By Kate Guerra
Published: Oct 19, 2012
For the first time since 2010, Firestone Indy Lights will travel to Ohio.
In 2011 and 2012, the series raced in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, with the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear while the IZOD IndyCar Series raced at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. The drivers will return to the 2.258-mile road course in 2013 as a part of the 12-race schedule announced on Oct. 18.
Not many drivers who competed in last year’s Firestone Indy Lights field had experience on the course. Gustavo Yacaman recalls racing there in his first two years in the series.
“It’s a really cool track, one of the best permanent tracks in the States,” Yacaman said. “I remember the changes in elevation. There are a couple corners where the car gets really light, and every time you go through it it’s very hard to hit exactly at the same angle. Depending on what angle you hit that down angle you can either get understeer or oversteer or the car can go into a four-wheel slide.”
The most recent race winner is Martin Plowman, who led from flag to flag in a 40-lap shootout over James Hinchcliffe. Other IZOD IndyCar Series drivers that have competed in the event include JR Hildebrand, Charlie Kimball and Sebastian Saavedra.
FULL 2010 RACE AT MID-OHIO | INTERVIEW WITH WINNER MARTIN PLOWMAN
“The return of Firestone Indy Lights to the schedule gives fans at the Honda Indy 200 the chance to see the drivers on their way up to the IZOD IndyCar Series,” said president of Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Craig Rust. “Some of the best young drivers in the IZOD IndyCar Series today moved up from Firestone Indy Lights.”
The 2013 schedule has the Mid-Ohio event listed as Aug. 3-4. Dates and times of the NBC Sports Network broadcast will be released at a later date.