The conclusion of the IndyCar season has also brought about the conclusion of the Indy Lights campaign, featuring New Zealander Hunter McElrea. The Kiwi impressed over the weekend at Laguna Seca and was rewarded with a podium in the first race, followed up with eighth in the final.
More notably, the results sealed the Rookie of the Year title for 22-year-old.
Taking to social media following the Indy Lights Grand Prix, McElrea listed the accomplishments of his debut season.
“3 Poles, 2 Wins, 7 Podiums. Proud of what was achieved this year,” his Facebook post began.
“(It was a) Disappointing way to end the season, having to start at the back of the field due to a penalty. Ended up dropping to 4th in the Championship because of it.
“Overall was an amazing experience this year, with many highs and some lows that has made me stronger,” the post concluded.
The Indy Lights Grand Prix of Monterey featured two races, one on both Saturday and Sunday which saw Linus Lundqvist claim the title in the first. Sixth place was all the 23-year-old Swedish driver needed to clinch the title in a runaway campaign which saw him finish ahead of Sting Ray Robb, in second, by a massive 93 points.
So great was the dominance of the Swede this season, in-fact, he only needed to start Race 1 to claim the title.
McElrea was on the pace through the race, which was won convincingly by Robb from pole, claiming third place for Andretti Autosport .
The American, Robb, claimed the first win of his Indy Lights career in commanding fashion, cruising home ahead of teammate Christian Rasmussen by over 11 seconds.
The performance was stellar by Robb who was left with over two minutes of push-to-pass at the conclusion of the race.
McElrea was a further eight seconds back, third place ensuring the podium lockout for the Andretti Autosport team for the third time this season.
Race 2 brought about more of the same, but this time it was Rasmussen leading from pole ahead of Robb. The flag-to-flag victory for the rookie was his second of the season after a race win at Road America in June.
Robb came home in second to ensure a jump to second in the final championship standings, whilst the fourth Andretti Autosport driver Matthew Brabham rounded out the podium after a Lap 4 overtake on Lundqvist at the infamous Laguna Seca corkscrew.
McElrea was hampered by a damaged push-to-pass system which saw him struggle to make ground on those ahead. Adding to the matter was a penalty which saw the Kiwi start at the rear of the grid.
Eighth place for McElrea, however, all but sealed the Rookie of the Year title for the 22-year-old with two race wins to his name alongside seven podiums and two poles.
He finished fourth overall in the championship ladder, some 11 points off Brabham who claimed third.
McElrea will return to the series with Andretti Autosport again next year after recently re-signing with the outfit.
Banner Photo: Andretti Autosport
