraft on the challenging street circuit, but emerged without the results desired. The Minnesota-based squad, however, is poised to make the most of the knowledge gained to fight for top honors when the action resumes in late May with the opening oval event.
After starting the 2013 Pro Mazda Championship at the smooth and wide Circuit of the Americas, the JDC MotorSports contingent were greeted with the tight and concrete-lined confines of the St. Petersburg street circuit for Rounds Three and Four. While the Florida track certainly presented a new challenge to the talented foursome under the JDC awning, spirits were high entering the doubleheader, given the squad had secured a podium finish in every series race previously held on the street circuit.
As planned, the two Friday practice sessions were spent getting a feel for the track and working on the ideal setup for qualifying and the two races. Further indicating their affinity for street racing, Andries and Piedrahita were both quickly posting competitive times, ending the two runs having each cracked the top-four once.
Well aware that passing opportunities are often at a premium on the streets of St. Petersburg, the goal in qualifying was to get in a true flyer in order to secure a starting position near the front of the field. Unfortunately, none of the JDC contingent were able to get the desired lap in the session. Piedrahita's No. 9 Petrosur/Sisolec/GFK Motors/Red Line Oil/JDC MotorSports racer in the end led the way with the sixth best time, just edging Read who was seventh in his first-ever street circuit qualifying session. Meyer and Andries, who was piloting No. 19 Andries Racing/Red Line Oil/JDC MotorSports entry in front of friends and family, locked out the fifth row on the grid with ninth and tenth fastest laps respectively.
When the Pro Mazda cars rolled back on-course later in the day for race one of the doubleheader, the stage was set for the JDC drivers to push forward. Unfortunately for Piedrahita that opportunity never arose, as a lap one incident ended his race prematurely. That being said, the JDC crew still had multiple reasons to remain upbeat during the 21-lap affair. Andries and the No. 66 Damis Partners III/Red Line Oil/JDC MotorSports of Meyer were among the cars to watch, advancing multiple positions right from the get go. Andries in fact was among the top-three, before ending the race in fifth, just holding off his teammate Meyer. Read, having been involved in a spirited fight for position for the majority of the race, crossed the stripe in seventh.
Returning to the cockpits of their JDC racing steeds one day later, following the completion of the IndyCar Series opener, the focus of the foursome was to once again showcase their racecraft skills and earn valuable points. Upon getting the green flag, they set about doing just that, with all four JDC racers among the top-10. Andries looked poised to battle for a podium position at his home track, unfortunately just past the halfway mark his engine expired, ending his strong run. The remaining threesome, however, kept attacking all the way to the checkered flag, ultimately ending with Piedrahita finishing sixth, Meyer advancing two places to seventh, and the No. 16 Read Motorsports/Aerocraft Design/Maaco/Red Line Oil/JDC MotorSports entry of Read taking home ninth.
"For sure it was a tough weekend," said Andries. "Race one I had a great restart and moved up five positions to third, but I struggled with the car dropping to fifth. In race two, the team made massive progress with the car. I had a great start and was able to pressure third place as I waited for an opportunity while I conserved the tires. Unfortunately our engine blew before I had a chance to make a move for the podium spot. I'm very grateful to be in the car. Huge thanks go to my supporters, family, friends, and JDC MotorSports for making this weekend possible."
"Our weekend didn't go as planned," commented Piedrahita. "I'm happy with some of the progress we made with the car, but there is a lot of work ahead. We will keep pushing!”
"St. Pete was another tough weekend for the team, but we never gave up and scored points towards the overall championship," stated Read. "After two weekends of racing together we have all gelled very well and are making great progress after every session. Now that we have a break in the schedule we can do some much needed testing and return to the series with four race winning cars."
The JDC MotorSports contingent of Andries, Meyer, Piedrahita, and Read will now have a break until May 25th, when the chase for Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires supremacy resumes at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indiana. As part of the famed 'Night Before the 500' event, Round Five features the first of back-to-back oval races. JDC MotorSports enters the premier event currently fourth in the team standings, while Meyer leads the driver contingent, sitting sixth in the title chase.
JDC MotorSports races with associate sponsorship from www.RedLineOil.com
Additional information on JDC MotorSports can be obtained from the team’s website @ www.jdcmotorsports.com For direct contact, please contact John Church @ 952-233-3075
Learn more about Nick Andries at NickAndries.com and keep up to date via Twitter @ NickAndries81 and Facebook @ NickAndriesRacing
Learn more about Zack Meyer at ZackMeyer.ca and keep up to date via Twitter @ ZackMeyer66
Learn more about Juan Piedrahita at JuanchoPiedrahitac.com and keep up to date via Twitter @ Juanpc9 and Facebook @ Juan-Diego-Piedrahita-Juancho
Learn more about Lloyd Read at LloydReadRacing.com and keep up to date via Twitter @ lloydread16 and Facebook @ LloydReadRacing
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About JDC MotorSports:
Involved in formula car racing since its inception in 1994, JDC MotorSports has established itself as one of the leading junior open-wheel teams in North America. Initially making its mark in the F2000 class of club racing competition, JDC MotorSports was soon a team worth watching in the pro ranks. Competing in the Formula Ford 2000 Zetec Championship, the team not only won races, but also helped develop multiple young drivers. In 2005, JDC MotorSports expanded its efforts, entering the Star Mazda Championship. Quickly becoming one of the top teams in the series, JDC captured both the driver and team titles in 2007, as well as Rookie of the Year honors, with Dane Cameron scoring a series-high three wins. In 2008, JDC MotorSports was the runner-up in the Star Mazda Championship and finished fourth in its inaugural season of F2000 Championship Series competition. The Minnesota-based team won the Star Mazda Championship title with Rookie of the Year Adam Christodoulou, and the F2000 Championship Series title with Chris Miller in 2009. The following year, JDC continued its winning ways, earning the Rookie of the Year award in the Star Mazda Championship with Connor De Phillippi, and scoring a non-points win in the USF2000 National Championship. In 2011, the Minneapolis-based squad captured its third Star Mazda Championship title with Tristan Vautier, scored a win in the USF2000 National Championship, and made its Prototype Lites Championship debut, earning five podium finishes. JDC MotorSports added to its Star Mazda Championship win tally, USF2000 Championship podium total in 2012, and finished as the Prototype Lites Championship runner-up.