Zach Veach heads into Mid-Ohio with momentum and fans

Zach Veach heads into Mid-Ohio with momentum and fans


Andretti Autosport driver Zach Veach continues his USF2000 summer racing schedule with a stint on his home turf at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course this weekend. Veach, 16, joins the full “Mazda Road to Indy” developmental ladder system in support of the IZOD IndyCar Series’ headliner at the 50-year-old racing facility. Veach has also been a guest on IndyCar Garage Weekly and was featured as part of Andretti Autosport’s Road to Indy week on www.IndyCarGarage.com

“Our season started out great, we won the first race of the season, captured poles at Sebring and really have been focused on finishing as high as possible in each race.”

Veach sits currently second in the points championship, trailing Petri Suvanto by 17 points. Veach’s teammate, Spencer Pigot, sits one point behind in third.

“It’s a good and bad thing when your teammate is really fast, you can learn from each other, but also it makes you push harder and do your best. “

Veach enters his very first race at Mid-Ohio on the heels of two straight runner-up finishes at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis and at The Milwaukee Mile. The Zakosi Data Backup car No. 7 is now second in series points heading into the 13-turn 2.25 mi paved road course. Already this year, Veach has taken two race wins and three pole positions to capture the inaugural Cooper Tires presents the USF2000 Winterfest Championship. This season, he has earned three pole positions, a race win and five top-five finishes.

Mid-Ohio, a natural road course, while Veach’s home race, it’s not his preference of track. Veach prefers oval racing over road/street course racing.

“I’ve always felt more in tune on the ovals, it’s all about being smooth.”

“The USF2000 cars have little downforce so you have to almost throw the car around and get in through each turn (on road courses).”

Even though Veach’s prefers the ovals, it still will be special to race so close to home. Veach expects almost two dozen family members at this race, as well as a number of representatives from his new sponsor The Young Marines. This “home field” feel makes the 2011 Mid-Ohio all the more special to Veach, who places a strong value on family.

To follow Veach’s progress at the Mid-Ohio in Lexington, OH, live timing and scoring is available on www.usf2000timing.com or for more information, please visit www.ZachVeach.com or www.AndrettiAutosport.com.