Dean Stoneman Wins Record-Setting Indy Lights Race at Indianapolis
INDIANAPOLIS – RIS – Dean Stoneman narrowly beat Ed Jones by 0.0024 seconds to win the Indy Lights Mazda Freedom 100 Presented by Cooper Tires at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It was the closest Indy Lights finish ever. Dalton Kellett, Shelby Blackstock and Scott Hargrove rounded out the top five.
Stoneman, from Croydon, England, drove to victory ahead of Jones after a caution set up a one-lap shootout for the race victory. Jones passed Stoneman after Juan Piedrahita ran into the back of Stoneman on the restart. They battled side-by-side until Stoneman inched ahead of Jones at the finish line.
“Amazing race - on that last lap it was close,” said Dean Stoneman. “The car behind me caught my left rear (on the restart). I knew I had him by the time I got through turn three and four.”
Stoneman started from the fifth position driving for Andretti Autosport.
A large crowd attending Miller Lite Carburetion Day watched the race under sunny skies and warm race conditions. The starting field was determined by Indy Lights points after qualifying was cancelled due to rain. There were four caution periods. The average speed of the race was 145.83 mph.
The next Indy Lights race is scheduled for June 25 at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.
Dave Chess
Dave Chess has been writing for RIS since the late 1980s during the CompuServe days. His work has also appeared in Auto Week magazine, Chicago Gearhead News newspaper, ATA airlines in-flight magazine, National Speed Sport News and on many websites.