February 11, 2011 – Indianapolis, IN – Stefan Wilson has his sights set on the 2011 Firestone Indy Lights championship, which he proved during a test last weekend – February 5 and 6 – with Andretti Autosport at Firebird International Raceway.
Wilson was eager to be back in the car after a six-month hiatus following an incident at Kentucky Speedway, where he was taken out by a car that lost control in front of him. When the opportunity came along to test with Andretti Autosport – one of the sport’s leading teams – he gladly accepted.
“Six months is a long time to be out of the car,” says Wilson. “I was full of anticipation to get back on the track – especially in an Andretti car. They’re such a competitive team and you can see how much effort the whole team puts in. The car looks impeccable and handled well straight out of the box.”
Teamwork was an important part of the testing equation during both days on track. Early on in the first session, Wilson’s engineers were able to make improvements and adjust the setup to suit his driving style. After a couple new tire runs, Wilson was able to end the day in P1 of 2.
Day two brought a variety of test items and three new drivers. Despite running out of time to complete the entire test plan, Wilson was still able to secure P1 on the timesheets for the day and weekend. He really enjoyed working with the engineering staff and is confident that a second test will bring even greater improvements.
“Overall, I felt the test went really well,” says Wilson. “I was able to showcase my skill to one of the best teams in Indy Lights. I showed work ethic and speed, but also gave precise feedback. I was able to put in consistent laps without mistakes, which allowed the team to fully evaluate the setup changes. That’s exactly what I wanted to accomplish.”
Andretti Autosport’s engineer, Stuart Kenworthy, was pleased with the test as well. “It was a very productive test,” he says. “We accomplished everything we set out to. Stefan made no mistakes. He was consistently very quick and his feedback was excellent. I feel he’d fit in very well here at Andretti Autosport.”
With such a positive experience for both the team and the driver, it’s only logical for Wilson to have high hopes for the upcoming season. His goal is to secure a full-time ride in time for St. Petersburg, the first race on the Indy Lights schedule. In addition, he’s expressed his excitement toward both the Freedom 100 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the David Hobbs 100 at the historic Milwaukee Mile. Because of the diversity of Wilson’s talent, it’s no wonder he’s looking forward to the 13-race schedule of both streets and short ovals. Only a portion of his 2011 budget remains to be filled, and he continues to work toward finding sponsorship while keeping his focus on the championship.
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