ANDRETTI GOES 1-3-4 IN 2016 FREEDOM 100
The Mazda Freedom 100 has a history of intense racing and close finishes, and this year’s race was no different – it was yet another nail-biting experience for the Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires teams and fans. The crowd was on their feet with their eyes glued to the Yard of Bricks as Dean Stoneman took the checkered in the closest-ever finish in Indianapolis Motor Speedway history with a margin of just 0.0024 of a second; on only his second-ever oval race. Today’s victory also marks the very first Freedom 100 win for the Andretti Autosport stable, a triumph the team has been looking forward to for many years.
Today’s success for the Andretti Autosport trio does not stop there. Dalton Kellett, who started 14th, scored his first podium in the Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires Championship after battling teammate Shelby Blackstock on the final lap. Blackstock proved his Starstruck Mazda was a great race car, spending most of the race in third and crossing the finish line in fourth.
After an action-packed weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Indy Lights teams are headed back to Andretti Head Quarters for a few weekends off. Next stop on the schedule is a double-header at Road America in Elkhart Lake, WI June 25 and 26.
DEAN STONEMAN
NO. 27 STELLRECHT MAZDA
- Started today’s race from the fifth position and led 30 laps of the 40-Lap race
- Second consecutive victory, winning on both the road course and oval at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
“This is incredible. A great race which was great to be a part of. Five years ago I was given little chance of living or even driving a car again. To come to Indy and win at this famous circuit has to be up there with my best wins. I have to thank my Andretti team, they are awesome. I also have to thank Bob Stellrecht, who without I wouldn’t be here racing. “
DALTON KELLETT
NO. 28 K-LINE INSULATORS USA, INC. MAZDA
- Climbed 11 positions to secure his first-ever Indy Lights podium
- Jumps to 12th in points standings
“We started 14th and Andretti Autosport and the K-Line Insulators USA crew gave me a great car. The first 15 laps were totally unreal. I started to move around a lot in the last half of the race, but we made it stick. I thought of this as just another race until the second I got out of the car – then you see the crowd and the people are cheering and it just felt amazing. It’s definitely a very special moment to me to finish on the podium at Indianapolis Motor Speedway!”
SHELBY BLACKSTOCK
NO. 51 STARSTRUCK MAZDA
- Took the green flag from the 10th position
- Work his way through the field to run as high as third around the 2.5 mile oval
“Awesome day for Andretti Autosport with a 1-3-4 finish at the Freedom 100. We started 10th and made it up to third around halfway through the race. Unfortunately the front end of the car fell off too much while running behind Ed Jones in third- which made the whole car lose pace. There was some things I wish I could have done different but I’ll learn from those and take the good result for the team! My Starstruck crew and engineers has worked very hard over the past couple events and the results show. We are not even halfway through the season and there is no doubt there is still more to come from the team.”
