Dutchman VeeKay Comes From Behind To Claim Victory

Teenager Rinus VeeKay swept to an impressive victory for Juncos Racing in the first of two races which will comprise the Pro Mazda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Presented by Allied Building Products.
 
Fellow Pro Mazda debutant Parker Thompson finished a close second after leading for much of the 25-lap race for the Exclusive Autosport team. Robert Megennis, from New York, N.Y., backed up his victory in last year’s Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda race at   St. Petersburg by finishing third for Juncos Racing.
 
Last year’s USF2000 champion, Oliver Askew, started on the pole for the St. Petersburg-based Cape Motorsports team but lost his advantage after being forced into an out-braking duel into the first corner by second-place qualifier Harrison Scott (RP Motorsport Racing). As the two rivals ran too deep into the turn and missed the apex by a country mile, second-place qualifier Thompson gratefully nipped into the gap and assumed the race lead ahead of teammates Megennis, who had started fifth, and VeeKay, who qualified a disappointed eighth.
 
An incident farther around the first lap in Turn Five between Brazilians Rafael Martins (Team Pelfrey) and Carlos Cunha (Juncos Racing) brought out the Safety Car after Martin’s debut ended against the wall.
 
While Thompson made an exemplary restart to hold onto his lead, VeeKay continued his charge toward the front by scything past Megennis into second place at Turn One.
 
Thompson had extended his lead over VeeKay to over three seconds after 14 laps, only for that margin to disappear in an instant when the yellow flags flew again after English ex-Formula Ford racer James Raven’s first-ever race with slicks and wings ended with an incident for his DEForce Racing Tatuus-Mazda PM-18 in Turn Eight.
 
The Safety Car gave one more opportunity for VeeKay. Thompson staunchly defended the inside line into Turn One following the restart but VeeKay was able to carry more momentum through the corner, then bravely drove clear around the outside of the Canadian in the flat-out Turn Two. It was an impressive maneuver. Thompson never gave up hope of regaining the point but had to settle for second.
 
Megennis maintained third despite a strong charge from Cunha, who worked his way back from ninth place after his opening lap incident. Polesitter Askew, from Jupiter, Fla., Sting Ray Robb (Team Pelfrey), from Payette, Idaho, and David Malukas (BN Racing), from Chicago, Ill., all finished in a train, followed by Nikita Lastochkin (Cape Motorsports) and Scott, who clearly had a fast car but was simply unable to find a way past.
 
VeeKay’s victory capped a glorious day for the youngster, who earlier in the morning secured the pole position for Race Two, which is scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m. Sunday.