IndyCar – Tristan Vautier with Pagenaud at Schmidt

As announced in n°1894 of AUTOhebdo, Tristan Vautier will compete in the 2013 season ofIndyCar by joining the Schmidt Peterson team who also confirmed simon pagenaud for a second season. At only 23 years old, the Grenoblois had a faultless run in Mazda Road to Indy, winning the Star Mazda US and the Indy Lights Championship in quick succession. Sam Schmidt's team was won over during the young Frenchman's tests on the Sebring circuit where he set the second fastest time of the session. “We achieved success with Simon Pagenaud last season with just one car, but I believe we will be even better with two cars in the team given the already existing chemistry between the drivers and staff”, commented the owner of the eponymous team.

“It is true that since the end of last season I have been talking with Sam Schmidt?s team, but today I realize that it is real! », adds Tristan Vautier once his confirmation is made official. ?Having obtained successive scholarships with my titles helped make access to this shuttlecock possible and I couldn't imagine waiting to access this highest level of competition. It is an honor for me to know that I will represent Schmidt Peterson at the top of motorsport car American and I want to thank my partners and everyone else who made this possible. Today, even more, my thoughts go to those who helped me start my sporting adventure and allowed me to continue my career. A long way has come since my first tests in Star Mazda in January 2010 and now I have the opportunity to make my place at the highest level. »

Simon Pagenaud is delighted with the arrival of Tristan Vautier, third Frenchman entered for the 2013 season with Sébastien Bourdais, in the team which only had one car last year in the discipline. “This is an important milestone for the SPM Indy Car program. Tristan deserved and earned the right to ride in IndyCar, and the fact that he is also French is important. I’m really looking forward to working with him.”