Race results

LONG BEACH, Calif. – Ed Jones didn’t expect to win the first three races let alone three races total in his initial Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires season.

But the Carlin driver, who swept the doubleheader on the streets of St. Petersburg, Fla., has taken a commanding lead in the championship standings by also winning the Grand Prix of Long Beach Presented by Allied Building Products.

Jones, who started fourth, took advantage of an opportunity on Lap 1 when the cars of third-place qualifier Kyle Kaiser of Juncos Racing and pole winner Jack Harvey of Schmidt Peterson Motorsports with Curb-Agajanian collided in Turn 1.

Felix Serralles, who started fifth, emerged in the lead followed by Jones and RC Enerson. On the Lap 4 restart, Jones slipped ahead of Serralles to assume the point.

"I knew it was going to be a bit hectic at the start because the temperatures were cold, the tires were cold,” Jones said. “I didn't get the best start and dropped back to fifth. But then I saw the collision happening up front, so I braked a little bit earlier, took the inside and got around to the left.

“I got around Felix on the restart and we had a good battle for the next few laps. Then I had to deal with Spencer (Pigot). You don't want to make any mistakes, but you have to push really hard. It's hard, because if you're too conservative, you'll get caught. It was difficult; I risked it a bit but fortunately, I didn't make any mistakes and that's what kept me the lead.

“We didn't have the fastest car so to come away with the win is fantastic."

Pigot got around Serralles on Lap 21 and was within striking distance of Jones but wasn’t able to complete a pass in the waning laps and finished .6131 of a second back.

Serralles completed the podium for 2014 champion Belardi Auto Racing. Pigot secured his third consecutive podium finish.

“We were the quickest car on track for the bulk of the race,” he said. “I gave it my all to try and pass Ed but I didn't have quite enough to get by him. The push-to-pass is a new tool for us and when you get all 500 horsepower from the Mazda engine, you really feel it in the back. I tried to use it on Ed, but it wasn't quite enough.

“But there are so many positives to take away from here. The Juncos team did a great job from St. Pete to here. We're happy with second today but we're ready for a win."

Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires will have a doubleheader April 25-26 at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala.