2017 Pro Mazda Championship

Last updated

The 2017 Pro Mazda Championship was the 19th season in series history. A 12-race schedule was announced in September 2016. [1]

Contents

This was the final season using the Star chassis and Mazda rotary engine combination. In 2018, the Tatuus-designed PM18 chassis would be the specified car, mated to a Mazda MZR piston engine.

Ohio

Brazilian Victor Franzoni, who secured his ride in Pro Mazda with Juncos Racing the week before the season started, prevailed in a season-long back-and-forth championship battle with 2016 U.S. F2000 National Championship winner Anthony Martin. Franzoni held a small lead heading into the series' final double-header at Watkins Glen International. Franzoni won both races to clinch the championship. Franzoni finished first or second in every race and finished with seven wins from six poles. Martin won five races from six poles. Carlos Cunha captured podium finishes in the last five races (for six total) to capture third in the championship ahead of TJ Fischer who finished on the podium in the first four races but faded down the stretch. Every race was won by either Franzoni or Martin and every pole but one was captured by them, with Cunha sitting on the pole for the first race at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

The less-expensive National Class was more hotly contested than usual on an individual race basis, with some races seeing as many as five entries. However, only one driver Brendan Puderbach contested all twelve rounds of the championship and by virtue of that captured the National Class title. Bob Kaminsky captured a class-best five class wins and finished second in the championship.

Drivers and teams

TeamNo.DriversRounds
ArmsUp Motorsports3 Flag of the United States.svg Matt Machiko3–4, 11–12
6 Flag of the United States.svg Max Hanratty [2] 1–2, 5–9
Cape Motorsports 8 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Anthony Martin [3] All
FatBoy Racing3 Flag of the United States.svg Matt Machiko [2] 1–2
31 Flag of the United States.svg Brendan Puderbach [4] (N)All
83 Flag of the United States.svg Charles Finelli [4] (N)1–6, 11–12
JDC MotorSports 12 Flag of the United States.svg Kris Wright 5–9, 11–12
Juncos Racing 23 Flag of Brazil.svg Victor Franzoni [5] All
60 Flag of the United States.svg Jeff Green [5] All
Kaminsky Racing57 Flag of the United States.svg Bob Kaminsky (N)3–9
Kevin Davis Racing44 Flag of the United States.svg Kevin Davis [2] (N)1–4
Team Pelfrey 80 Flag of Russia.svg Nikita Lastochkin [6] All
81 Flag of Brazil.svg Carlos Cunha [7] All
82 Flag of the United States.svg TJ Fischer [8] All
84 Flag of the United States.svg Robert Megennis [9] 11–12
Unfair Advantage Motorsports2 Flag of the United States.svg Dave Zavelson (N)5–9
5 Flag of the United States.svg Kevin Bury (N)5–9
World Speed Motorsports2 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Steven Ford (N)3–4
13 Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Eberle [10] All
14 Flag of the United States.svg Sting Ray Robb [11] All
15 Flag of the United States.svg Phillippe Denes [12] 1–4
IconClass
(N)National Class

Race calendar and results

RndCircuitLocationDatePole positionFastest lapMost laps ledWinning driverWinning team
1 Streets of St. Petersburg St. Petersburg, Florida March 11 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Anthony Martin Flag of Australia (converted).svg Anthony Martin Flag of Australia (converted).svg Anthony Martin Flag of Australia (converted).svg Anthony Martin Cape Motorsports
2March 12 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Anthony Martin Flag of Australia (converted).svg Anthony Martin Flag of Australia (converted).svg Anthony Martin Flag of Australia (converted).svg Anthony Martin Cape Motorsports
3 Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course Speedway, Indiana May 12 Flag of Brazil.svg Victor Franzoni Flag of Brazil.svg Victor Franzoni Flag of Brazil.svg Victor Franzoni Flag of Brazil.svg Victor Franzoni Juncos Racing
4May 13 Flag of Brazil.svg Victor Franzoni Flag of Brazil.svg Victor Franzoni Flag of Brazil.svg Victor Franzoni Flag of Brazil.svg Victor Franzoni Juncos Racing
5 Grand Prix of Road America Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin June 25 Flag of Brazil.svg Victor Franzoni Flag of Brazil.svg Victor Franzoni Flag of Brazil.svg Victor Franzoni Flag of Brazil.svg Victor Franzoni Juncos Racing
6June 26 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Anthony Martin Flag of the United States.svg TJ Fischer Flag of Australia (converted).svg Anthony Martin Flag of Australia (converted).svg Anthony Martin Cape Motorsports
7 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Lexington, Ohio July 28 Flag of Brazil.svg Carlos Cunha Flag of Brazil.svg Victor Franzoni Flag of Australia (converted).svg Anthony Martin Flag of Australia (converted).svg Anthony Martin Cape Motorsports
8July 29 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Anthony Martin Flag of Australia (converted).svg Anthony Martin Flag of Australia (converted).svg Anthony Martin Flag of Brazil.svg Victor Franzoni Juncos Racing
9July 30 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Anthony Martin Flag of Australia (converted).svg Anthony Martin Flag of Australia (converted).svg Anthony Martin Flag of Australia (converted).svg Anthony Martin Cape Motorsports
10 Gateway Motorsports Park Madison, Illinois August 25 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Anthony Martin Flag of Brazil.svg Victor Franzoni Flag of Brazil.svg Victor Franzoni Flag of Brazil.svg Victor Franzoni Juncos Racing
11 Watkins Glen International Watkins Glen, New York September 2 Flag of Brazil.svg Victor Franzoni Flag of Brazil.svg Victor Franzoni Flag of Australia (converted).svg Anthony Martin Flag of Brazil.svg Victor Franzoni Juncos Racing
12September 3 Flag of Brazil.svg Victor Franzoni Flag of Brazil.svg Carlos Cunha Flag of Brazil.svg Victor Franzoni Flag of Brazil.svg Victor Franzoni Juncos Racing

