WEST ALLIS, Wisc — Anders Krohn won his first oval race and first victory in a Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear race when he won the Championship’s first appearance at the Milwaukee Mile.
Krohn, of Norway, started seventh and grabbed the top spot away from Jorge Goncalvez on the 27th circuit of the flat mile oval. He led the rest of the way and never looked back.
Goodyear is the exclusive tire provider for the Star Mazda Championship and for Star Racing. The program includes regional series around the United States as well as the national championship tour.
“I was so impressed with the way (the tires) held up,” Krohn said. “I was going 110 percent all the way. A sensational accomplishment for the tires.”
The event marked the first time the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear has raced on an oval track since the series switched from Goodyear bias-ply tires to Goodyear Eagle radials. Several drivers in the field, like the winner, were racing on an oval for the first time.
“We knew we had a good tire package for this event,” said Chad Fletcher, sales account manager. “The wear rates we saw were as expected and the teams have been complimentary of this package all weekend.”
Goodyear has a long history of success at the Milwaukee Mile. Through the years, the tiremaker has supplied tires for IndyCar and NASCAR series at the famed track.
The Star Mazda teams and drivers adapted well to the unusual surroundings. The first 14 finishers completed the 100 circuits on the lead lap.
Adam Christodoulou finished second, 1.2 seconds behind the winner after a difficult race. He started second, eventually drifted back to sixth and then charged back toward the front. Alex Ardoin was third after starting 10th, followed by Peter Dempsey and Goncalvez.
The race started with a bump when pole sitter Richard Kent and Andersen Racing teammate Conor Daly made contact with each other and slid into the outside wall in the first turn of the first lap. Goncalvez assumed the lead and held it until Krohn took over.
More information about Goodyear Racing is available at www.racegoodyear.com. More information about the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear is available at www.starmazda.com
