US F2000: IRP cancelled; Asaro wins oval crown

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

July 26, 2001

FAIRFIELD, N.J. -The U.S. F2000 National Championship Presented by Speedvision has announced that its appearance at the Night Before F1 race at Indianapolis Raceway Park has been cancelled.

Originally scheduled as a replacement for the Chicago Target Grand Prix, which was dropped due to a disagreement with the track, the Night Before F1 at IRP has been cancelled. This reduces the U.S. F2000 National Championship to 13 races, with the season-finale doubleheader taking place at Daytona International Speedway on September 15-16, 2001.

With the cancellation of Round 14 at IRP, The Road To Indy Oval Crown Championship is now complete after three rounds. Billy Asaro, of Unionville, Ont., Can., captures the Oval Crown ahead of Jeff Harrison, of Grapevine, Texas and Piero Rodarte, of Mexico City, Mexico. Asaro finished on the podium in all three rounds, winning round two, to win his first-ever race car championship.

"It's great to win the Oval Crown Championship," said the 19-year old Asaro. "Hopefully this championship will catch someone's eye and might lead to some doors opening down the road. The goal now is to build on this success and to add the National Championship at the end of the season."

The 2001 U.S. F2000 National Championship continues with Round Eleven, August 11, 2001, at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on the 2.258-mile road course.

Text provided by Allan Craighead

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