
Andretti Global’s Louis Foster showcased his remarkable racing prowess by sweeping the weekend at Laguna Seca, securing a dominant flag-to-flag victory from pole in Race 2. The 20-year-old Briton delivered a flawless performance, mirroring his triumph on Saturday, by leading all 35 laps and winning by 4.3962 seconds on the 2.238-mile, 11-turn natural terrain road course. With this win, coupled with an error by rival Jacob Abel, Foster now holds a commanding 35-point lead in the championship. Foster’s performance was nothing short of spectacular. Starting from pole, he maintained his lead throughout the race, showcasing his exceptional driving skills and strategic acumen. “Yeah, like I said yesterday, Andretti has given me an amazing car, I’m just out there doing my thing,”
HMD Motorsports rookie Caio Collet finished second, delivering a solid performance throughout the race. Andretti Global rookie Bryce Aron secured third place, rounding out the podium. Yuven Sundaramoorthy, driving the No. 22 Abel Motorsports entry, crossed the finish line fourth, the same position he achieved in Race 1. Andretti Cape’s Salvador de Alba Jr. demonstrated impressive driving skills, charging from 11th on the grid to finish fifth. Jamie Chadwick, in her Andretti Global machine, made significant progress, moving from 14th to sixth, passing the most cars in the race. The race dynamics were intense from the start
Foster successfully defended his lead, but Collet remained close in the early stages. After five laps, Foster built up a lead of 1.4467 seconds over Collet, with Gold and Abel running third and fourth, respectively. The frontrunners maintained their positions as Foster expanded his advantage to over 3 seconds by lap 15. However, the race saw a dramatic turn when HMD Motorsports teammates Callum Hedge and Christian Brooks collided in Turn 2 on lap 16, bringing out a caution. Brooks continued, but Hedge was left stalled in the Andretti Hairpin. When the race resumed on lap 17, Foster got a clean jump and broke away from the field, establishing a lead of 1.5513 seconds over the next four laps. His lead extended to 2.7 seconds over Collet with less than 10 laps remaining, while Gold trailed in third, 12.3 seconds behind. The battle for the final podium spot intensified with eight laps to go. Gold and Abel collided in the Corkscrew, resulting in suspension damage for Gold’s No. 10 HMD Motorsports entry, forcing an early retirement. Abel’s momentum carried him off course, allowing Bryce Aron to capitalize and move into third place. Abel received a drive-through penalty for avoidable contact and finished 11th. Foster’s lead stood at 3.3 seconds with five laps to go. The best on-track battle was for sixth place between Jamie Chadwick, Myles Rowe of HMD Motorsports with Force Indy, and Brooks. Rowe’s chances faded after a late-race incident, dropping him to 16th. Foster sailed to the checkered flag, securing a dominant weekend sweep, with Collet finishing runner-up in both races. This performance significantly impacts the championship standings.
Foster’s dominant display and strategic mastery have positioned him as the championship leader, holding a substantial 35-point advantage over his closest rivals. Louis Foster’s sweeping victory at Laguna Seca is a testament to his exceptional talent and the outstanding support from Andretti Global. His flawless execution from pole to finish in both races underscores his potential as a rising star in the Indy NXT series. As the championship battle intensifies, Foster’s commanding lead positions him as the driver to watch in the upcoming races.