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Test Driver Says New USF2000 Package Takes Car to a Whole New Level

Manufacturers, team representatives, engineers and mechanics were pleased with what they saw Jan. 21 at Sebring International Raceway, as the USF2000 National Championship tested four compounds of Cooper Racing Tires and several components that will be used in the series' top class, the Championship class, this year.

Perhaps the person who was most impressed, however, was test driver Jonny Baker, who finished second in another F2000 series in 2008.

Although the Van Diemen that Jonny drove Jan. 21 was powered by a Zetec engine rather than the brand-new Mazda MZR engine that is destined to become the spec engine of the series' premier class, Baker was more than impressed with the
car's improvements.

"The little bit of extra power from the aero improvements and the better braking have taken this car to a whole new level," Baker said after completing about 70 laps during the test. "It's a big step in the right direction."

Jonny tested a 2001 Van Diemen updated with many new components, including new wings, nose, dampers, uprights, brakes and diffuser.

Engineers from Cooper Racing Tires were on hand to evaluate four different tire compounds, and selected the one that will be the spec slick tire for the series.

"Cooper Tires' support was impressive," said Geoff Fickling, the USF2000 series' research and development consultant. "We had four choices of compounds, and we could have chosen any of the four and had a good tire. In the end they chose the compound that was the most durable and the one the driver liked the best."

"I did about 15 to 20 laps on each compound, and it went really well," Jonny said. "I was super-impressed with the guys who work for Cooper. They had a strict program that they wanted me to follow, and I ran nice, consistent laps. The new Élan aero package worked very well, and we pretty much determined which tire compound we're going to use."

Sanctioned by the Indy Racing League, the USF2000 National Championship is one of only two series that are part of both the IRL's Road to Indy ladder system and the MAZDASPEED Motorsports driver development program. The series' 2010 season will open with a doubleheader March 27-28 on the street circuit in St. Petersburg, Fla., in support of an IZOD IndyCar Series headliner.