Foster the leading RLL car in the prestigious Long Beach GP

In his first race at the fabled Long Beach Grand Prix, Louis Foster was the top finishing Rahal Letterman Lanigan NTT INDYCAR Series driver as the rookie led the team’s results.

His 16th place was the best result scored by a rookie driver so far this year, and he also holds the best qualifying performance for a rookie this season from the Thermal Club race.

Reigning Indy NXT by Firestone champion Foster, 21, had never raced at Long Beach prior to this weekend, but the driver of the #45 Mi-Jack RLL Honda showed flashes of pace throughout, setting the third fastest time in practice 2 in the build-up to qualifying.

Foster encountered understeer on his second lap of a crucial qualifying run which left him starting 20th of 27 cars, but he raced well to make his way up to 16th.

“We gained four spots on the day,” said Foster, who is backed by Copart, a global leader in online auto auctions.

“It’s obviously good to move upwards. We had a decent start and passed a few cars. The middle stages weren’t our best, but towards the end, that’s where we really did a good job.

“I managed to get past quite a few cars; did quite a few overtakes today and I’m pretty happy with that result.

“Had we started farther up, we would have had a better end result. Realistically I think the only thing we can blame for having a P16 was not having the best qualifying session so we will continue to work on that.

“To get my first solid, proper INDYCAR race under my belt and to do a good job is something I’m happy about.”

Foster beat 11 cars home in his third IndyCar race so far, where he has excelled in flashes and met his fair share of adversity, too.

The highlight of the season so far has been a 10th-place qualifying at Thermal.

There’s a two-week break in the INDYCAR schedule now before Barber, a track Foster knows very well from his junior racing experience.

He’ll be looking to step forwards again there on May 4 as Foster’s first ‘Month of May’ leading into the Indianapolis 500 awaits.