2012 Star Mazda Championship

Last updated
2012 champion Jack Hawksworth Jack Hawksworth Edmonton 2012.jpg
2012 champion Jack Hawksworth

The 2012 Star Mazda Championship was the 14th season of the Star Mazda Championship, an American-based open-wheel racing series sanctioned by IndyCar as part of the Road to Indy program. It featured 17 races held over 10 race weekends. [1] Five race weekends were held on temporary street courses, three on permanent road courses, and two on ovals. The series increased the number of double-header weekends to reduce the costs per race for competitors. Fastest lap times in race 1 determined the starting grid for race 2 on double-header race weekends. [2]

Contents

The championship consisted of a main championship as well as a Star Mazda Expert Series for drivers over 30 years old. The expert class consists of a driver's best 10 races, enabling an Expert Series competitor to complete a full complement of races in just five race weekends. [2]

21-year-old Englishman Jack Hawksworth driving for Team Pelfrey dominated the championship, winning eight of the 17 races and four of the eight poles awarded, setting a series record for wins in a season. He sat out the final race of the year but still won the championship over Colombian-American Gabby Chaves by 37 points. Chaves won the final two races of the season. American Sage Karam won three races and finished third in points in a tie-breaker over fellow American Connor De Phillippi who won two races after finishing second in points a year ago. Finn Petri Suvanto finished fifth in points, in his first season in Star Mazda, winning the seat by winning the Road to Indy's U.S. F2000 National Championship the year before. Other race winners were Chile's Martin Scuncio and Venezuela's Camilo Schmidt, who won a bizarre wet-dry race in Edmonton.

American Walt Bowlin won the Expert series championship by virtue of being the only Expert series competitor to participate in more than two race weekends.

Drivers and teams

TeamNo.DriversNotes
Flag of the United States.svg Juncos Racing 2 Flag of the United States.svg Connor De Phillippi
15 Flag of Venezuela.svg Bruno Palli [3]
22 Flag of Chile.svg Martin ScuncioSkipped Road Atlanta
57 Flag of Venezuela.svg Diego Ferreira [3]
Flag of the United States.svg JDC MotorSports 9 Flag of Colombia.svg Juan Piedrahita [4]
16 Flag of the United States.svg Lloyd Read Laguna Seca only
Flag of the United States.svg Scott Anderson Road Atlanta only
19 Flag of Colombia.svg Gabby Chaves
91 Flag of the United States.svg Ashley Freiberg [5]
99 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Stefan Rzadzinski Skipped Indianapolis, Iowa, Trois-Rivières, Laguna Seca, and Road Atlanta
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg The Racing Company10 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Jérimy DanielSkipped Indianapolis, Iowa and Edmonton
Flag of the United States.svg World Speed Motorsports18 Flag of the United States.svg Kyle Kaiser Laguna Seca only
Flag of Venezuela.svg Linares Racing20 Flag of Venezuela.svg Carlos Linares
21 Flag of Venezuela.svg Camilo SchmidtSkipped Trois-Rivières
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg AIM Autosport23 Flag of the United States.svg Walt BowlinExpert series; skipped Indianapolis, Iowa, Edmonton and Trois-Rivières
66 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Zack Meyer
72 Flag of the United States.svg Larry Pegram Expert series; St. Pete and Barber only
Flag of the United States.svg Team GDT33 Flag of the United States.svg Ryan Tveter Skipped Barber, Indianapolis, and Iowa
39 Flag of the United States.svg Cory Lewis Toronto only
51 Flag of the United States.svg Alex ArdoinTrois-Rivières only
53 Flag of Colombia.svg Andrés Méndez [6]
65 Flag of the United States.svg J. W. RobertsExpert series; St. Pete only
97 Flag of Colombia.svg Juan Camilo AcostaRoad Atlanta only
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Robertshaw Racing42 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Blair RobertshawExpert series; Edmonton only
Flag of the United States.svg Andretti Autosport 77 Flag of the United States.svg Zach Veach [7]
88 Flag of the United States.svg Sage Karam [8]
Flag of the United States.svg Team Pelfrey 81 Flag of Finland.svg Petri Suvanto [9]
82 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jack Hawksworth [10] Skipped Road Atlanta
Flag of the United States.svg Ryan Tveter Road Atlanta only
83 Flag of the United States.svg Gustavo Menezes [11]

Race calendar and results

The series schedule was announced December 1, 2011. Two race weekends were listed on the schedule with the location yet to be determined. [2] The season finale was later confirmed to be held at Road Atlanta, supporting the Petit Le Mans sportscar event. [1]

