• British IndyCar rookie learning fast as maiden season speeds swiftly into view
• WH Sports Group protégé impresses in first oval test with Dale Coyne Racing
• 22-year-old promises steely approach as he tackles top US single-seater series

Ed Jones has served signal of his intent in the build-up to his maiden Verizon IndyCar Series campaign in 2017, by outpacing some of the championship’s biggest-hitters during the first official pre-season test at Phoenix Raceway.

The reigning Indy Lights Champion will graduate to the fiercely-disputed pinnacle of the Mazda Road to Indy ladder this year with Dale Coyne Racing (DCR). As part of his preparation, he travelled to the historic 1.022-mile Arizona oval for three days of running behind the wheel of his Honda-powered single-seater, whose twin-turbocharged engine produces some 270bhp more than he had to play with in 2016.
 
As the series’ only full-time rookie, the first of those days saw Jones enjoy almost exclusive use of the track, before he was joined by 20 high-calibre rivals for four sessions of daytime and evening action. The latter in particular was significant, given that the Phoenix Grand Prix on 29 April – the fourth of 17 outings on the 2017 IndyCar schedule – will take place under the floodlights.
 
Working closely with his race-winning engineer Michael Cannon, the talented Dubai, UAE-based ace completed just shy of 300 laps in total, sagely steering clear of trouble as a number of his adversaries came into contact with the unforgiving circuit walls.
 
More notably, Jones wrapped up the opening session in ninth position on the timesheets, a hair’s breadth behind DCR team-mate Sébastien Bourdais – one of the most successful drivers in US open-wheel history – and ahead of the likes of defending title-holder Simon Pagenaud, fellow IndyCar heavyweights Ryan Hunter-Reay and Scott Dixon and multiple Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves.
 
The former European F3 Open Champion continued to lap competitively throughout the test, and with the curtain-raising Grand Prix of St. Petersburg now less than a month away on 12 March, he is quietly confident of making his mark when the season gets underway in earnest.
 
“It was a very positive and productive test, and I think we offered a glimpse of our potential,” reflected Jones, who recently celebrated his 22nd birthday. “The Rookie Day was really useful, as it gave me the opportunity to get to grips with the IndyCar on an oval for the first time and get up-to-speed before everybody else joined the track.
 
“We covered a lot of laps, and that hard work paid off with the ninth-fastest time the next afternoon. I was actually up in P2 for much of the session and whilst it’s impossible to read anything into it at this stage because you don’t know what programmes or strategies different teams are running, it was very cool – and, I must admit, a little surreal – to see my name on the timing screens ahead of people like Pagenaud, Hunter-Reay, Dixon and Castroneves.
 
“After that, we switched our set-up to high-downforce race trim with a full fuel load for long-distance simulations, which meant we were never going to be turning the quickest laps in the field. The focus for me was on getting used to the traffic and following other cars in the dirty air, as well as pit-stop practice, which is not something I’ve had to deal with before.
 
“I’m feeling really comfortable in the team and increasingly at home inside the car; I’m getting on very well with all the DCR guys and Seb has always been happy to share the benefit of his experience. He is one of the most versatile drivers in the world; aside from his four Champ Car titles, he has competed successfully in a variety of disciplines from Formula 1 to Le Mans, so he has a wealth of knowledge and expertise that I can draw upon and he has been very open with me. All of that has served to smooth my transition from Indy Lights to IndyCar, and I feel in a good place right now.
 
“Ultimately, I’ll only have had a handful of days in the car before the first race weekend and whilst you always want more, that’s the way it is and we have prepared as well as we can in the time we have had. I clearly still have some catching up to do, but the key will be to make sure we maximise our final test at Sebring at the end of this month and step it up another level.
 
“IndyCar is so ultra-competitive and unpredictable that it’s pointless trying to second-guess the pecking-order until we get to St. Petersburg, and I’m deliberately not outlining any expectations to begin with. I’m under absolutely no illusions about how much of a challenge and learning curve I’m going to face in my first season, and the initial races will be all about finding my feet. At the same time, I’ve fought at the front in every championship I’ve ever entered, so that has to be the longer-term goal – and I’ll be pushing as hard as I can to achieve it as quickly as possible.”

