Firestone Indy Lights drivers prepare for ovals with Fontana test

With more than month before racing again, Firestone Indy Lights drivers and teams have turned their attention to ovals, which make up the next three races on the schedule.

With that in mind, as many as 14 cars are expected to attend an Open Test at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., on April 17.

"I know we have to focus on the ovals," said rookie Tristan Vautier, who stands second in the series standings, just one point behind Sebastian Saavedra. "I have a lot to learn and it starts at Fontana on Tuesday. It's going to be my first laps in Indy Lights (car) on an oval. It's going to be very interesting. And it's going to be a lot of work."

The object of the test is to allow rookies, such as Vautier, to gain valuable miles on a high-speed oval before to the Freedom 100 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May. But it's also a chance for veterans to reacclimatize themselves to ovals as well.

"Next up will be ovals, and I hope my experience on the ovals will pay off," Saavedra said. "We'll try to bring the car home and try to continue working on a good year."