Pelfrey signs Piedrahita for new Indy Lights team

The 24-year-old was confirmed today as the first signing for Pelfrey’s inaugural season in Indy Lights, since taking over the 8Star Motorsports team last fall.

Said Piedrahita: “I’ve been on the Mazda Road To Indy since 2010 and Team Pelfrey has always had fast cars in the Pro Mazda Series. I’ve been competing against them for years and they’ve always been in front.

“So when I found out they were going to have an Indy Lights team, it was an obvious decision.

“Yves Touron and Gary Neal are running the technical side. They did something really impressive last year with 8Star, so I think it’s a good combo and I’m really happy.”

Piedrahita did a part-time season with Team Apex in Pro Mazda back in 2010, before signing with JDC Motorsports and taking a step back to USF2000.  After a couple of podium finishes, he graduated back to Pro Mazda with JDC and scored seven top-threes over two seasons.

That earned him an Indy Lights ride with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports in 2014, and he switched to Belardi Auto Racing for the start of the Dallara IL-15 era in the series. He scored one podium finish on his way to eighth in the championship.

Piedrahita added: “My expectations for this year are really big. I have experience. The car is awesome, it’s really fast but I know the tracks and I think I’m going to be in the top three.”

• As Motorsport.com revealed in January, Schmidt Peterson Motorsport has confirmed Pro Mazda champion Santiago Urrutia in its Indy Lights team for 2016.