After victory in Iowa last time out, Andretti Global driver Louis Foster is returning to the St. Louis Gateway oval having won five of the last seven Indy NXT by Firestone races, leading the championship.
Foster, 21, from Hampshire in the UK, has been a sensation in the championship this year, the only driver to win on a road course, street circuit and oval this season.
Iowa was the first oval of the year where Foster bided his time and waited patiently to make his move, something he has been good at after winning at his first attempt on an oval in 2022.
Foster finished runner-up at Gateway last year, and this event kicks off a run of three ovals in the last four races to conclude the season.
“Ovals were definitely something to get used to when I arrived in America two years ago, but we have a good record and I know the Andretti Global team will give me a great car,” says Foster, who is backed by Copart, a global leader in online auto auctions.
“Having a good car is the main thing but you also need to take care of your tyres and time your overtakes effectively. It’s definitely a type of racing you have to show a lot of respect and it’s no surprise the fans here love watching good oval races.
“Hopefully we can give them one this weekend at Gateway, which is quite a flat oval so it races differently to some other ovals.”
With four events to go Foster is 77 points clear at the top of the championship, his biggest margin at the head of the field so far.
At Nashville Super Speedway - the last race on the calendar - Foster tested earlier this month and was fastest of all-comers finishing the day in P1.
“The momentum is great, but there’s no reason why we can’t carry it on,” Foster adds. “We have a nice lead at the moment. It’s comfortable, but I’m not comfortable with it, I want it to be more. So, the target is to win more.
“We’ll maintain the same approach of doing our best to qualify well and take as many points as possible from the races without trying to overreach or force anything.”
The Gateway race, called the ‘Outfront Showdown’, is 75 laps, 93.75 miles.
In the UK you’ll be able to watch Louis race on Sky Sports F1 channel with the race live on Saturday at 20.55pm UK time.
Gateway oval schedule - Eastern time zone
Friday August 16
Practice 1 - 1515-1600 (2015-2100 UK)
Qualifications - 1845-1925 (2345-0025 UK)
Saturday August 17
Race 1 - 1555-1710 (2055-2210 UK)
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