Zendeli and TJ Speed team claim first wins in USF Pro 2000

German-based Albanian rookie Lirim Zendeli scored his first USF Pro 2000 Presented by Cooper Tires victory for himself and his team, TJ Speed Motorsports, in this morning’s dramatic second leg of the L&W Supply Grand Prix of Road America.

Brazil’s Kiko Porto fought his way impressively through the field from 13th on the grid to finish second for DEForce Racing, while Ireland’s Jonathan Browne further exhibited the global appeal of the USF Pro Championships by rounding out the podium for Turn 3 Motorsport.

Remarkably, there wasn’t a repeat podium finisher in either of this weekend’s two races apiece for USF Pro 2000 and the junior open-wheel development series, USF2000 Presented by Cooper Tires.

TJ Speed Motorsports is new to USF Pro 2000, but has gained success in every other series it has contested in recent years. This morning, the Pittsboro, Ind.-based team’s trio of rookie drivers all enjoyed a taste of success. In addition to Zendeli’s victory, America’s Christian Weir claimed the Cooper Tires Pole Award — the eighth different driver in nine races to secure a pole this season — while the third member of the team, Francesco Pizzi, from Italy, posted the fastest lap of the race.

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Unfortunately, Weir’s hopes of a maiden win were dashed even before the green flag when he and fellow front row starter — and yesterday’s winner — Michael d’Orlando (Turn 3 Motorsport) came together at the apex of Turn 14 on the parade lap. Weir continued a lap in arrears after repairs were made to his car, but d’Orlando played no further part in the proceedings.