Carlin driver Edward Jones fastest in Indy Lights pre-season test
Jones impressive in new car and first visit to Homestead
Edward Jones got his 2015 Indy Lights campaign to the best start possible as he topped the timing sheets at the end of the first day of preseason testing at Homestead Road Course in Florida, USA.
Dubai born and bred Jones impressed in what was his first test in Indy Lights, in a Mazda MZR-R-powered Dallara IL-15 which he has never driven before and on a circuit where he has only driven on once previously.
Jones, a popular driver in the UAE racing community and calls Dubai home, has decided to focus his motorsport career in the United States after two successful seasons competing in Formula 3 in Europe.
On Monday he ended the day fastest of all with a best time of 1:14.5186, and in the process was faster than his illustrious Carlin teammate, ex-Formula 1 driver, Max Chilton in the sister car.
Jones said, “Great first day in the new car with the team. The morning consisted of bedding everything in from the engine, gearbox, brakes and tyres. Everything sorted we were able to do a baseline run which went pretty well.”
“In the afternoon we started to test a few things on the car and made a lot of progress. At the end of the day everyone did qualifying simulations on new tyres and we ended up fastest.”
“It was an amazing effort by the team to get everything prepared and be fastest on our first day whilst our competitors have already had two days testing. We hope to find some more improvements on the car during the course of the week,” added Jones.
Testing on the road course configuration of Homestead continued on Tuesday, with a final day, Wednesday, on the Oval configuration.
Jones, who has never raced or tested on an oval circuit, is relishing the prospect, “It is going to be a steep learning curve to adapt to oval racing. But I fancy the idea as it is a discipline which is a major element in Indy Car racing, which is where I aim to end up in the future.”
Jones missed the first Indy Lights test at Palm Beach Raceway in mid-January, and after Homestead there are two more tests – one at Nola Motorsports Park in Louisiana on 18-19 February and a week later at Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama.
The first race of the 2015 Indy Light season takes place on the weekend of 28-29 March in Saint Petersburg, Florida.
