PORTLAND, Oregon – It was a celebration that brought out as much laughter as tears on Monday night as the Mazda Road to Indy saluted its latest champions and honored Mazda for its years as the INDYCAR development ladder’s title sponsor and cultivating future open-wheel talent

More than $2.6 million in prizes was distributed in the event at the Red Lion on the River, Jantzen Beach. All three levels of the Mazda Road to Indy concluded their 2018 seasons Sunday at Portland International Raceway. Champions were honored in Indy Lights presented by Cooper tires (Patricio O’Ward), the Pro Mazda Championship presented by Cooper Tires (Rinus VeeKay) and the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship powered by Mazda (Kyle Kirkwood).

While champions and other award recipients received their due, much of the evening was spent thanking Mazda Motorsports for its leadership role in the Road to Indy over the past nine years. John Doonan, director of motorsports for Mazda North American Operations, reflected on the bittersweet moment.

“We've been very proud to provide this for the industry,” Doonan said. “Never been done before and, hopefully, can continue down the road. I think what started out as a driver development program, which impacted 250 drivers (and) over $12 million in scholarships, turned into (Verizon IndyCar Series) champions and race winners, and I think a bunch of future race winners.

“Also, maybe by accident, (it) turned into a factory for engineers, for race teams, for people in PR and marketing. So, it became a big family, when it really started out as a way for drivers to find their way to the top.

“I think that's probably the most satisfying part of this. You see the number of people who are here this evening at the banquet. In some small way, all of them have been impacted and come together by Mazda's investment. And that's really rewarding.”

The impact of the Mazda Road to Indy cannot be underestimated. Doonan pointed with pride to the fact that 25 of the 33 drivers in this year’s Indianapolis 500 gained valuable racing experience in the development ladder.

Dan Andersen, owner and CEO of Andersen Promotions that operates the Mazda Road to Indy under INDYCAR sanction, thanked Mazda in general and Doonan in particular for their efforts.

“Mazda is a partner,’ Andersen said, “but John Doonan has been the champion of this whole program on the Mazda side for many, many years. It'll be different without him next year.”

The 2019 landscape looks different on many fronts. O’Ward, 19 from Monterrey, Mexico, claimed this year’s Indy Lights title driving for Andretti Autosport, edging teammate Colton Herta for the crown. O’Ward earned a $1 million Mazda scholarship granting at least three starts in the Verizon IndyCar Series next year, including the 103rd Indianapolis 500.

“I was sitting in the hotel today and just reading all the messages people have been sending me and everybody congratulating me and everyone on social media,” said O’Ward, who will test in an Indy car at Sonoma Raceway on Thursday. “It's been a really special feeling, very unique. I'm starting to realize it's a very, very big accomplishment and it's something that's going to mean something for the rest of my life.”

VeeKay earned a $790,300 scholarship for winning the Pro Mazda championship driving for Juncos Racing. The 17-year-old from Hoofddorp, The Netherlands, is already looking ahead to driving in Indy Lights in 2019.

“Seeing Patricio, who I drove against in the Chris Griffis test last year, being (Indy Lights) champion ... well, I might be a contender to be the new Pato next year,” VeeKay said. “It's just a dream come true to finally be a champion.”

For capturing the USF2000 championship, Kirkwood won a $325,000 scholarship to move up to Pro Mazda next season. His car will be among the last to feature the iconic Mazda “Soul Red” colors in 2019.

“It's really sinking in now after hearing the Mazda speech, that was a big turning moment to show me how big this really is and how emotional and how much it means to actually win this,” said Kirkwood, the 19-year-old Floridian.

“It's really settling in now, but when I said, ‘I'll be driving the last Soul Red Pro Mazda car,’ it's putting me in a position where I have to fill a lot of people's shoes and I'm the last person to do that for Mazda.”

