Vautier moves up to drive for Schmidt Peterson Motorsports

  • Published on 30 Jan 2013 11:24
  • comments 0
  • By: Rob Veenstra
"I'll do my best," replied Tristan Vautier, which is all the newly-minted Schmidt Peterson Motorsports driver can do in the IZOD IndyCar Series' season-opening Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. "No pressure, right?"

The background: The 23-year-old won in his debut in Star Mazda in 2010 and Firestone Indy Lights in 2012 on the scenic streets of St. Petersburg. On March 24, Vautier will make his initial IZOD IndyCar Series start on the 1.8-mile circuit.

Vautier, who has been the beneficiary of Mazda Road to Indy scholarships by winning the Star Mazda title in 2011 and the 2012 Firestone Indy Lights championship, joins 2012 Sunoco Rookie of the Year Simon Pagenaud (driver of the No. 77 Schmidt Peterson Hamilton Motorsports car) to form an all-French team.

Vautier, a St. Petersburg, Fla., resident, earned four victories among 10 top-five finishes in 12 races last year in the No. 77 Sam Schmidt Motorsports car. From the final two Star Mazda events in 2010 through the Firestone Indy Lights race at Iowa Speedway last June, Vautier recorded 20 consecutive top-five finishes.

"It's a big first step and I'll try to learn as quickly as I can because there will be many new things this year," said Vautier, who will have veteran Allen McDonald as his engineer with the Honda-powered car that is scheduled to make its on-track debut Feb. 20 at Sebring International Raceway. "I'm looking forward to working with Simon and Allen. They have so much experience. The team has great resources, and it's great to step up with the same team. I just hope Sam will be able to handle two Frenchmen. One in IndyCar and one in Indy Lights last year was a lot, but now two on the same team will be tough."

Vautier raised eyebrows in mid-December on a test day at Sebring International Raceway, during which he was second-quick to Team Penske's Will Power. Pagenaud had set up the car the previous day on the short course.

"(Moving to the IZOD IndyCar Series) is something I have to look at as an opportunity and not an accomplishment because I have to make the most of it," Vautier said. "When I came to the U.S. three years ago, it was my aim to win Star Mazda and then win the Indy Lights class and then be in (the IZOD) IndyCar Series. I can't say how grateful I am to everybody who made it happen and how blessed I am."

Replies (0)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Team profile

  • comments 128,696 comments on Honda
  • star 9 members have this team as their favourite
  • vote Tweets about Honda
Show full profile
show sidebar