Shields enjoys US debut

Teen shows potential in races

MOTOR SPORT: Toowoomba’s Cameron Shields has turned his attention to the IndyCar Grand Prix after a difficult Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship debut earlier this month.

Racing on the challenging St Petersburg Florida street circuit, Shields showed plenty of speed but was resigned to finishes of 11 and 16th.

“It wasn’t the results I was expecting from Cameron,” Newman Wachs Racing team manager Brian Halahan said.

“He had shown me he has the speed and talent to run up front. We just need to piece everything together.”

Qualifying for race one was difficult for Shields and fellow NWR rookie Nolan Siegel with red flags hampering the “runs” of both drivers.

Shields brushed the wall late in the session, which led to only one clean lap, before qualifying in 18th place.

Both drivers were put to the test early in race one with a turn one crash causing chaos.

The entire field was called in for re-positioning after the crash and Shields was immediately back on the pace after the re-start.

Shields did a fantastic job picking off car after car, making up an impressive eight spots to score an 11th place finish. Battling through the field in race two, contact with the wall again proved costly for Shields and he was forced to pit for repairs, which resulted in a 16th place.

“I feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to race the streets of St Petersburg in USF2000 with Newman Wachs Racing,” Shields said.

“It was an experience I will never forget but it is a place I would love to see again next year.

“The team did an exceptional job all weekend, we learned a lot about the car and in the final race after contact was made.

“I can’t thank my mechanics enough for getting me back out on track to finish the race.

“I’ll be going home to Australia for several weeks before returning to race at the Indy GP and this time I hope we can produce the results that I know as a team we are capable of.”

Shields will race at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the IndyCar Grand Prix from May 9-11.

Photo: Road to Indy

RACE DEBUT: Toowoomba’s Cameron Shields made his Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires debut in the USF2000 program at the Grand Prix of St Petersburg, finishing with a top result of 11th.