Askew Continues Indy Lights Roll with Mid-Ohio Victory

By:
On:
In: Racing News
Oliver Askew extended his Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires points lead this afternoon with a commanding victory for Andretti Autosport at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. The 22-year-old’s fifth win of the season from 12 races stretched his advantage to 35 points over Dutchman Rinus VeeKay (Juncos Racing), who finished third today behind Askew’s teammate, Ryan Norman, from nearby Aurora, Ohio. Six races remain this season.

After claiming the pole position in qualifying yesterday afternoon, Askew, from Jupiter, Fla., held off outside front row qualifier and teammate Robert Megennis, from New York, N.Y., at the first corner and was never seriously threatened throughout the 30-lap race held in warm conditions on the undulating and picturesque 2.258-mile road circuit.

A preceding Stadium Super Truck Series race made for a slippery track surface, especially during the opening stages of the race. Toronto race winner Aaron Telitz (Belardi Auto Racing), from Birchwood, Wis., was the first to be caught out, spinning at the exit of Turn Five on the opening lap. Next time around, third-place runner Toby Sowery, from Cambridge, England, looped his BN Racing/Team Pelfrey Dallara-AER in Turn Nine, and then Canadian Dalton Kellett ran off the road on the exit of the final corner, Turn 14. All three resumed at the back of the pack.

Megennis remained in contention, only 1.5 seconds in arrears of Askew with 10 laps completed, with Norman, having inherited third place from Sowery, also chasing gamely in third. VeeKay, meanwhile, after problems in qualifying caused him to line up only sixth on the grid, was up into fourth at this stage, albeit with a deficit of more than three seconds to the leading trio.

Sowery, who started third, had worked his way back up to fifth following his early gyration, only to lose control again as he crested the rise at Turn 11 on Lap 10, spinning off into the tire barriers. Sowery was unhurt but the full-course caution waved while his stricken car was retrieved.
Askew made an exemplary restart and soon began to pull away from Megennis, who was unable to shake off the attentions of Norman. On Lap 19, Norman took advantage of his AER turbo engine’s push-to-pass feature to power past Megennis on the main straightaway. Five laps later VeeKay attempted to follow suit, only for Megennis to hold his line through Turn Four, forcing VeeKay to the outside and, ultimately, to tuck back into line. Next time around, Megennis bowed to the inevitable as VeeKay completed his pass a little earlier on the straightaway and moved through neatly into third.

The Dutchman’s charge from sixth on the grid earned him his third Tilton Hard Charger Award of the season.

Megennis slipped back to a distant and lonely fourth at the finish, well clear of David Malukas (BN Racing), from Chicago, Ill., and Brazilian Lucas Kohl (Belardi Auto Racing), who kept his nose clean to secure his best finish of the season thus far.
Adam Sinclair
Latest posts by Adam Sinclair (see all)
Post Views: 62