Mazda Road to Indy presented by Cooper Tires award winners:

Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires

Champion (scholarship valued at $1 million) – Patricio O’Ward (Andretti Autosport)

Second place ($75,000) – Colton Herta (Andretti-Steinbrenner Racing)

Third place ($50,000) – Santi Urrutia (Belardi Auto Racing)

Fourth place ($25,000) – Ryan Norman (Andretti Autosport)

Fifth place ($10,000) – Victor Franzoni (Juncos Racing)

Rookie of the Year ($15,000) – Patricio O’Ward

Team Championship ($15,000) – Andretti Autosport

Mechanic of the Year ($1,000) – Ross McLeod (Belardi Auto Racing)

Hi-Tide Boat Lifts Kids On Track Spirit ($1,000) – Franzoni

Royal Purple “Slickest Pass” ($5,000) – O’Ward

Tilton Hard Charger ($2,500) – Urrutia

Dallara Bent Pushrod ($2,000) – Andretti Autosport

Jostens Champion’s Ring – O’Ward

Freedom 100 Champion’s Ring – Herta

Mazda Road to Indy Ring (drivers contesting all three levels) – Franzoni

Motegi Winning Driver Motegi Racing Team Owner Trophy (set of street wheels) – O’Ward

Cosworth Champion’s Award ($5,000 refurbishment credit to series champion) – O’Ward

Dallara Champion’s Parts Credit ($25,000 )– O’Ward

Carl Haas Auto Damper Rebuild ($900) – Andretti Autosport

Original artwork by Jim Swintal – O’Ward

Pro Mazda Championship presented by Cooper Tires

Champion ($700,000 scholarship to advance to Indy Lights, Cooper Tires Tire Allotment Award $69,000, Series Race Entry Fee Award $26,150, Indy Lights Test Award $20,000 = $815,150) – Rinus VeeKay (Juncos Racing)

Second place ($30,000 plus Indy Lights test award $20,000) – Parker Thompson (Exclusive Autosport)

Third place ($20,000 plus Indy Lights test award $20,000) – Oliver Askew (Cape Motorsports)

Rookie of the Year ($7,500) – VeeKay

Team Championship ($10,000) – Juncos Racing

Mechanic of the Year ($1,000) – Joe Penner (Exclusive Autosport)

Hi-Tide Boat Lifts Kids On Track Spirit ($1,000) – Sting Ray Robb (Team Pelfrey)

Royal Purple “Slickest Pass” ($5,000) – Robb

Tilton Hard Charger ($,1000 product certificate) – Nikita Lastochkin (Cape Motorsports)

Motegi Winning Driver Team Owner Trophy (set of street wheels) – Ricardo Juncos (Juncos Racing)

Carl Haas Auto Golden Wishbone Award ($900 damper rebuild certificate) – Team Pelfrey

Jostens Champion’s Ring – VeeKay

Original artwork by Jim Swintal – VeeKay

Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship powered by Mazda

Champion ($325,000 scholarship, Cooper Tires tire allotment $31,000, series race entry fee $22,400 = $378,400) – Kyle Kirkwood (Cape Motorsports)

Second place (20,000) – Rasmus Lindh (Pabst Racing)

Third place ($10,000) – Lucas Kohl (Pabst Racing)

Hyperco Rookie of the Year ($2,500) – Kirkwood

Team Championship ($10,000) – Pabst Racing

Mechanic of the Year ($1,000) – Alan Oppel (Cape Motorsports)

Hi-Tide Boat Lifts Kids On Track Spirit ($1,000) – Igor Fraga (Exclusive Autosport)

Royal Purple “Slickest Pass” ($5,000) – Calvin Ming (Pabst Racing)

Carl Haas Auto Golden Wishbone ($900 damper rebuild certificate) – Augie Pabst (Pabst Racing)

Tilton Hard Charger ($1,000 product certificate) – Oscar De Luzuriaga (Newman Wachs Racing)

Motegi Winning Driver Team Owner Trophy (set of street wheels) – Dominic and Nicholas Cape

Jostens Champion’s Ring – Kirkwood

Original artwork by Jim Swintal – Kirkwood