2022 Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires

[Visit RoadToIndy.Info for a full overview of the Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires.]

Re-branded for 2019 and beyond, the Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires debuted as the Pro Mazda Championship in 2013, replacing the Star Mazda Championship which ceased operation in 2012 after 22 years. The series is sanctioned by INDYCAR and owned and operated by Andersen Promotions. It is the second official step on the Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires ladder system, bridging the gap between the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship and Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires.

Christian Rasmussen, 21, from Copenhagen, Denmark driving for Jay Howard Driver Development captured the 2021 Indy Pro 2000 title and scholarship package to advance to Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires in 2022.

The champion's scholarship on deck for 2022 will be valued at $614,425 and will once again provide the next step to Indy Lights competition the following year. Additional prize money and awards are on offer include the Cooper Tires Pole Award at $1,500 per race.

The new Tatuus IP-22 will debut in 2022 with upgrades that include a new, wider monocoque with the addition of a Halo-type device as well as new sidepods, underfloor, engine cover, air ducts, damper covers and fuel cell, providing drivers with the proper training aboard a state-of-the-art chassis as they advance up the motorsports ladder.

HISTORY

Indy Pro 2000 has served as a vital step on the career path of many of today's top drivers since 1991. Graduates include NTT INDYCAR SERIES drivers Oliver Askew, Conor Daly, James Hinchcliffe, Sage Karam, Patricio O'Ward, Graham Rahal and Rinus VeeKay as well as reigning Indy Lights champion Kyle Kirkwood.

2022 SCHEDULE - Nine Events/18 Races

The annual Spring Training for Indy Pro 2000 will take place at the Homestead-Miami Speedway road course on February 17/18 with an Open Test scheduled at Barber Motorsports Park on March 21/22. Seven pre-event test days include Barber Motorsports Park on April 28, Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 12, Lucas Oil Raceway on May 26, Road America on June 9, the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on June 30, World Wide Technology Raceway on August 18 and Portland International Raceway on September 1.

SERIES PARTNERS

Cooper Tires, AiM Sports, AMR INDYCAR Safety Team, Bell Helmets, Carl Haas Auto, Cosworth, Dynamic Suspensions, Elite Engines, Hi-Tide Boat Lifts, Hyperco, INDYCAR Ministry, Kids On Track, Lucas Oil School of Racing, PFC Brakes, RACER, Racing Communications, Rotiform, Sabelt, SimMetric Driver Performance Labs, Tatuus, Tilton, Toyota Gazoo Racing New Zealand, VP Racing Fuels

COVERAGE

Coverage of Indy Pro 2000 will feature worldwide livestreaming on RoadToIndy.TV, the Road to Indy TV App and the series website as well live and on demand coverage on Apple TV, Amazon Fire and Roku. Full race shows and highlight shows will be available on the series YouTube channel after each event.

CAR | ENGINE

Significant chassis enhancements will take place in 2022 with new cars in Indy Pro 2000 and USF2000. The Tatuus IP-22 in the Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires and the USF-22 in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship will feature new advancements to extend competition life to at least 2026.

Leading race car manufacturer Tatuus in conjunction with Andersen Promotions designed the original USF-17 as a base car to help control operational costs for teams who wish to move up to Indy Pro 2000. The current PM-18 features more sophisticated aerodynamics, larger Motegi Racing forged Technomesh monoblock alloy wheels with Cooper tires and more horsepower (250 HP versus 175 HP) via a 2.0-liter powerplant prepared by Elite Engines over the USF-17.

The 2022 upgrades include a new, wider monocoque with the addition of a Halo-type device as well as new sidepods, underfloor, engine cover, air ducts, damper covers and fuel cell.

VP is the Official Fuel of the Indy Pro 2000 series.

TIRES

Slick/rain tires co-branded COOPER/INDYPRO2000 as manufactured by Cooper Tires.

POINT SYSTEM

ROAD/STREET COURSES

7th............................... 14             14th.............................. 7

One additional point is awarded for pole position, most laps led and fastest race lap

OVALS

7th............................... 21             14th..............................11

One additional point is awarded for pole position, most laps led and fastest race lap

TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS

Single car teams will receive three bonus points as an equivalency to multi-car teams. Only the two best results will count in the team championship for teams fielding more than two entries.

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS

The Road to Indy Summit and Oval Clinic is a three-part educational and promotional program held during the season. The platform provides valuable education on a variety of topics including marketing/business, media training, career growth and development, fitness and wellness, social media and a comprehensive introduction to oval track racing led by industry experts. It also features activities such as high-profile autograph sessions and fan Q&As, networking reception, team owner meet-and-greets and race shop tours.

CURRENT TRACK RECORDS

+ = two lap average  

MILESTONES:

PAST CHAMPIONS:

(*) Series switched from tube-frame cars to carbon-fiber cars in 2004.
(+) First season of unified national Star Mazda Championship series. From 1991 – 1999 the series crowned regional and oval-track champions.