Kiwi talent Jacob Douglas returns to the USF Pro 2000 Championship this weekend, aiming to rediscover the form that delivered his maiden series victory at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) last season.
The 20-year-old arrives at IMS full of confidence following a productive build-up that included valuable testing at the circuit, as well as a further outing at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course last week.
The running has provided Douglas and the Pabst Racing team with a strong platform heading into one of the most significant events on the calendar.
Encouraging pace throughout testing at IMS has positioned the young Kiwi as a genuine contender across the weekend’s double-header at a venue that holds special significance in his career.
“Indianapolis Motor Speedway is always a special place to race, and as a racecar driver, that isn’t lost on me,” said Douglas.
“Achieving my first USF Pro 2000 win at The Brickyard last season was a defining moment in my career. Coming back here with more experience and a clearer understanding of what’s required puts us in a strong position heading into the weekend.
“It’s a circuit that demands precision and commitment. You have to maximise every phase of the lap, and that’s something we focused on during testing. The pace we showed across both days was very encouraging, and it gives us confidence that we can be competitive.”
Douglas will be looking to convert that momentum into results following a challenging opening round on the Streets of Arlington, where incidents in both races masked strong underlying pace, including a top-five qualifying performance.
With just two of eighteen races completed this season, Douglas remains firmly within reach in the championship standings, with a strong result at IMS set to significantly strengthen his early-season position.
“The focus this weekend is execution,” he added. “We know the speed is there, and now it’s about delivering across qualifying and both races. If we do that, we’ll put ourselves in a position to achieve a strong result.”
Douglas will take to the track on Friday (NZST) for two test sessions, followed by qualifying on Saturday and two races on Sunday.
The USF Pro 2000 field will compete in support of the NTT IndyCar Series, alongside Indy NXT, as part of a major Month of May schedule at IMS.
Header Image: Gavin Baker Photography