Championship standings

Drivers' Championship

PosDriver STP IMS ROA MOH GMP WGL Points
Championship class
1 Flag of Brazil.svg Victor Franzoni 221*1*1*22121*1*1*351
2 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Anthony Martin 1*1*2421*1*2*1*223333
3 Flag of Brazil.svg Carlos Cunha 4124394433332237
4 Flag of the United States.svg TJ Fischer333215123444105224
5 Flag of Russia.svg Nikita Lastochkin 5565335566134203
6 Flag of the United States.svg Sting Ray Robb 74774111065746185
7 Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Eberle10888869117979157
8 Flag of the United States.svg Jeff Green13910136513131051110151
9 Flag of the United States.svg Max Hanratty86515610897
10 Flag of the United States.svg Kris Wright 13978115895
11 Flag of the United States.svg Matt Machiko9131196774
12 Flag of the United States.svg Phillippe Denes675661
13 Flag of the United States.svg Robert Megennis 12DNS21
National class
1 Flag of the United States.svg Brendan Puderbach1214DNS11101414121388DNS187
2 Flag of the United States.svg Bob Kaminsky914713879134
3 Flag of the United States.svg Charles Finelli141014DNS1289DNS115
4 Flag of the United States.svg Dave Zavelson1171191291
5 Flag of the United States.svg Kevin Davis1111121080
6 Flag of the United States.svg Kevin Bury141012141464
7 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Steven Ford131230
PosDriver STP IMS ROA MOH GMP WGL 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
In-line notation
Bold Pole position
(1 point)
ItalicsRan fastest race lap
(1 point)
*Led most race laps
(1 point)
Not awarded if more than
one driver leads most laps
Rookie

Teams' championship

PosTeamPoints
1 Team Pelfrey 381
2 Juncos Racing 372
3World Speed Motorsports267

See also

2017 IndyCar Series season
2017 Indy Lights championship

References

  1. "2017 Mazda Road to Indy schedules revealed". September 14, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 "Hi-Tide Kids On Track Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (Race 1). Allied Building Products Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (Race 2)" (PDF). ProMazda. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  3. "Rising MRTI stars Martin, Askew to race with Cape Motorsports in 2017". www.racer.com. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
  4. 1 2 "FatBoy Racing Joins Pro Mazda for 2017".
  5. 1 2 "Franzoni, Green Join Juncos Racing for 2017 Pro Mazda".
  6. "Nikita Lastochkin Secures Team Pelfrey's Final 2017".
  7. "Team Pelfrey Welcomes Rookie Carlos Cunha".
  8. "Fischer signs for full Pro Mazda season with Pelfrey". Archived from the original on January 13, 2017. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
  9. "Pro Mazda Watkins Glen Grand Prix Presented by Cooper Tires" (PDF). ProMazda. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  10. "Eberle Joins World Speed to Contend for Overall Title".
  11. "Sting Ray Robb Joins the 2017 Pro Mazda Championship with World Speed | World Speed Motorsports - Winning, it's what we do!".
  12. "Phillippe Denes Joins Pro Mazda Series for 2017".