USF2000
 |
|
| Category | Single seaters |
|---|---|
| Country |
 United States
|
| Inaugural season | 1990 |
| Drivers | 23 |
| Teams | 11 |
| Constructors | Élan Motorsport Technologies |
| Engine suppliers | Mazda, Ford |
| Tyre suppliers | Cooper Tires |
| Drivers' champion |
 Anthony Martin
|
| Teams' champion |
Cape Motorsports
|
| Official website | usf2000.com |
 Current season
|
|
The Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda is an American racing series using the American variation of the Formula Ford formula, "F2000", that resumed operation for the 2010 season. It is sanctioned by IndyCar, and is the first rung of the Mazda Road to Indy.
The series was initially founded by Doug Powell in 1990, and regularly fielded over 60 entries per race. In the first seasons the series was mainly based in the western part of the United States sanctioned by the United States Auto Club. For 1992 the series started a Western Division and an Eastern Division, the Eastern Division being headed by Dan Andersen and Mike Foschi. In the 1992 season the race at Indianapolis Raceway Park (Night before the 500) and the race at Heartland Park Topeka (East-West Shootout) counted towards both championships and attracted huge fields. It was a regular site at Indianapolis that drivers had to qualify on time to make the grid for the race. In the same year the Sports Car Club of America founded the American Continental Championship. All three classes utilized the same set of rules, based on the SCCA Formula Continental regulations. In 1994 both USAC series were merged into one national championship.
For 1995 the SCCA series merged with the USAC series. Creating one national championship co-sanctioned between the SCCA and USAC. The series ran on the same tracks as high ranking series such as the Indy Racing League, NASCAR Cup Series and Trans-Am Series. Many drivers graduated into the higher-ranking series such as Indy 500 winner Dan Wheldon.
In June 2001 the series promotor, Formula Motorsports, Inc. (headed by Andersen and Foschi), was sold to Primus Racing, Inc. (headed by Jon Baytos). Jon Baytos introduced a number of controversial rule changes that brought the series out of alignment with similar Sports Car Club of America classes. The two liter Ford NEA engine was replaced by a two-liter Ford Zetec engine which produced ten horsepower more. The shock package was also upgraded. The series also ran under Grand-Am Road Racing sanctioning. The number of competitors dwindled and the series folded at the end of the 2006 season. For 2004 until the series folding in 2006 SCCA Pro Racing was the sanctioning body for the series.
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