RndCircuitLocationDatePole positionFastest lapWinning driverWinning teamSupporting
1 Streets of St. Petersburg St. Petersburg, Florida March 24 Flag of the United States.svg Connor De Phillippi Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jack Hawksworth Flag of the United States.svg Connor De Phillippi Flag of the United States.svg Juncos Racing IndyCar Series
2March 25 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jack Hawksworth Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jack Hawksworth Flag of the United States.svg Team Pelfrey
3 Barber Motorsports Park Birmingham, Alabama April 1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jack Hawksworth Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jack Hawksworth Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jack Hawksworth Flag of the United States.svg Team Pelfrey IndyCar Series
4 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jack Hawksworth Flag of Chile.svg Martin Scuncio Flag of the United States.svg Juncos Racing
5 Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis Brownsburg, Indiana May 26 Flag of the United States.svg Connor De Phillippi Flag of the United States.svg Connor De Phillippi Flag of the United States.svg Connor De Phillippi Flag of the United States.svg Juncos Racing USAC Midgets
6 Iowa Speedway Newton, Iowa June 23 Flag of the United States.svg Sage Karam Flag of the United States.svg Sage Karam Flag of the United States.svg Sage Karam Flag of the United States.svg Andretti Autosport IndyCar Series
7 Streets of Toronto Toronto, Ontario July 7 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jack Hawksworth Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jack Hawksworth Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jack Hawksworth Flag of the United States.svg Team Pelfrey IndyCar Series
8July 8 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jack Hawksworth Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jack Hawksworth Flag of the United States.svg Team Pelfrey
9 Edmonton City Centre Airport Edmonton, Alberta July 21 Flag of the United States.svg Sage Karam Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jack Hawksworth Flag of Venezuela.svg Camilo Schmidt Flag of Venezuela.svg Linares Racing IndyCar Series
10July 22 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jack Hawksworth Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jack Hawksworth Flag of the United States.svg Team Pelfrey
11 Circuit Trois-Rivières Trois-Rivières, Quebec August 4 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jack Hawksworth Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jack Hawksworth Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jack Hawksworth Flag of the United States.svg Team Pelfrey Indy Lights
12August 5 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jack Hawksworth Flag of the United States.svg Sage Karam Flag of the United States.svg Andretti Autosport
13 Streets of Baltimore Baltimore, Maryland September 1Qualifying abandoned Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jack Hawksworth Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jack Hawksworth Flag of the United States.svg Team Pelfrey IndyCar Series
14September 2 Flag of the United States.svg Sage Karam Flag of the United States.svg Sage Karam Flag of the United States.svg Andretti Autosport
15 Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca Monterey, California September 8 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jack Hawksworth Flag of Colombia.svg Gabby Chaves Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jack Hawksworth Flag of the United States.svg Team Pelfrey Rolex Sports Car Series
16September 9 Flag of Colombia.svg Gabby Chaves Flag of Colombia.svg Gabby Chaves Flag of the United States.svg JDC MotorSports
17 Road Atlanta Braselton, Georgia October 19 Flag of Colombia.svg Gabby Chaves Flag of the United States.svg Sage Karam Flag of Colombia.svg Gabby Chaves Flag of the United States.svg JDC MotorSports American Le Mans Series

Championship standings

Drivers'

