Team Pelfrey has confirmed its first two drivers for its Mazda Road to Indy presented by Cooper Tires programs in 2017, with Robert Megennis (Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda) and TJ Fischer (Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires) set for their second seasons in each of the respective championships. The team has moved its operations for both to Indianapolis over the winter.
Megennis was perhaps the revelation of the 2016 USF2000 campaign, as the series’ top rookie at just age 16. He has the potential to win races and contend for a title this year, as the USF2000 championship shifts to the debut of the new Tatuus USF-17 chassis.
“I am delighted to be returning to the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda with Team Pelfrey. The revitalized team, relocated to Indianapolis, will be hard to beat,” said Megennis, who will drive the No. 80 Palo Alto Networks entry. “After the awesome rookie season we had in 2016, I’m super excited to see what we can do in our second year in the series and my third year in yellow!”
Fischer moved up midseason from USF2000 into Pro Mazda. The Californian was consistent, frequently finishing between fifth and sixth, and has potential to become a podium regular this year.
“It’s clear, they have won the past two Pro Mazda titles, and the demeanor within the team shows why they’ve been so successful. Last year, I got a taste of what racing in the Pro Mazda Championship was like and now I am able to learn from the 2016 season and apply it to a full proper year,” said Fischer, who during the year will work to increase awareness on his Project O2 initiative. Fischer created the O2 campaign, which is designed to inform, inspire, and innovate a new path to asthma awareness.
These two signings should kick off a flurry of Mazda Road to Indy announcements for Pro Mazda and USF2000 over the next month or so, before the official preseason test takes place in Homestead, Fla. at the end of February.
