ANDRETTI - Freedom 100 Race Notes

by Tom Beeler

	ANDRETTI AUTOSPORT RACE REPORT

1-2-3 FINISH FOR ANDRETTI AUTOSPORT INDY LIGHTS PROGRAM

INDY LIGHTS PRESENTED BY COOPER TIRES FREEDOM 100

RACE REPORT
05.25.18

The track was hot as the Andretti Autosport quartet took to the track for the 16th running of the Freedom 100 Presented by Cooper Tires. It was 100 miles of intense, action-packed racing as the fans witnessed 20 lead changes involving five different drivers over 40 laps. In the end it was Colton Herta chasing the checkered across the yard of bricks followed closely by rookie teammate, Patricio O'Ward, and veteran driver Dalton Kellett.

Up next the four-car team travels to Elkhart Lake, WI where they will take to the 4.014 mile, 14-turn road course for Rounds 8 and 9 of Indy Lights competition at Road America.

No. 98 ANDRETTI-STEINBRENNER RACING / CURB MAZDA

STARTED 6th // FINISHED 1st
CHAMPIONSHIP: 1st (189 pts.)
OF NOTE: Moved up the field five positions claiming his first Freedom 100 victory. Herta now leads Indy Lights points championship.

"Strategy was massive today. We had to map it out the whole time and see what we could do and what the others couldn't do. In the end, the person that wins does that the best and we did that the best today. It's so exciting to win here at Indianapolis. Thanks to George [Michael Steinbrenner IV] and Michael [Andretti] for the support, and to my entire crew for all the hard work. What a great day!"

No. 27 Riverina CDMX Mexico City MAZDA

STARTED 2nd // FINISHED 2nd
CHAMPIONSHIP: 2nd (183 pts.)
OF NOTE: Battled all afternoon for a top spot on the podium before claiming his second-place finish for his Freedom 100 debut.

"I was fine coming into Turn 3, but when we hit Turn 4 Colton was really smart and used the whole track so when I came out of [Turn] four, I just washed off. When I finally got there, it was too late. We got alongside him but missed it by a wing. I'm bummed we didn't get that win, I was really hoping to be in victory lane. But Colton [Herta] did an awesome job. I'm super proud of the crew for finishing 1-2-3."

No. 28 K-LINE INSULATORS, USA MAZDA

STARTED 1st // FINISHED 3rd
CHAMPIONSHIP: 6th (122 pts.)
OF NOTE: After starting from pole position, Kellett led 17 of the 40-lap race before ending the day with a hard-fought third-place finish.

“Overall it was a good day for us. We started on pole and were in contention right to the end. I had a big run on Pato [O'Ward] coming to the checkered flag but got right up under his gearbox in the corner and lost out. The whole race went caution free, and it was a little harder to run in traffic those last few laps. A yellow may have helped us there in the end. It’s great to get the 1-2-3 finish for the team and congrats to Colton [Herta] on the win.”

No. 48 JOURNEY MAZDA

STARTED 3rd // FINISHED 5th
CHAMPIONSHIP: 5th (128 pts.)
OF NOTE: Ran as high as P2 for his second Freedom 100 appearance before settling in with a fifth-place finish.

“I laid back early in the race to try and save tires, but in the end, it was still kind of hard to push back up. I think it was all timing today - it was like a big chess game out there and Colton [Herta] played the best game. Congrats to him - I’m pretty happy for him. I think in the end, if we had a couple more laps we maybe would have had a better shot.”

Tom Beeler

Tom has been a contributor to RIS since 1992. He was invited to join the staff as a full-time reporter/editor in 1995, and has covered IndyCar, Formula 1, NASCAR, Grand-Am, ALMS and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In addition to his RIS work, Tom has been a contributor for General Motors, Nissan, Toyota and the ACO.