Thompson’s Pro Mazda title hopes end, will test Indy Lights

“I’m the first guy to say you make your own luck in racing, but we have just not been able to catch a break in the second half. We’ve had electrical gremlins, engine problems and we were taken out in Toronto while I was running second.”

After seven races, Thompson had three wins and four other top five finishes, including twice in second place.

He also says not qualifying last for three races would’ve made a big difference going into the final two events of the year.

This past weekend, Thompson’s car wasn’t ready for qualifying following more electrical issues.

The difference between finishing first and second in the championship is $1 million compared to just $30,000, so Thompson says he’ll need to do a lot of fundraising in the offseason.

One silver lining to finishing second, however, is that the creator of Drive to Stay Alive will be granted a one-day trial in Indy Lights — a step up from Pro Mazda – to try and impress a team.

“It’s a bunch of emotions that I’m trying to process, but I just want to keep my head straight, go into Portland and try to get a couple wins for this team and hopefully prove that I belong as a race car driver on the Mazda Road to Indy or elsewhere,” he says, also reflecting on the opportunity to audition in Indy Lights. “It’s a dream come true.”

The Indy Lights test event takes place at the end of September on the Indianapolis Grand Prix Circuit, where Thompson picked up one of his three wins back in May.

by Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Thompson’s Pro Mazda title hopes end, will test Indy Lights

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