The USF Pro Championships Presented by Continental Tire, formerly known as the Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires, is a racecar driver development program, providing a scholarship-funded path to reach the IndyCar Series and Indianapolis 500. Sanctioned by the United States Auto Club (USAC), the series are owned and managed by Andersen Promotions.
Since its launch in 2010, the ladder system has attracted competitors from around the globe, who have showcased their talents at premier venues on a mix of road courses, temporary street circuits, and ovals.
Participating series (in order from lowest to highest ranking) Series Name Description Year founded USF Juniors A first step on the pathway for younger drivers. Sanctioned by USAC 2022 USF2000 Championship Competing for a scholarship to the next stage of the pathway. Sanctioned by USAC 1990 USF Pro 2000 Championship Competing for a scholarship to the next stage of the pathway. Sanctioned by USAC 1991 Indy NXT A developmental championship supporting IndyCar Series at specific races across the season. Sanctioned by IndyCar 1977 (predecessor)1986 (original)2002 (current) IndyCar Series Highest class of American open-wheel formula racing cars. Sanctioned by IndyCar 1996 with history going back to the early 1900s
In 2021 Kyle Kirkwood won the Indy Lights championship and became the first driver to win a championship and thus scholarship at every rung of the ladder on his way to IndyCar. However, both Sage Karam and Matthew Brabham won scholarships from U.S. F2000 and made it to IndyCar. Karam, Brabham, Tristan Vautier, Oliver Askew, and Spencer Pigot have all won two scholarships on their way to IndyCar. In 2017, Josef Newgarden became the first Road to Indy graduate and scholarship winner to win the IndyCar Series championship.
Mazda Road to Indy Shootout From 2016 to 2018, a shootout race for up-and-coming talents was held. In a knock-out format, drivers who won championships in various beginner-level series were invited to compete for a $200,000 scholarship to race in the USF2000 series.
Shootout winners Year Track Winner 2016 Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca Oliver Askew 2017 Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park Keith Donegan 2018 Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park Hunter McElrea
Champions IndyCar Series Indy NXT USF Pro 2000 USF2000 USF Juniors 2010 Dario Franchitti 2010 Jean-Karl Vernay 2010 Conor Daly 2010 Sage Karam Not Held 2011 Dario Franchitti 2011 Josef Newgarden 2011 Tristan Vautier 2011 Petri Suvanto 2012 Ryan Hunter-Reay 2012 Tristan Vautier 2012 Jack Hawksworth 2012 Matthew Brabham 2013 Scott Dixon 2013 Sage Karam 2013 Matthew Brabham 2013 Scott Hargrove 2014 Will Power 2014 Gabby Chaves 2014 Spencer Pigot 2014 Florian Latorre 2015 Scott Dixon 2015 Spencer Pigot 2015 Santiago Urrutia 2015 Nico Jamin 2016 Simon Pagenaud 2016 Ed Jones 2016 Aaron Telitz 2016 Anthony Martin 2017 Josef Newgarden 2017 Kyle Kaiser 2017 Victor Franzoni 2017 Oliver Askew 2018 Scott Dixon 2018 Patricio O'Ward 2018 Rinus VeeKay 2018 Kyle Kirkwood 2019 Josef Newgarden 2019 Oliver Askew 2019 Kyle Kirkwood 2019 Braden Eves 2020 Scott Dixon 2020 Not held (COVID-19 pandemic) 2020 Sting Ray Robb 2020 Christian Rasmussen 2021 Álex Palou 2021 Kyle Kirkwood 2021 Christian Rasmussen 2021 Kiko Porto 2022 Will Power 2022 Linus Lundqvist 2022 Louis Foster 2022 Michael d'Orlando 2022 Mac Clark 2023 Álex Palou 2023 Christian Rasmussen 2023 Myles Rowe 2023 Simon Sikes 2023 Nicolas Giaffone 2024 Álex Palou 2024 Louis Foster 2024 Lochie Hughes 2024 Max Garcia 2024 Max Taylor 2025 Álex Palou 2025 Dennis Hauger 2025 Max Garcia 2025 Jack Jeffers 2025 Leonardo Escorpioni 2026 Álex Palou 2026 Nikita Johnson 2026 Jack Jeffers 2026 Sebastián Garzón 2026 Karol Pasiewicz
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