Indy Lights champion Tristan Vautier to make IndyCar test debut
Indy Lights champion Tristan Vautier will make his IndyCar test debut with Schmidt Hamilton at Sebring on Thursday
Vautier claimed the title for Sam Schmidt's Lights team this year after a battle with team-mate Esteban Guerrieri, having won the Star Mazda crown in 2011.
The 23-year-old Frenchman has some funding to assist his move into IndyCar as his prize for taking the Lights championship.
"It's going to be totally new for me, so I can't set any goals regarding where I want to end up performance-wise," Vautier said.
"I will go to Sebring without putting any pressure on myself but instead focus on what the IndyCar guys at SSM have to teach me and how I can learn efficiently."
Schmidt Hamilton has already re-signed Simon Pagenaud for its lead Dallara-Honda but is open to adding a second car for 2013.
Rubens Barrichello had initially been in pole position for that seat but is now also considering options elsewhere in IndyCar as well as in Brazilian V8 Stock Cars.
For the full story of Barrichello's 2013 plans, see this week's AUTOSPORT magazine, available in shop and online from Thursday
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