“The USF2000 series was exciting and very professionally run. It gave me experience
working with wings to create downforce, using dampers, and many other tools to set up
a real formula car. This was all new to me, coming from karting. It was wheel-to-wheel
racing every weekend, with a high level of competition."
Alex Barron
(Won the Atlantic
championship in 1997, drove in Champ Car and IndyCar. Co-Rookie of the Year at the
2002 Indy 500; has five Indy 500 starts. Won two IndyCar Series races. Also competes
in endurance sports cars.)
“I won the 2003 Zetec F2000 championship with PR1 Motorsports, and I think
a F2000 car is an amazing ladder car. It definitely helped me in my career.
It's advanced enough to train you for what you'll face in the future. It
has enough downforce, it runs on a good tire, and it handles well. It's always
a very competitive series, and you learn how to communicate better with
your engineers and mechanics. It made my transition to the next level seamless.
Having the USF2000 Series as part of the MAZDASPEED Motorsports program
makes it even better.”
Jonathan Bomarito
(2003 Zetec F2000 Champion; runnerup in 2008 Atlantic championship and 2010
Rolex 24 GT Champion in SpeedSource Mazda RX-8.)
“The USF2000 series was the premier, introductory, open-wheel feeder series in
America. It provided an excellent platform for young drivers to develop their racecraft
and chassis-engineering abilities. The skills I learned in F2000 served me well
throughout my driving career and I view F2000 as an integral rung in the driver-development ladder.”
Duncan Dayton
(Raced endurance sports cars before
developing his team, Patron Highcroft Racing, to compete in the ALMS. Continues to
race vintage cars.)
"The USF2000 series was a lot of fun. The people were real nice to work
with, and I thought they took good care of Larry [Foyt] when he ran there."
A.J. Foyt
(Racing legend; only driver to win the Indy 500 [which he won four times],
the Daytona 500, the 24 Hours of Daytona, the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 12
Hours of Sebring. Currently a team owner through A.J. Foyt Enterprises.)
"I am glad to see these cars getting back on the national scene. They are a
great learning ground for car control, and can be raced on a very
reasonable budget. I'm sure with Dan Andersen's experience, this will be a great step
in a driver's path to the IndyCar Series."
Larry Foyt
(Competed in three Indianapolis 500s and the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Busch
[Nationwide] and Truck series before assuming his current position of team
director at A.J. Foyt Racing.)
“The USF2000 series was an unbelievable training ground for me. The huge fields and
the competition level really pushed me to get the most out of myself. The cars were
light, fast, responsive and the wheel-to-wheel racing was sensational. The F2000 cars
were also very sensitive to mechanical changes and this drove me to learn as much as
possible about the mechanical aspects of these cars and race cars in general. At that
time we never had a field below 40 cars...with the most being 60 cars! Even with all
those cars, the races and weekends ran smooth which is a real testament to Dan
Andersen and his staff. Not to mention, Dan and all the people working the series
seemed to be involved for the right reasons, to help and support the racers. They all
had the passion for racing which made the series fun and a great place to be around.
The USF2000 Series was a very valuable training ground that helped me launch my
career in racing and I'm very glad I was able to do it."
Memo Gidley
(Made 38 Champ
Car starts from 1999 through 2004 for various teams, finishing on the podium three
times. Currently drives Daytona Prototypes in the Grand Am Rolex Series.)
“It's about time! The USF2000 series gave many of us 'retro' guys our start in professional
racing. I can't think of a better man to run the new USF2000 series! Dan Andersen is an
honest, hard-working, stand-up guy who loves racing and trying to grow the sport. He
made an impression on so many professional racers, and we are indebted to him.”
Jim
Guthrie
(IndyCar winner [Phoenix, 1997]; 1997 Indy Racing League Rookie of the Year;
three-time Indy 500 starter; Firestone Indy Lights team owner.)
"The USF2000 series was where I learned to race cars; before that I had only
raced go-karts. I spent three years in the series, and although I had
limited success, I learned so much in a short period of time. In the USF2000 series
I learned how to race ovals and road courses, and I gained an understanding
of shifting, aerodynamics and wings. Participating in the USF2000 series
taught me all about racing an open-wheel car and helped prepare me for a
successful career in the IndyCar Series."
