INDIANAPOLIS, IND. - On a weekend that featured hundreds of left turns for the Rising Star Racing drivers, it was Spencer Pigot’s ability keep going straight that saw the Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires leader score a podium finish on Saturday night to lead the Rising Star Racing effort on Memorial Day weekend.
Racing as part of the long-cherished traditional “Night Before the 500” at Lucas Oil Raceway, Pigot opened the 45-minute oval race from the outside of the first row in the #7 Doug Mockett & Company/Rising Star Racing/VitaminPro App/California Scents/Juncos Racing car and slotted into second place early in the race.
Stalking the leader lap after lap, it appeared that Pigot’s patience would be rewarded as the lead car had a slight moment in Turns Three and Four, opening the door for the Juncos Racing driver to pounce. But his Canadian counterpart was able to hold on to the lead after the duo raced side by side for corner after corner.
Those who have watched Pigot race were likely right to figure that this would be just the first of many lurches for the lead by the young racer.
But instead, Pigot found himself moving backwards late in the race as his car suffered from a punctured tire. In a category where even a half pound of pressure adjustment can completely change the handling of a car, Pigot was doing exhaustive duty to hang on to the car and keep it in podium position all the way to the finish as his tire lost air following a puncture.
"It was a really tough race," said Pigot. "We had been very fast in all the practice sessions, especially on longer runs. We went into the race very confident we would be able to get the win. It was close between Garett and me. We were side by side a few times! Unfortunately, I picked up a puncture on my right-front tire about halfway through the race. From there on I was just hanging on trying to finish as best I could. Overall I'm pleased with third under the circumstances. Juncos Racing gave me a great car; I can't thank them enough for all their hard work.”
Behind the scrum for the lead, young Neil Alberico was making his first-ever Pro Mazda start at Lucas Oil Raceway for Cape Motorsports with WTR in his No. 2 Bondurant School/eFormulaCarNews.com/J&M Trophy/Rising StarRacing Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing machine. Once again, the Californian responded to the new challenge with aplomb as he finished the 90-lap event in sixth to move into a tie for third in the overall points standings and lead the rookie ranks with six races now in the books.
The next day saw the 98th running of the Indianapolis 500 as Josef Newgarden looked to shake what has not been a happy run of luck in the huge event in his previous two starts. Having impressed with his courageous run in qualifying to earn a starting spot in the middle of the third row, the 2014 edition held promise for Newgarden, but after a long run of all-green flag running, that luck would soon disappear.
A pit-lane setback cost the Nashville native track position, and the day soon took a dramatic turn for the worse on lap 168 as he was struck from behind and out of the race while circulating under caution.
“We had a good day going,” Newgarden said. “We had a few communication issues and then ran out of fuel. We couldn’t get the engine fired back over, which is why we lost laps. Then, we got punted under a yellow. It was a bad day for all our boys that worked so hard all month. We really had a good car, so we’ll try to go to Detroit and be better.”
Rising Star Racing would like to thank the incredible sacrifice, dedication, and commitment of our Armed Forces, and the support and understanding of their families as our service men and women dedicate their lives to protect and defend the American way of life. Thank you.