Martin nails first USF2000 win

Behind him, Canadian teammate Parker Thompson finished second but only after beating another Australian, Jordan Lloyd of Pabst Racing, who had passed him for second place at Turn 1.

Thompson's chance came following a brief full-course caution due to a spin by a National Class car. Martin led at the restart but Thompson repassed Lloyd for second as Victor Franzoni of ArmsUp Motorsport and Pabst’s Yufeng Luo and Garth Rickards slotted into fourth, fifth and sixth respectively.

Despite Thompson keeping the pressure on Martin to the checkered flag, the Aussie never cracked and held on for victory by little more than half a second.

Martin commented: “Starting on pole is a difficult task here because of the long straight, so I was really focused on getting a bit of a jump at the start. I was able to get through Turn 1 in front, which is what made the race.

“That tells me how much I’ve progressed as a driver, to get through the race and keep a solid lead in front of Parker.

"I could feel the shivers go up my spine as I came around the last turn. I couldn’t believe it was happening. My mom, dad, brother, sponsors, friends – they’re all here to watch the Grand Prix of Indianapolis and I think they came to the right race!”

Thompson set fastest lap and therefore extended his championship lead, and finished a solid 3sec clear of Franzoni who passed Lloyd on Lap 6. Lloyd held on to fourth ahead of teammate Luo.

However, Rickards lost sixth after being assaulted by Nikita Lastochkin (Cape) on Lap 8. The beneficiary should have been Luke Gabin who started 24th but staged a remarkable charge into the top six. But the Aussie then drifted off course at Turn 4 causing an electrical short, which dropped him to the rear of the field.

That allowed Lucas Kohl and Ayla Agren to claim sixth and seventh for John Cummiskey Racing.

There will be another USF2000 race tomorrow at 12:15pm ET.