• Dubai-based Brit recognised for 2016 achievements at BRDC Awards
• 21-year-old is youngest BRDC Member ever to lift Indy Lights laurels
• WH Sports Group protégé ready to go testing ahead of IndyCar debut

Ed Jones capped a tremendous title-winning campaign in 2016 with the receipt of the prestigious Earl Howe Trophy at the British Racing Drivers’ Club (BRDC) Awards, as he celebrated his Indy Lights triumph in style in the presence of the motorsport glitterati.
 
Held in the opulent surroundings of the Grand Connaught Rooms in London’s Covent Garden, amongst the well-known faces at the BRDC Awards was new Formula 1 World Champion Nico Rosberg alongside legends of the sport Sir Stirling Moss OBE, Nigel Mansell CBE and Damon Hill OBE, meaning the talented Dubai, UAE-based ace was in exalted company indeed.
 
The Earl Howe Trophy is presented annually to the most successful BRDC Member racing in North America. Competing for single-seater powerhouse Carlin, Jones sped to a brace of victories, eight podium finishes and eight fastest laps in Indy Lights this year, ultimately clinching the coveted and fiercely-disputed crown at the end of a tense season finale at Laguna Seca – the youngest BRDC Member ever to do so.
 
The 21-year-old Brit’s stellar performances brought him to the attention of a number of Verizon IndyCar Series teams at the pinnacle of the Mazda Road to Indy ladder, and Jones will duly graduate to the top flight of US open-wheel competition with Dale Coyne Racing in 2017.
 
“It’s a great honour to be awarded the Earl Howe Trophy – just looking at the incredible roll call of drivers to have won it in the past like Dan Wheldon and Dario Franchitti is truly inspirational, and it’s amazing to have now added my name alongside theirs,” enthused the Williams-Harfield Sports Group protégé and former European F3 Open Champion.
 
“It’s really rewarding to be recognised for everything we’ve achieved over the past couple of seasons – it underscores how far we’ve come since moving to the States in 2015, and there are so many people who have been instrumental in that success.
 
“It was definitely a gamble to walk away from Europe to chase the IndyCar dream, but it’s one that has paid off through a lot of hard work – especially this year, when we really had to fight for the Indy Lights title up against a lot of tough opposition.
 
“IndyCar will unquestionably be another big step, but I’m feeling ready for it and can’t wait to get stuck in. I’ve had chance to spend a little bit of time with the DCR guys and get to know everybody there and we’re already forming a close bond.

“I’ll be testing with them for the first time at Sebring at the end of this week. It will be good to get properly down to business and begin preparing in earnest for 2017, and having been away from the cockpit of a racing car for almost three months, I can’t wait to climb back behind the wheel!”
 
“The BRDC are thrilled to award Ed with the Earl Howe Trophy after establishing the most meritorious performance of the year by a BRDC Member in North America,” added Club Secretary, Gillian Carr.
 
“It is incredibly satisfying to see that Ed, in his second season competing in Indy Lights, applied what he had learned in the formative years of his career in Euroformula Open and the FIA Formula 3 European Championship and demonstrated his class to come away with an iconic victory in a very competitive championship. It is the first time since 2007 that a driver of British origin has won the Indy Lights title.
 
“Ed’s graduation to the Verizon IndyCar Series with Dale Coyne Racing is a huge milestone for one of motorsport’s most exciting young talents, and we hope that his winter programme allows him to hit the ground running in St. Petersburg next March. It is a fantastic opportunity for Ed and as a former BRDC Rising Star, he is paving the way for other young British drivers who are considering a career in the United States.”

Awards Image Credits: Jakob Ebrey Photography

• Indy Lights Champion advances to top tier of US motorsport
• Dubai-based Brit joins Dale Coyne Racing in IndyCar
• Team owner praises new recruit’s ‘maturity and determination’

Reigning Indy Lights Champion Ed Jones will step up to the pinnacle of US open-wheel competition in 2017, after agreeing terms to contest the fiercely-disputed Verizon IndyCar Series with Dale Coyne Racing.
 
Jones made an immediate impression on the ‘other’ side of the Pond when he steered his burgeoning single-seater career stateside in 2015, claiming pole position on his debut with Carlin and winning his first three races en route to third position in the final standings. With a season’s experience under his belt, the talented Dubai, UAE-based ace was even more of a force to be reckoned with this year, and at the end of an intensely hard-fought campaign, he duly clinched the coveted crown.
 
