Carlin Racing will bring three cars to the test, with already confirmed sophomore racers Ed Jones and Felix Serralles joining the newly announced Neil Alberico at the title-contending sophomore team. Jones return to his familiar #11 entry, Serralles takes the #4 from Belardi Auto Racing to Carlin, while Neil Alberico will strap into the #22 for the first time.
Reigning series champions Juncos Racing will have both of their confirmed drivers on-track, with sophomore Kyle Kaiser returning to the #18 machine and Zach Claman de Melo piloting the fashionable #12 Ugg/Seven for All Mankind/Vince Vilebrequin entry. Kaiser, who came on strong at the end of 2015, could be an early title contender if Juncos maintains their form from last season. Claman de Melo was impressive in the Chris Griffis Memorial Test at Circuit of the Americas in November and could be a surprise for the champions.
Belardi Auto Racing will put Zach Veach into the seat of a Dallara IL-15 for the first time in an officially sanctioned test as he takes his #5 entry onto the South Florida circuit. The 2014 series champions, who bested Veach with Gabby Chaves behind the wheel, could throw a wrench into the plans of Carlin and Juncos if Veach gets to grips with the new car after taking 2015 away from Indy Lights competition to focus on pursuing an IndyCar drive. Joining Veach will be supremely talented young Swede and FIA Formula 3 champion Felix Rosenqvist at the wheel of the #14 car. Rosenqvist, who tested with Team Pelfrey in December, has been strongly tipped for a move stateside following his strong performances in Europe with his manager Stefan Johansson plotting the next step in the youngster’s career.
Andretti Autosport, who struggled in 2015 after downsizing to a one-car effort for most of the year, brings Shelby Blackstock back in the #51 Starstruck car, this year partnering him with Pro Mazda graduate Dalton Kellett in the #28 K-Line Insulators USA entry. Kellett, who does have one previous Indy Lights start under his belt, is hopeful that with Andretti’s uptick in performance at the tail-end of last season he can have a competitive rookie season.
Also making the trek to the relative warmth of Florida is perennial championship contenders Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, who will bring RC Enerson back for a second year in the #7 Lucas Oil/Curb Records entry. Enerson, who claimed one win in 2015 and was in contention for the championship heading to the season finale at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, could be back in contention for the championship in 2016. Joining him at Homestead in the #77 car will be Pro Mazda champion Santiago Urrutia, who has been rumored to be taking his Mazda Road to Indy scholarship money to SPM in 2016 to mount another title charge. The Uruguayan will hope to seal the deal in Florida this week with some strong performances. SPM will only bring two cars to the test, although they will still likely field four cars for the entire season.
Not present at the test will be Team Pelfrey, who move up to Indy Lights after acquiring 8Star Motorsports in the offseason. Team Pelfrey have tested several drivers this offseason, including Rosenqvist and 2013 Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda champion Scott Hargrove, but without any confirmed drivers it appears their Indy Lights operation will stay home in Pompano Beach, Fla., this week. Also not making an appearance is McCormack Racing, who just tested Davey Hamilton, Jr. this past week at Buttonwillow Raceway. With McCormack running several tests out west in the past month, it appears they will sit this one out and wait for the first oval test at the end of February before possibly making a group test outing. McCormack Racing has yet to confirm their participation in the series in 2016, but with Hamilton, Jr. posting videos on Twitter of his tests and showing off his new helmet for the series, it appears to be all but official.
Stay tuned as we will have all of the coverage from the test. The schedule and entry list follow.
Tuesday, January 26
Test Session 1: 9am-12pm
Lunch Break: 12pm-1pm
Test Session 2: 1pm-5pm
Wednesday, January 27
Test Session 3: 9am-12pm
Lunch Break 12pm-1pm
Test Session 4: 1pm-5pm
Homestead-Miami Speedway Test Entry List
#4 Felix Serralles (Carlin)
#5 Zach Veach (Belardi)
#7 RC Enerson (SPM)
#11 Ed Jones (Carlin)
#12 Zach Claman de Melo (Juncos)
#14 Felix Rosenqvist (Belardi)
#18 Kyle Kaiser (Juncos)
#22 Neil Alberico (Carlin)
#28 Dalton Kellett (Andretti)
#51 Shelby Blackstock (Andretti)
#77 Santiago Urrutia (SPM)
Indy Lights
