Ed Jones is the 2016 Indy Lights champion

Ed Jones is the 2016 Indy Lights champion! The 21-year-old Carlin driver won the title after a thrilling two-race finale at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. After sixteen races of the 2016 season, Jones takes the title with just two-points advantage over Santiago Urrutia (Schmidt Peterson Motorsports).

Kaiser won Saturday’s race

Six drivers came to Laguna Seca as title contenders, with Urrutia and Ed Jones on the top, divided by only one point. Juncos Racing’s Kyle Kaiser was one of six title aspirants and he hade a maximum on Saturday, both being fastest in qualifying and winning the race. Ed Jones and Zach Veach completed the podium.

Kaiser’s second victory of the season wasn’t enough to stay in a game for the title, as Ed Jones finished second and Santiago Urrutia took fifth place, so only two of them returned to Laguna Seca’s 2.238-mile track as title contenders on Sunday.

Kyle Kaiser won Saturday’s race at Laguna Seca

Zach Veach wins the last race of the season

Ed Jones was the fastest qualifier and he started the Sunday’s race as the poleman, with seven points more than Urrutia, who was third on the grid. Jones’ lead lasted for just one lap, when Top 5 position was completely reshuffled. Zach Veach jumped into the lead, with Urrutia following him. Ed Jones dropped to fifth place, with Kyle Kaiser on third and Felix Serrales fourth.

Until the end of the race, Zach Veach built the advantage and crossed the finish line 2.8798 seconds ahead of Urrutia. Kyle Kaiser completed the podium. Ed Jones was desperately trying to catch his Carlin teammate Serralles for 37 laps and he made it in the very last lap.

We don’t know was there some team orders for Serralles to let Jones pass him, but that overtake brings the championship title to Dubai-based British driver. If Jones finished in the fifth place, he would be tied in the points with Urrutia and the Uruguayan driver would celebrate the title because he has more wins.