Travis Billingsley Wins Indy 200

 Lap times in the weeks proceeding the 5th annual running of the Indy 200 indicated a tight race may develop for this years event. After holding the top lap time for several weeks, Travis Billingsley looked like he would be a top choice for a win. However, just days before the race, Andrew Steppat turned a perfect lap and shattered the previous league record by nearly a full tenth of a second. The game was on, and no winner was a guarantee.

 Qualifying was a 5 minute session to lay down a fast lap. Several top times were posted, but Ethan Maestri posted the top lap time of 37.379 seconds, just .020 ahead of Travis, taking pole position for the third time in his Indy career.

Six cars take the start for the FRL's Indy 200

 The grid of six cars was set and the green flag waved. It was a very clean start for most. Travis #18 seemed to lag a bit behind at the start, allowing Andrew Steppat to take second place in Turn 1. This would set the stage for an early battle for the lead between the #001 and #3 cars. Two laps in, Andrew made his move low into Turn 4 but drifted up into the #3 car, causing Ethan to lift slightly to avoid the outside wall. Andrew pulled hard to the left and opened a gap for Travis to try and exploit. The Top 4 were separated by less than 3 car lengths and disaster looked to be coming any second.

 Travis Billinglsey (#18) shoots the gap in an exciting start to the Indy 200

 But a massive wreck was not to be. The Top 4 settled into a rhythm that allowed for very good racing. Travis would be passed by Ethan, and then Paul in turn. The two brothers would slowly regain lost ground on Andrew. Around lap 15, Ethan passed Andrew for the lead. Paul and Travis would settle into a battle for third, with Tony Tyree lurking just behind.

 Pit cycles would dominate the result of this event. Ethan and Paul pitted on lap 20. A mistake that Ethan would not realize he'd made until a couple of cycles into the race. But as the pit cycles progressed, it seemed victory would be decided between Andrew Steppat and Ethan Maestri, racing nose-to-tail for much of the race. Until lap 58 when Andrew experienced a bobble in Turn 4 which caused him to brush the wall, sending him immediately to the pits for attention and ruining a winning pit strategy.

Close racing thrilled the Covid-19 crowd for the FRL's 2020 Indy 200

 After the last pit cycle, Ethan Maestri knew he needed to conserve fuel in order to make the 21 lap run toi the checkered flag. He lifted into Turn 1 lap after lap, nervously watching the gap close as the laps ticked down. Inside of three laps to go he made the fateful decision to run full bore for two laps in order to maintain the slight gap over Paul and Travis. Into the last lap, Paul Maestri was on fumes and quickly began sputtering after Turn 1. This brought Travis up to second place. Down the backstretch into Turn 3, Ethan's # Honda sputtered and died coming onto the front stretch. Travis Billingsley in the #18 Oracle Honda would pass the #3 car only a few hundred yards from the finish line, claiming his second Indy 200 win!

 Andrew Steppat would pass Paul's dead-stick #33 for third place, giving him the points he needed to win the points series. Ghabe Stouffer ran a consistent race and was rewarded with a Top 5 finish. Tony Tyree would run an alternative pit strategy that ultimately didn't pan-out, finishing sixth.

 Congratulations to all drivers for an exciting and well raced event. We look forward to continuing the tradition next year.

Indy Championship Points

Winner: Andrew Steppat - 136
Second:    Ethan Maestri - 121
Third: Travis Billingsley - 109
Paul Maestri - 100
Ghabe Stouffer - 82
Tony Tyree - 60
Mikey Collins - 58
Gabe Fast - 28
Drew Dilbeck - 26

Steppat Runs Away And Hides In DBtN Grand Prix

 The FRL visits the Indianapolis Grand Prix circuit for the first time with an Indy car event, the Drive Back the Night Grand Prix. Preparations for the week demonstrated that Steppat Racing was at the top of its game once more with blistering lap times fully a second faster than the nearest competition. Expectations were high that the #001 would dominate the event.

The grid of six heads the wrong way around the Indy GP circuit

 Coming into this race, the #18 DPR driven by Travis Billingsley had suffered a lack-luster finish at Homestead and was looking to capitalize on their road course advantage over the remainder of the field. As qualifying unfolded, the #001 did not disappoint, posting an untouchable 1:08 lap time that could not be challenged, Andrew Steppat claimed the pole position. Travis in the #18 did well with a second place start for the race. Paul Maestri continued his impressive qualifying effort, posting the third fastest time in a car tuned by his brother Ethan, who qualified next to him in fourth.

 With the grid of six set and a formation lap made, the Green flag flew over the race and pandemonium set in. The first row didn't get to speed as quickly as the second row, allowing Ethan and Paul Maestri to overtake Travis Billingsley. On the back foot, Travis slid a bit into Turn 6, getting into the gearbox of Paul slightly and shunted him into the grass. Paul recovered quickly and raced on with no damage. Travis dropped behind Ghabe Stouffer, into P5. Thus the stage was set for the #18 to make a long slog back toward the top of the order.

 Mikey Collins started in P6, and would end the race in the same position. However, he ran a good race early, catching and pacing Ghabe Stouffer, but several off's would claim his chance at challenging Ghabe's position.

Cars at speed at the FRL's DBtN Grand Prix

 After pit stops cycled around laps 15-17, Ethan and Travis found themselves in close proximity. Travis settled in to hunt down the #3 Honda over the next 9 laps. Drawing to within a half second on several occasions. However, in the end Ethan was able to hold onto the second position at the checkered flag.

 Andrew Steppat claims his second straight Indy win in two weeks with a dominating performance at the Indy GP track. The FRL Indy series will stay in the Indianapolis infield while the track crews ready the facility for the 5th annual FRL Indy 200 on May 17th!

Andrew Steppat wins the DBtN Grand Prix

Indy Championship Points

Andrew Steppat  - 101

Ethan Maestri      - 80

Paul Maestri         - 68

Travis Billingsley - 59

Mikey Collins      - 58

Ghabe Stouffer     - 52

Tony Tyree           - 32

Gabe Fast             - 28

Drew Dilbeck       - 26