Background In 1983, a number of
Formula Ford race cars powered by
Mazda rotary engines were built by Hayashi Racing in
Japan and imported to the
United States for use by the
Jim Russell Racing School. Enough cars were constructed to run a one-make series, the Mazda Pro Series, which began in 1984 at the
Long Beach Grand Prix. In late 1984, following modifications to the cars'
rollover structures to bring them in line with
SCCA regulations, the so-called "Formula Russell" Following the departure of
Mazda from the Road to Indy program at the end of 2018, the series was rebranded to the Indy Pro 2000, with Andersen Promotions maintaining its ownership of the series. Rookie
Matthew Brabham of Andretti Autosport won the 2013 championship, with
Gabby Chaves,
Sage Karam,
Jack Hawksworth, and
Zach Veach advancing to Indy Lights. in 2014,
Juncos Racing's
Spencer Pigot and Wayne Taylor Racing's
Scott Hargrove battled down to the wire, with the championship title changing hands three times through the last race. Pigot, leading going into the race, came together with Hargrove and fell to the back of the field, only to see his championship hopes return when Hargrove's gearbox failed. Pigot took the title by 10 points and earned the Mazda scholarship into the Indy Lights series. Also graduating to Indy lights were Pigot's Juncos teammate
Kyle Kaiser and Andretti Autosport's
Shelby Blackstock. Uruguayan
Santiago Urrutia earned the 2015 title over American
Neil Alberico with three wins and 10 podium finishes. Uruttia earned a $590,300 scholarship into the Indy Lights series, where he would be joined by Alberico and Andretti's
Dalton Kellett.
Team Pelfrey teammates
Pato O'Ward and
Aaron Telitz battled throughout the 2016 season, with O'Ward taking six of the first seven victories and Telitz taking five of the final seven. Telitz's run of nine straight podium finishes (including a sweep of the victories at his home track of
Road America) to end the season sealed his championship victory and the $601,700 scholarship into the Indy Lights series. With the new Tatuus PM-18 car coming into use in 2018, increased incentives made the 2017 Pro Mazda Championship an attractive prospect. The scholarship to Indy Lights was increased to $790,300, the top three in the final championship standings would be awarded an Indy Lights test, and the top rookie would receive a Mazda road car. Juncos Racing's
Victor Franzoni and Cape Motorsports'
Anthony Martin enjoyed a spirited fight from the season opener, with the pair splitting the first 10 races of the season. At the
Watkins Glen finale, Franzoni scored both victories to take the 2017 championship over Martin by 18 points. Franzoni graduated to Indy Lights with Juncos Racing, who fielded a team in the 2018
Indianapolis 500. ==Cars==