The Cooper Tires Presents the USF2000 National Championship Powered by Mazda released its 2011 schedule for the series, which is part of both IndyCar's "Road to Indy" and the MAZDASPEED Motorsports driver development programs. The series' second season grows to 14 races at eight events, which is an increase of two races from 2010.

The 2011 season opener is on St. Patrick's Day in March when the series supports the American Le Mans Series at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring at Sebring, Fla. It closes in September when it is part of the Labor Day extravaganza at the brand-new street course event at Baltimore's Inner Harbor. The series will support IZOD IndyCar Series events four times, as well as four times with the ALMS

The USF2000 series is committed to provide training on the three different types of tracks young drivers need to be proficient on before they reach the IZOD IndyCar Series, so the 2011 schedule consists of two oval-track races, four on temporary street circuits and eight on permanent road courses. All of the events are doubleheaders except for the two oval-track races.

The races at Sebring and Baltimore as well as the events at the Milwaukee Mile and Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, are new venues for the series, which was revived in 2010 after being on hiatus since 2006.

The top driver in the USF2000 series' championship class earns a scholarship package from Mazda valued at $350,000 to help him or her advance to the Star Mazda series the following season. Andretti Autosport's Sage Karam of Nazareth, Pa. won that title in 2010.

The USF2000 series' National class is open to any car that meets the current SCCA Formula Continental regulations. The titlist in the National class receives a $20,000 awards package consisting of a new, race-ready Mazda MZR 2.0 engine and additional pieces that are needed to convert a Zetec Van Diemen to Mazda power.  AcceleRace Motorsports' Ardie Greenamyer of Louisville, Ky. is the 2010 champion of the National class.

Drivers and teams wishing to test during the pre-season will be interested in the Cooper Tires Winterfest, a separate, two-event, five-race series that is being conducted at Sebring and Homestead, Fla. in January.


2011 Cooper Tires Presents the USF2000 National Championship Powered by Mazda

Race 1      March 17    Sebring Int'l Raceway       w/ALMS
Race 2      March 18    Sebring, Fla.              
Race 3      March 26    St. Petersburg, Fla.           w/IndyCar
Race 4      March 27    St Petersburg, Fla.        
Race 5      May 28       O'Reilly Raceway Park       w/USAC Midgets Indianapolis, Ind.  
Race 6      June 18      Milwaukee Mile                   w/IndyCar
Race 7      July 30       Autobahn Country Club       w/Star Mazda
Race 8      July 31       Joliet, Ill.               
Race 9      Aug. 5        Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course  w/IndyCar/ALMS
Race 10    Aug. 6        Mid-Ohio
Race 11    Aug. 19      Road America                     w/ALMS
Race 12    Aug. 20      Road America    
Race 13    Sept. 4       Baltimore                            w/IndyCar/ALMS
Race 14    Sept. 4       Baltimore, Md.