Sam Hornish Jr.
(Polesitter and winner of the 2006 Indy 500 and three-time IndyCar Series
champion [2001, 2002 and 2006]. Currently drives for Penske Racing in NASCAR
Sprint Cup.)
“When I came to the USF2000 series I had already been a champion in Pro road-racing
series previously but I had never raced on an oval. I was amazed at what a transition it
was from road racing to oval racing. Everything was different. I learned everything
that I took with me to Indy from the USF2000 series. The track time on the test days
was incredibly valuable. I went from lifting off the throttle in every corner my first time on
an oval to running flat out at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway from everything I learned
in the USF2000 series.”
Steve Knapp
(1998 Indy 500 Rookie of the Year; three-time
Indy 500 starter; owner, Elite Engines.)
“The USF2000 series was hands down the best ladder series I’ve ever been a part of. I
learned every aspect of car set-up in F2000 and I also learned how to really dogfight on
the track. We had a lot of wild races where I learned things on and off the track that I still
apply to my racing today and pass on to young up-and-coming drivers.”
Andy Lally
(2001, 2004 and 2006 Rolex Grand Am champion; 2001 and 2009 Daytona 24-Hour
winner; holds the record for the most top-three and top-five finishes in Grand Am Rolex
Series history. Currently racing endurance sports cars and stock cars; made his first
NASCAR Sprint Cup start in 2009.)
“The USF2000 series is where I did the majority of my training up the
ladder to IndyCar. I went straight into the IRL after a successful third year
in USF2000. It was a big horsepower difference, but for all practical purposes
the cars were small Indy cars. You learned about wings, shocks, ride
height, etc. - all of the things you pay attention to in setting up a
formula/Indy car. The series was definitely NOT a gentleman's series; it was young kids
trying to race cars professionally. Like several of the European series, it
was so competitive, a pass typically consisted of having at least a couple
of wheels in the grass. At that stage, everybody wants it really bad. I
would go as far as saying that the USF2000 series was the most competitive racing
I have ever done. There is not a lot of parity in the cars, unlike some of
the bigger series, so the driver plays a huge role.”
Robby McGehee
(1999 Indy 500 Rookie of the Year after finishing fifth; has six Indy 500 starts in all.)
“I was extremely pleased to hear that Dan Andersen and his group were re-establishing
the USF2000 series. Under their guidance when I participated in the series, it was
clearly THE training ground to get to the top level of open-wheel racing in the United States.
Everything they do is first class and directed toward excellent competition on an even
playing field. I wish them the utmost success."
Sam Schmidt
(Three-time Indy 500
starter; won an IndyCar race at Las Vegas in 1999 from the pole before suffering
career-ending injuries in testing. Currently owns the most successful team in Firestone
Indy Lights history. Also often does one-off Indy 500s as a team owner.)
“It is great to hear that Dan and John Andersen are restarting the USF2000 series. I
was lucky enough to participate in the series in its formative years in 1992 and 1993. It
is even more clear to me now with the benefit of hindsight, that it was the most
meaningful, diverse, and professionally run series on the open wheel ladder. During my
time there I learned to race on ovals, road courses and street circuits against a diverse
field of talented drivers and teams. The training I received brought me to a coveted ride
with one of the top teams in open-wheel racing - Team Green. Although I didn't know it
at the time, what I learned in terms of engineering and car-setup would be just as
important to my current career as a lead engineer at Target Chip Ganassi Racing. I am
sure that the USF2000 series under the Andersens' capable and professional
management will again be the premier place for drivers and engineers to learn their
craft and hone the diverse skills that will serve them well on the open-wheel ladder to
Indy - and beyond!”
Chris Simmons
(1992 USAC F2000-East and 1993 USAC F2000 National Championship titlist; winner in Indy Lights; currently an engineer for Target
Chip Ganassi Racing.)
“I very much enjoyed my 1999 USF2000 series run. My participation in the USF2000 series definitely helped develop
my racing and was an important step on the path to achieving my dream of winning the
Indianapolis 500 and the IndyCar Championship. It was an encouraging time, and
proved to be a great career move."
Dan Wheldon
(2005 IndyCar Series champion and
2005 Indy 500 winner; 2006 Daytona 24-Hour winner; currently competes in IZOD IndyCar
Series.)
