MAPLE, Ontario, Monday, July 16, 2012 – David Ostella is looking to complete the second goal of a Canadian “hat trick” as the Firestone Indy Lights Series heads West to Edmonton, Alberta. The City of Champions annually constructs a 3.579 km (2.224 mi) temporary circuit at City Centre Airport for the Edmonton Indy.
The only Canadian currently running in the series, Ostella recently competed in his hometown of Toronto in front of hundreds of local supporters.
“It was amazing to be able to race last weekend in front of so many friends and family,” said the 20-year-old. “To have the support of all the amazing Canadian fans, as well as my new sponsor LiUNA just made the whole experience so incredible.”
With his top-10 finish carrying him to the second stop of a Canadian trifecta that ends at Trois-Rivières, Ostella is continuing to build momentum as he enters the home stretch of the 2012 season. Only four races remain on the 12-race schedule.
A fan of the temporary street circuits, Ostella heads to the Edmonton Indy with three consecutive top-10 finishes, and currently sits in eighth place overall in the driver championship standings with his No. 22 Global Precast/LiUNA/Xtreme Coil Drilling Team Moore entry.
“Every driver is different and each has their own style of driving,” he said. “I really like the big braking zones you see on the street circuits. It adds more difficulty and challenge than the road courses and makes them much more interesting and appealing to me.”
Last year’s double-header on the 13-turn, concrete circuit proved just such a challenge to young Ostella. A victim to a five-car incident on lap one during the first race feature proved to be a healthy set-back, but the Maple, Ontario driver reversed his fortune for the second race and brought home another top-10 finish as he crossed the finish line in eighth.
Looking back on his past experience, Ostella has a clear plan in mind as he takes to the track this Friday morning for practice. “My goal for this weekend is to work on a really solid qualifying effort and put on a great show for all the Canadian fans during the race. With so many long straights into the tight second-gear corners, it’s going to be one hell of a race! But in order to have a great show, you have to finish, and making it to the checkered flag is priority No. 1.”
The past three years of competition have seen three different winners, all of whom have graduated to the top rung of American open-wheel competition, the IZOD IndyCar Series. As he ascends the development ladder, Ostella hopes the City of Champions will be just as rewarding for him.
Follow David Ostella on Twitter and Facebook for updates. For trackside news and updates, follow @OstellaCorsa.
Click here for a recent video feature from the Honda Indy Toronto.
Edmonton Indy Weekend Schedule: (All times local)
Friday, July 20
9:45 – 10:30 a.m. – Firestone Indy Lights practice
12:45 – 1:30 p.m. – Firestone Indy Lights practice
Saturday, June 21
8 – 8:45 a.m. – Firestone Indy Lights Sunoco Pole Qualifying
10:15 – 10:45 a.m. – Autograph Session
3:30 p.m. – Race (40 laps), NBC Sports Network (Taped) 5:30 p.m. ET, Saturday July 21