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IndyCar
INDYCAR: Vautier Shines In First IndyCar Outing
In terms of grand entrances, 2012 Firestone Indy Lights champion Tristan Vautier just kicked the door open to the IndyCar paddock.
Tristan Vautier came to grips with the No. 77 SSM Indy car immediately at Sebring. (Photo: IndyCar Series)
In terms of grand entrances, 2012 Firestone Indy Lights champion Tristan Vautier just kicked the door open to the IndyCar paddock.
After winning the Lights championship for Sam Schmidt Motorsports, Vautier accepted the invitation to sample its Honda-powered Indy car on the second of a two-day test alongside his countryman, 2012 IndyCar Series Rookie of the Year Simon Pagenaud.
The end result was a stunning performance that vaulted the Honda-powered No. 77 car to the second-fastest lap of the day, just .01 seconds off of Team Penske’s Will Power.
“Obviously I’m very pleased with my first IndyCar test and was happy with how everything went with the Sam Schmidt team,” Vautier told SPEED.com after turning 125 laps in the car.
“We didn’t intentionally try to go for quick lap times or anything like this; it was for me to feel how the Indy car works and also to work with the team, the engineers, the pit crew, and gain the experience for when I hopefully can race in IndyCar next year.”
According to Power, Vautier and Conor Daly, who also went quickly in his first IndyCar outing (for A.J. Foyt Racing), did more than enough on prove they belong in the series.
“I’m telling you…those kids turning those lap times…they deserve a seat,” he said. “Especially Vautier.”
Vautier also made an impression on Pagenaud, who ran second to Power during Wednesday’s wet/dry test, and Ben Bretzman, the team’s respected engineer, who complemented the rookie’s technical feedback and ability to adapt quickly to the faster, heavier Dallara DW12 Indy car.
“He’s done a good job,” said Pagenaud, one of two full-time French drivers currently competing in the IndyCar Series.
“He’s pretty quick, for sure. I just hope he gets a chance. I’ve seen him drive before and was impressed. Hopefully he gets the call and the ride he deserves.”
Getting a feel for the grip from bigger tires and the rush of turbocharged IndyCar power was also a memorable experience for Vautier.
“That part was fantastic,” he said. “The extra speed wasn’t a big surprise, but the Honda engine was powerful and had great driveability, and the Firestone tires were very familiar; I know their characteristics already from Indy Lights, and they were just like I expected in IndyCar.”
Based on how the rocket-fast Frenchman performed on his IndyCar debut in testing Thursday at Sebring, the unassuming 23-year-old surely improved his chances of landing a ride next year. But speed isn’t the only currency IndyCar teams happen to look for.
With so few funded seats available, the flow of promising rookies has been reduced to a trickle in recent years--one or two get through each season, which means that without some financial assistance, there's no guarantee Vautier will be on the grid for the season opener next March.
“We have been working very hard to find the budget,” he said, “and the test only gives me more encouragement that we can succeed with a good team. Finding sponsors is very hard right now, but we will try as hard as possible to make something happen.”
Provided Vautier finds a full-time opportunity, he'd complete his journey up the Mazda Road To Indy ladder in two steps after winning the 2011 Star Mazda title and the 2012 Light championship in succession. He'd also bump the number of rapid Frenchmen in IndyCar to three.
"Those would be very big shoes to fill with Simon and Sebastien Bourdais," he said. "But I wouldn't mind being the third! IndyCar has many great divers from all over the world, so I hope I can be one of them. It would really be an honor."
Marshall Pruett is SPEED.com's Auto Racing Editor, and covers the IndyCar Series. Before joining SPEED, Pruett worked in open-wheel racing for 20 years as a mechanic and engineer. He also contributes to RACER, Road & Track and Racecar Engineering. Follow him @MarshallPruett.
After winning the Lights championship for Sam Schmidt Motorsports, Vautier accepted the invitation to sample its Honda-powered Indy car on the second of a two-day test alongside his countryman, 2012 IndyCar Series Rookie of the Year Simon Pagenaud.
The end result was a stunning performance that vaulted the Honda-powered No. 77 car to the second-fastest lap of the day, just .01 seconds off of Team Penske’s Will Power.
“Obviously I’m very pleased with my first IndyCar test and was happy with how everything went with the Sam Schmidt team,” Vautier told SPEED.com after turning 125 laps in the car.
“We didn’t intentionally try to go for quick lap times or anything like this; it was for me to feel how the Indy car works and also to work with the team, the engineers, the pit crew, and gain the experience for when I hopefully can race in IndyCar next year.”
According to Power, Vautier and Conor Daly, who also went quickly in his first IndyCar outing (for A.J. Foyt Racing), did more than enough on prove they belong in the series.
“I’m telling you…those kids turning those lap times…they deserve a seat,” he said. “Especially Vautier.”
Vautier also made an impression on Pagenaud, who ran second to Power during Wednesday’s wet/dry test, and Ben Bretzman, the team’s respected engineer, who complemented the rookie’s technical feedback and ability to adapt quickly to the faster, heavier Dallara DW12 Indy car.
“He’s done a good job,” said Pagenaud, one of two full-time French drivers currently competing in the IndyCar Series.
“He’s pretty quick, for sure. I just hope he gets a chance. I’ve seen him drive before and was impressed. Hopefully he gets the call and the ride he deserves.”
Getting a feel for the grip from bigger tires and the rush of turbocharged IndyCar power was also a memorable experience for Vautier.
“That part was fantastic,” he said. “The extra speed wasn’t a big surprise, but the Honda engine was powerful and had great driveability, and the Firestone tires were very familiar; I know their characteristics already from Indy Lights, and they were just like I expected in IndyCar.”
Based on how the rocket-fast Frenchman performed on his IndyCar debut in testing Thursday at Sebring, the unassuming 23-year-old surely improved his chances of landing a ride next year. But speed isn’t the only currency IndyCar teams happen to look for.
With so few funded seats available, the flow of promising rookies has been reduced to a trickle in recent years--one or two get through each season, which means that without some financial assistance, there's no guarantee Vautier will be on the grid for the season opener next March.
“We have been working very hard to find the budget,” he said, “and the test only gives me more encouragement that we can succeed with a good team. Finding sponsors is very hard right now, but we will try as hard as possible to make something happen.”
Provided Vautier finds a full-time opportunity, he'd complete his journey up the Mazda Road To Indy ladder in two steps after winning the 2011 Star Mazda title and the 2012 Light championship in succession. He'd also bump the number of rapid Frenchmen in IndyCar to three.
"Those would be very big shoes to fill with Simon and Sebastien Bourdais," he said. "But I wouldn't mind being the third! IndyCar has many great divers from all over the world, so I hope I can be one of them. It would really be an honor."
Marshall Pruett is SPEED.com's Auto Racing Editor, and covers the IndyCar Series. Before joining SPEED, Pruett worked in open-wheel racing for 20 years as a mechanic and engineer. He also contributes to RACER, Road & Track and Racecar Engineering. Follow him @MarshallPruett.
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