His polished performance and standout success brought Jones to the attention of a number of IndyCar outfits, and after holding talks with several different teams, the 21-year-old Brit has put pen to paper for Dale Coyne Racing – a squad with multiple victories and podium finishes to its credit.
 
“I’m hugely excited to be stepping up to the Verizon IndyCar Series next year with Dale Coyne Racing,” he enthused, “and to reach an agreement as early as we have done is great news as it gives me plenty of time to settle into the team and get to know everybody properly so we can prepare as well as possible for the season ahead.
 
“IndyCar has been my goal ever since I left Europe to come and race in America, and it’s crazy to think I’ll be joining the grid just two years after moving stateside. Together with my management team and sponsors, I’ve worked so hard for this opportunity and I fully intend to grab it by the scruff of the neck and make the most of it.”
 
Dale Coyne has a reputation within the paddock for mentoring and bringing the best out of young drivers, and his eponymously-named team has also been a happy home for a number of Brits, with Mike Conway and the late Justin Wilson having both won races for the Illinois-based operation. Jones acknowledges that was a seriously persuasive factor in his decision, not to mention the opportunity to line up alongside Sébastien Bourdais, a multiple Champ Car Champion and a man with prior F1 pedigree.
 
“Although we spoke to a few teams, Dale Coyne Racing always stood out as the best option and Dale worked hard to make the deal happen,” revealed the former European F3 Open Champion. “DCR might be a small team, but it is also one that has regularly produced giant-killing performances and punches consistently above its weight, and I think Seb’s recruitment for 2017 will be the catalyst for a real step forward.
 
“He’s one of the best team-mates I could ask for during my rookie season as I get used to everything; he has a wealth of experience in the sport that I can draw upon and he seems like a really open and approachable guy. Not only that, but he will be an excellent benchmark too as he is clearly still one of the fastest drivers in the series, so for me, it’s the ideal scenario and I’m sure we’ll establish a strong working relationship to really push the team on.
 
“Whilst I’m aware I have a big learning curve ahead of me, my plan is to absorb as much information as I can and get onto the pace as quickly as possible, and as a former driver himself, Dale understands what it’s like inside the cockpit which will be hugely beneficial when it comes to talking about set-up and discussing feedback.
 
“It will obviously be a sizeable step-up from anything I’ve done before, with longer races, pit-stops and a vital strategic element. Indeed, strategy is one of the areas in which DCR has always excelled – again, aided by Dale’s knowledge and experience from his own competitive career – and the role it plays in IndyCar can never be underestimated, with races frequently won and lost by split-second decisions. For my maiden campaign in the series, I really couldn’t be anywhere better.
 
“The team has further strengthened its personnel in recent months, and I’m confident we can enjoy a very positive season together. I’m really looking forward to my first test in the car and to get cracking on 2017!”
 
Team Owner Coyne echoed those sentiments, whilst paying tribute to the Williams-Harfield Sports Group protégé’s eye-catching achievements since first setting foot on the Mazda Road to Indy ladder and sharing his new charge’s optimism and high hopes for the adventure that lies ahead.
 
“Ed had a couple of remarkable seasons in Indy Lights, and we’re very excited to have him join our team for his rookie IndyCar campaign,” affirmed Coyne. “I attended the Indy Lights finale at Laguna Seca and Ed demonstrated a lot of poise, maturity and determination while under pressure, knowing that the championship was on the line. Those are all qualities that will serve him well in IndyCar. I was very impressed by what I saw.
 
“It’s always a pleasure to work with young drivers and see them evolve as the season goes by. We’re excited to be able to get things going this early with both of our drivers, and as I said when we confirmed Sébastien, we’re very much looking forward to 2017.”

• Dubai-based ace grabs Indy Lights title in dramatic last-gasp fashion
• 21-year-old Brit secures IndyCar chance and Indy 500 place for 2017
• Carlin star pays tribute to team’s performance in sophomore season

Ed Jones kept his composure and showcased his raw speed in a pulsating finale to the 2016 Indy Lights campaign at Laguna Seca last weekend, as the talented Dubai, UAE-based ace was justifiably rewarded for a stellar sophomore season with the coveted championship crown and a guaranteed drive in next year’s iconic Indianapolis 500.
 
