Comunicados de Prensa - Wheeler Cruises to 3rd Straight Overall Top-5

Wheeler Cruises to 3rd Straight Overall Top-5

Capping off his rookie (half) season, the rookie from the United States rode a brilliant pit strategy to a podium on home turf in the World Ovals finale at Indianapolis.

Wheeler was ecstatic with the day. "We had trouble in testing, so I wasn't sure if we were going to run well enough to work through the field from 8th. We sat down as a team and decided on an all-in pit strategy to keep us on the track longer than everyone else during the first pit window. It worked unbelievably well. We finally got some luck with safety cars and everyone needed to take their 2nd pit stop around lap 40, and we didn't have to."

Wheeler's first pit came just after a safety car, baffling onlookers as he dropped all the way to P28 with the field pitting early during the safety car. The rookie picked his way through a few drivers eventually finding his way up to 18th by lap 39.

Stuck having to stretch their middle pit window to lap 40, almost the entire field pit, leaving only a few to pit on lap 41. Wheeler however, having pit several laps after the field the first time, drove his car through lap 47, leading the race for 5 laps until losing the lead to the eventual race winner.

Upon emerging from the pits, Wheeler had gained 12 spots and found himself sitting in P6 with tires that had 7 fewer laps of deterioration than the field. With 10-to-go Wheeler upped his efforts and drove past 2 on course, passing another who was forced to pit. He held P3 from there to solidify his 2nd podium of the series and a 5th place overall.

"I'm so happy the pre-race plan worked out for Indy. It's great to be on the podium in a competitive event in the United States. I can't wait for Season 10. Looking forward to some great season series racing. Stay tuned, though. You'll be hearing from me again very soon."

Wheeler alluded to an important announcement that will likely be coming up as Season 9 racing comes to an end, leaving reporters wondering if F3 America is the only thing on Wheeler's mind.