Jake wright wins flamingos 100 at road america

The only close call for Jake Wright came before the race even started, when the defending series champion and current points leader had to deviate from his vacation to make time to race. From there, it was all over, as the Californian led 23 laps from the pole on his way to a win in The Flamingos 100 at Road America on Wednesday night.

It was Wright’s second win of the season in the Lionheart IndyCar Series presented by First Medical Equipment.

“This is awesome,” said Wright from virtual victory lane. “We’re two-for-two on road courses this year now, and I needed that run with my biggest rivals right behind me all night. There was no margin for error, but luckily we were clean all race.”

Jonathan Goke finished second, and moved into second in points. James Krahula was third in the race, and dropped one spot to third in the standings.

“I’ve never been much of a road course guy, and I’d never turned a lap at Road America in an IndyCar prior to this week,” Goke said after the race. “I didn’t start the week very fast but my teammates kept working with me to get me quicker.”

Krahula kept pace with Goke all race, but never found a way through and had to settle for third.

“I’ve been doing a lot of laps in the NASCAR Sprint Cup car at Road America, and it’s a lot of throttle control,” Krahula said. “I guess when I came back over to the IndyCar, I just had my pickup points down and it was a lot quicker. That really helped.”

It was a clean race, with only a few minimal incidents. 34 cars started, and 18 completed all 25 laps. Only seven cars finished in the garage.

Goke’s teammates, Michael Gray and Dan Geren completed the top five. Jason Robarge, Dylan Lee, Randy Crossno, Jason Galvin and Chris Stofer rounded out the top ten.

Goke was the only other lap leader, inheriting the spot during pit stops.

The series goes to its third road course of the season for the second running of the Lionheart Indy Montreal at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve after an off week for testing. That race can be seen live on the Global SimRacing Channel on Wednesday, May 25 at 10:40 p.m. EST.

The Lionheart MX-5 Challenge returns to the track Thursday, May 19 at Watkins Glen International. And series officials are hinting at a major announcement prior to the race at Montreal, possibly involving a new series.