Six contenders arrived in California with a mathematical chance of lifting the laurels – a measure of the Mazda Road to Indy series’ ultra-competitive nature this year – but come Saturday night, that number had been reduced to just two, as Jones converted a close second spot on the starting grid in a thrillingly fast-paced qualifying session into the same result at the chequered flag in race one.
 
Having entered the weekend sitting just one point behind chief rival Santiago Urrutia in the standings, the 21-year-old Brit drove with consistency, maturity and poise as he artfully withstood sustained pressure from Zach Veach, who was rarely more than a second adrift of Jones’ 450bhp Carlin Dallara IL-15 single-seater and didn’t allow him even the tiniest margin for error.
 
It was precisely the kind of performance he needed to produce, and the result not only represented the former European F3 Open Champion’s eighth podium of the year, but more significantly, it turned a one-point deficit into an eight-point lead ahead of Sunday’s eagerly-anticipated and all-important showdown as his tense duel with Urrutia went right the way down to the wire.
 
With his second-best qualifying time securing him his eighth pole position of the campaign – underscoring his status as the quickest driver in the Indy Lights field, with none of his adversaries having notched up more than three – Jones was eager to finish the job off in style but found himself unceremoniously shuffled down to fifth on the opening lap after an aggressive move by Veach forced him out wide.
 
With Urrutia running second, the pair were tied on points and had things ended that way, the Uruguayan would have taken the title on countback. The Williams-Harfield Sports Group protégé refused to be beaten, however, and by dint of digging deep and pushing hard throughout, he flashed past the flag in fourth position to dramatically scoop the spoils.
 
It was a thoroughly well-deserved triumph for a driver who had boldly steered his burgeoning career stateside last year, and in addition to the Indy Lights championship trophy, Jones also earned himself a $1m scholarship towards a three-race programme at the pinnacle of US open-wheel competition in the Verizon IndyCar Series in 2017 – including a prestigious slot on the grid for the 101st edition of the legendary Indianapolis 500.
 
“What an amazing feeling!” he enthused. “I think it’s fair to say this season has been one of the hardest ever in Indy Lights, with such a high calibre of drivers and teams and seven different race-winners. Santi in particular has been a fierce rival all year – we’ve enjoyed some fantastic racing and it’s been a really close and exciting battle for the title.
 
“Laguna Seca is a classic American circuit and the perfect setting for a showdown, and having been strong there last year, I knew we would be in with a really good shout. Although the stakes were obviously sky-high, I tried to treat it like any other race weekend and not get caught up in the emotion of it all. We focussed firmly on the job in-hand, which was to score more points than Urrutia – and that’s exactly what we achieved.
 
“Qualifying was hectic to say the least, but we lined up ahead of Santi for both races so that was the first box ticked, and whilst we didn’t quite have the pace to challenge the leader on Saturday, we knew what we needed to do and we followed that plan to the letter. Veach was always there, but we had him under control.
 
“On Sunday, I got a good start but there were a few drivers out there who tried to take advantage of our situation by pulling some risky moves and Zach could afford to gamble going into the first corner because he was aware I had everything to lose. Knowing fifth position would not be enough, I concentrated all my efforts on gaining ground and we pulled it off in the end.
 
“As a team, we’ve worked so hard over the last two years, and it’s incredible to get the reward we deserve. I’m immensely proud of everybody involved. With the reputation that Carlin has in Europe, there was inevitably a certain expectation that they would carry that form over to Indy Lights, but I think a lot of people underestimate just how tough it is here – not to mention how different the racing is!
 
“It’s easy to forget that Carlin is still relatively new to competing on this side of the Pond, so for them to win the championship in only their second season is hugely impressive and I owe them a massive ‘thank you’ for giving me such a great car throughout. At the end of the day, this is a team sport and this title is for all of us.
 
“To now have a guaranteed shot at IndyCar is absolutely mega and testament to the Mazda Road to Indy’s success as a genuine ladder of promotion. It will be a dream come true to line up on the grid for the Indy 500. It’s the biggest race in the world, and I really don’t think the reality of it all has sunk in yet. Our target is obviously to contest the full 2017 season and we are working hard to accomplish that, but for the moment at least, we’ve got some celebrating to do...”