SEBRING, Fla. (Nov. 15, 2012) – David Ostella wrapped his 2012 Firestone Indy Lights season with a career-best second-place finish in the Auto Club Speedway Foundation 100, and he will build on that positive momentum when he tests with Sam Schmidt Motorsports Nov. 15 and 16.
Ostella’s performance in the 2012 season turned several heads toward the 21-year-old’s racing career, including well-respected team owner and former IndyCar driver Sam Schmidt of Sam Schmidt Motorsports (SSM). This four-car team recently captured back-to-back series Championships in INDYCAR’s Firestone Indy Lights series.
“We are quite pleased for the opportunity to test David this week for two full days,” said Schmidt. “I have personally watched his development in the Series over the past two seasons and believe that his full potential has not been realized to this point. These test days in our equipment with our personnel should reveal exactly where he would be in 2013 with SSM.”
Ostella will test with SSM on the Sebring International Raceway road course in Sebring, Fla., known for the 12-hours of Sebring endurance race.
“This test is very exciting for me and I’ll admit that I’m also a bit nervous,” said Ostella. “Sam Schmidt Motorsports is a very successful and well-known team. They have been the team for me to beat the past 2 years I’ve competed in Indy Lights. Now I am going to be able to drive their car for the test.”
The Italian-Canadian is coming off an eighth-place overall finish for the 2012 season, but is looking to cultivate his on-track skills to reach the top in the 2013 season.
“One thing I want to accomplish in this test is to show them what I am capable of and what I can bring to the table,” said Ostella. “It will also be interesting to see if the chemistry among us is a good fit. I see SSM’s great setups all the time on the track so I am very excited to see how this test will go for SSM and me.”
Since the beginning of SSM’s Firestone Indy Lights Series career, the team has won six series championships. SSM ended the 2012 season with drivers in first, second, sixth and seventh place overall.
The test will begin at Sebring International Raceway on Nov. 15 and conclude Nov. 16.
Follow David Ostella on Twitter and Facebook for updates. For trackside news and updates, follow @OstellaCorsa. For news and information on Sam Schmidt Motorsports, go to samschmidtmotorsports.com or Twitter and Facebook.