PosDriver STP
Flag of the United States.svg
BAR
Flag of the United States.svg
IND
Flag of the United States.svg
IOW
Flag of the United States.svg
TOR
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg
EDM
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg
TRO
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg
BAL
Flag of the United States.svg
LAG
Flag of the United States.svg
ATL
Flag of the United States.svg
Points
Overall
1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jack Hawksworth 211271511711121212397
2 Flag of Colombia.svg Gabby Chaves 34359534335238211360
3 Flag of the United States.svg Sage Karam 872122121322211517192325
4 Flag of the United States.svg Connor De Phillippi 15531371661331323333325
5 Flag of Finland.svg Petri Suvanto 5366546819414444556271
6 Flag of Venezuela.svg Diego Ferreira7997108551011161555444235
7 Flag of Colombia.svg Juan Piedrahita 428481442816911199899234
8 Flag of Chile.svg Martin Scuncio664142177415651817911232
9 Flag of the United States.svg Gustavo Menezes 13107166138613576716687208
10 Flag of the United States.svg Zach Veach 1711151036217917888611178199
11 Flag of the United States.svg Ashley Freiberg919111115101313157129610121811162
12 Flag of Venezuela.svg Bruno Palli1415132014710151812101710720105146
13 Flag of Venezuela.svg Camilo Schmidt12181791312191819171419616129
14 Flag of Colombia.svg Andrés Méndez 151414171211181011DSQ1371218151515128
15 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Zack Meyer 1913191916999161815181315181210114
16 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Stefan Rzadzinski 1081081112176911108
17 Flag of Venezuela.svg Carlos Linares2012121411DNS1514148111616191420106
18 Flag of the United States.svg Ryan Tveter 212120205101810111216141491
19 Flag of the United States.svg Walt Bowlin181718181619141317161755
20 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Jérimy Daniel112020151411171449
21 Flag of the United States.svg Larry Pegram1616161323
22 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Blair Robertshaw121416
Flag of the United States.svg J. W. RobertsDNSDNS0
Ineligible drivers
Flag of the United States.svg Alex Ardoin430
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Lloyd Read 1070
Flag of the United States.svg Corey Lewis 12210
Flag of the United States.svg Scott Anderson 120
Flag of the United States.svg Kyle Kaiser 13130
Flag of Colombia.svg Juan Camilo Acosta130
Expert Series
1 Flag of the United States.svg Walt Bowlin1817181816191413171617142
2 Flag of the United States.svg Larry Pegram1616161456
3 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Blair Robertshaw121428
Flag of the United States.svg J. W. RobertsDNSDNS0
PosDriver STP
Flag of the United States.svg
BAR
Flag of the United States.svg
IND
Flag of the United States.svg
IOW
Flag of the United States.svg
TOR
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg
EDM
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg
TRO
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg
BAL
Flag of the United States.svg
LAG
Flag of the United States.svg
ATL
Flag of the United States.svg
Points
ColorResult
GoldWinner
Silver2nd place
Bronze3rd place
Green4th & 5th place
Light Blue6th–10th place
Dark BlueFinished
(Outside Top 10)
PurpleDid not finish
RedDid not qualify
(DNQ)
BrownWithdrawn
(Wth)
BlackDisqualified
(DSQ)
WhiteDid not start
(DNS)
BlankDid not
participate
(DNP)
Not competing
In-line notation
Bold Pole position
(1 point)
ItalicsRan fastest race lap
(1 point)
Position1234567891011121314151617181920
Overall Points2925221917151413121110987654321

Teams'

PosTeamPoints
1 Flag of the United States.svg Team Pelfrey 451
2 Flag of the United States.svg Juncos Racing 416
3 Flag of the United States.svg JDC MotorSports 401
4 Flag of the United States.svg Andretti Autosport 349
5 Flag of the United States.svg Team GDT195
6 Flag of Venezuela.svg Linares Racing188
7 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg AIM Autosport161
8 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg The Racing Company76
9 Flag of the United States.svg World Speed Motorsports24

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References

  1. 1 2 "Star Mazda Championship Announces 2012 Season Finale to Be Held at 15th Annual Petit LeMans Powered by Mazda at Road Atlanta October 17–20" (PDF). December 16, 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 25, 2012. Retrieved December 28, 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 THE STAR MAZDA CHAMPIONSHIP TAKES A MAJOR STEP FORWARD IN 2012 WITH AN 18-RACE SCHEDULE ON 10 WEEKENDS, MOST WITH INDYCAR Archived 2011-12-16 at the Wayback Machine , Star Mazda Championship, December 1, 2011, Retrieved 2011-12-04
  3. 1 2 Juncos Racing Inks Venezuelans Palli and Ferreira for 2012 Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine , eFormulaCarNews, February 13, 2012, Retrieved 2012-02-13
  4. Piedrahita Rejoins JDC MotorSports for Title Challenge Archived 2012-05-06 at the Wayback Machine , eFormulaCarNews, December 12, 2011, Retrieved 2011-12-12
  5. "'Woman Empowered' Freiberg joins JDC". Indycar.com. 6 February 2012. Archived from the original on 9 February 2012. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
  6. Team GDT Signs Colombian Up-and-Comer Mendez Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine , eFormulaCarNews, February 1, 2012, Retrieved 2012-02-01
  7. Andretti Autosport Confirms Veach, eFormulaCarNews, January 13, 2012, Retrieved 2012-01-13
  8. Rookie of the Year Karam Returns with Andretti Autosport Archived 2012-05-06 at the Wayback Machine , eFormulaCarNews, December 12, 2011, Retrieved 2011-12-12
  9. Star Mazda: USF2000 Champion Suvanto Joins Defending Team Champion Team Pelfrey Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine , eFormulaCarNews, January 20, 2012, Retrieved 2012-01-20
  10. Hawksworth Signs With Team Pelfrey For Star Mazda Championship Archived 2012-07-11 at archive.today , Paddock Talk, November 22, 2011, Retrieved 2011-12-04
  11. Menezes joins Pelfrey Star Mazda squad, Racer, November 29, 2011, Retrieved 2011-12-04