LASTOCHKIN FASTEST IN CHRIS GRIFFIS MAZDA ROAD TO INDY TEST

AUSTIN, Texas – Drivers from all three levels of the Mazda Road to Indy were in action today at Circuit of The Americas as part of the fifth annual Chris Griffis Memorial Mazda Road to Indy Test. The two-day test on the 3.4-mile road course, home of the United States Formula 1 Grand Prix, allows teams and drivers to gain a head start on preparations for the 2016 season.

Lastochkin Fastest in USF2000 for Cape Motorsports w/ Wayne Taylor Racing
Los Angeles-based Russian Nikita Lastochkin set the pace in today’s trio of Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda test sessions, running the same Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing Van Diemen-Mazda with which Nico Jamin claimed this year’s championship crown. Lastochkin, who concluded his rookie USF20000 season with a personal-best fifth-place finish at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, came out of the box strongly this morning, topping the time charts at 2:22.928 during a 45-minute session which began on a wet but drying track. He continued that form throughout the day, which he concluded with a best lap of 2:10.217, an average speed of 93.997 mph.

“Today was actually quite great,” said Lastochkin. “We started the day with a wet track and I just focused on improving every time I was in the car. Each time I went out, I wanted to do better. It felt really good because I haven’t been doing much testing or anything since Mazda Raceway, since the finale, so to come out and know that I still have it is a good feeling.