Meanwhile, Stoneman, Jones and new third-place man Shelby Blackstock ran in lock-step formation, with Jones pressuring and nearly passing Stoneman for the lead on lap 27 before the Andretti Autosport driver took it back down the frontstretch again. As Stoneman continued to lead, the field was slowed a second time with 10 laps to go when Santiago Urrutia spun on his own, bringing out the caution again.
That set up a restart with eight circuits remaining, where Jones again used the outside lane to jump around Stoneman, but again, he couldn’t make it stick and faded back into the clutches of Juan Piedrahita — who charged into contention and took the runner-up spot with six laps to go.
Piedrahita made his charge the next lap, fighting to the top lane and going side-by-side with Stoneman for half a lap, narrowly missing out on the lead as the third and final yellow flag waved with four to go as Heamin Choi tagged the SAFER Barrier.
Jones was able to charge ahead when the green flag returned on the final lap, aided by Piedrahita — who made contact with Stoneman’s rear bumper guard and stacked up the field — but just missed being ahead when it counted most.
“It’s so frustrating to lose the race like that,” a dejected Jones said. “We were (battling) back and forth throughout the race, and all the time I was just waiting behind Dean for the last few laps (before I made my move).”
“When the last restart came out, he (Stoneman) brought everyone down really slowly and I think it … caught a few people off-guard. I got the lead into turn one, and I thought I had enough of a run and was pulling away … but he got the draft down the back straightaway and pulled up to me. I made the decision to stay on the inside and he just got the momentum of the outside and that just beat me to the line. The team gave me the car to win the race and my minor mistake just cost us everything at the end.”
Dalton Kellett nipped Blackstock for third at the line, giving team owner Michael Andretti three cars in the top four on a day when he was finally able to stand in victory lane as a winner of Indy Lights’ biggest event.
“It’s the first time ever we’ve won this race, and I couldn’t be more excited,” Andretti said with a huge smile. “We’ve been trying for so many years (to win the Freedom 100) and Dean finally brought it to us today. It’s just an awesome day in general, to have three cars in the top four and Dean holding the trophy — I can’t believe it.”
“I didn’t know he had won at first, to be honest. It was so close, and I just waited for timing and scoring to tell us for sure. I thought maybe … but when I knew it was just a huge moment.”
Canadian Scott Hargrove rounded out the top five for Team Pelfrey after starting 11th on the grid. Piedrahita dropped back to finish eighth after the last lap contact with Stoneman.
The Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires continues their 2016 season June 25-26, with a doubleheader weekend in the series’ inaugural visit to Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.
RESULTS: Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires; Freedom 100; Indianapolis Motor Speedway; May 27, 2016
- Dean Stoneman
- Ed Jones
- Dalton Kellett
- Shelby Blackstock
- Scott Hargrove
- Felix Serralles
- Neil Alberico
- Juan Piedrahita
- Felix Rosenqvist
- Zach Veach
- R.C. Enerson
- Heamin Choi
- Zachary Claman de Melo
- Santiago Urrutia
- Andre Negrao
- Kyle Kaiser
About the Writer
Jacob Seelman is the Managing Editor of Race Chaser Online and creator of the Motorsports Madness radio show, airing at 7 p.m. Eastern every Monday on the Performance Motorsports Network.
Seelman grew up in the sport, watching his grandparents co-own the RaDiUs Motorsports NASCAR Cup Series team in the 1990s.
The 22-year-old is currently studying Broadcast Journalism at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., and is also serving as the full-time tour announcer for the Must See Racing Sprint Car Series.
Email Jacob at: [email protected]
Follow on Twitter: @Speed77Radio or @JacobSeelman77
Email Race Chaser Online: [email protected]
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