The USF Pro Championships Presented by Continental Tire, formerly known as the Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires, is a racecar driver development program, providing a scholarship-funded path to reach the
IndyCar Series and
Indianapolis 500.
Sanctioned by the
United States Auto Club (USAC), the series are owned and managed by Andersen Promotions.
Since its launch in 2010, the ladder system has attracted competitors from around the globe. Drivers from Albania, Argentina, Australia, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Guatemala, Guyana, India, Ireland, Italy, Korea, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sweden, South Africa, Spain, Taiwan, United Kingdom, Venezuela and Zimbabwe have been part of the grids, showcasing their talents at premier venues on a mix of road courses, temporary street circuits, and ovals.
Participating series (in order from lowest to highest ranking)
In 2021
Kyle Kirkwood won the Indy Lights championship and became the first driver to win a championship and thus scholarship at every rung of the ladder on their way to IndyCar. However, both
Sage Karam
Sage Rennie Karam (born March 5, 1995) is an American professional racing driver who competes part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the Nos. 43 and 45 Chevrolet Camaros for Alpha Prime Racing and part-time in the IndyCar Series, drivi ...
and
Matthew Brabham won scholarships from U.S. F2000 and made it to IndyCar. Karam, Brabham,
Tristan Vautier
Tristan Vautier (born 22 August 1989) is a French professional racing driver.
Racing career
Formula Renault
Born in Saint-Martin-d'Hères, Isère, Vautier began his career in the French Formula Renault Campus series in 2006, where he finishe ...
,
Oliver Askew and
Spencer Pigot have all won two scholarships on their way to IndyCar. In 2017,
Josef Newgarden
Josef Nicolai Newgarden (born December 22, 1990) is an American race car driver who competes in the IndyCar Series full-time for Team Penske. He is the 2017 and 2019 IndyCar Series Champion and 2011 Indy Lights champion.
Career
Karting
Newga ...
became the first Road to Indy graduate and scholarship winner to win the IndyCar Series championship.
Mazda Road to Indy Shootout
From 2016 to 2018, a shootout race for up-and-coming talents was held. In a knock-out format, drivers who won championships in various beginner-level series were invited to compete for a $200,000 scholarship to race in the USF2000 series.
Shootout winners
Champions
References
{{Road to Indy
IndyCar Series
Mazda in motorsport