Verizon IndyCar Series driver Josef Newgarden already is lobbying Mazda Road to Indy principals to include an “expert” or “recent graduate” classification to the 2015 Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires schedule after driving the new car.
Newgarden enjoyed demonstration laps on the 2.439-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course during the fourth Chris Griffis Memorial Test last weekend. The 2011 series champion unofficially shattered Matthew Brabham’s track record of 1 minute, 18.4256 seconds set in May with a lap of 1:16.540.
Click it: Video – Newgarden’s laps || Chris Griffis Memorial Test
“First off, thanks to everyone that allowed me to do this shakedown of the car and demonstrate it here at the test,” said Newgarden, who completed his third Verizon IndyCar Series season with Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing. “I was excited because I heard a lot about it from other drivers and I really wanted to try it for myself. After experiencing it, I would really like to run both championships next year.
Josef Newgarden“If somehow we could work it out where I could run the Lights championship and IndyCar championship, I think it would be so much fun especially with a brand new car like this. It is such a proper race car and they did a really good job with it. The transition between the Lights and the IndyCar are going to be really close and a lot of things that work for the guys in IndyCar are going to work for the guys in Lights.
“It’s a perfect training ground. The cars are super similar and the guys are going to have fun with it. I’m excited for everything that is happening now in Indy Lights.”
The turbocharged 4-cylinder Advanced Engine Research engine is mated to a Dallara chassis designed to be fast and safe on the variety of racetracks utilized in conjunction with Verizon IndyCar Series race weekends. The car features paddling shifting and push to pass like the Verizon IndyCar Series car in addition to interior dimensions that accept a Verizon IndyCar Series driver’s seat.
Three-time Verizon IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon, multiple race winner James Hinchcliffe and reigning Indy Lights champion Gabby Chaves have been among the drivers who tested the car on road courses and ovals.
Dallara Automobili will deliver the initial order to teams in late October, and an offseason Open Test is scheduled for Dec. 17-18 on the Homestead-Miami Speedway road course and Dec. 20 on the 1.5-mile oval. Teams will be allowed to use both the 2015 and former cars.
