Third-placed Indy Lights driver Benjamin Pedersen will test an Indy car for the first time at Sebring with Juncos Hollinger, and revealed that his plan for 2023 is to move up in class
Benjamin Pedersen will take his first test in an Indy car next Monday (27) with Juncos Hollinger at the Sebring short circuit. The American is currently third in the Indy Lights standings and revealed that he already divides his focus between the competition and negotiations to have a spot in Indy in 2023.
"The excitement level couldn't be higher. The excitement is maximum, but at the same time I have to balance things because I have a job this year in Indy Lights of maximizing everything I can with the team. So that's my main focus right now, but if I split it up, I have another part I'm thinking about next year, where the plan is 100 percent to be in Indy," Pedersen said in an interview with the Racer website.
"I'm thinking about how I can be as prepared as possible for that. I try to think about that separately from my current year in Indy Lights, without the two things conflicting with each other," explained the American.
Pedersen has already accumulated nine podiums in one year and a half in Indy Lights, and is getting closer and closer to his dream of competing in Indy. In 2022, he has been a frequent figure in the paddock, almost always following Foyt's activities. This experience has helped the 22-year-old to prepare himself for a change of scenery.
"There is no better way to prepare for Indy next year than to start testing and being in the paddock, in the team stands to get involved and see everything in Indy. It gave me even more focus on the driving perspective, the strategy, the pitstops, and all the things that are added to what I do now in Indy Lights," Benjamin said.
For now, the focus continues to be on the Indy Lights and on getting the first victory that has been a long time coming. The American driver already has five second places, three in seven races this year. The HMD Motorsports driver doesn't put any pressure on himself, but he knows he needs to start winning if he wants to fight for the category title.
"That doesn't weigh on me, but I really want to win. We are working hard for it, but we accept it as it is and I think if you treat it that way, you subconsciously help the results come with that process. All my focus remains just on how to get the win," Pedersen concluded.
Swede Linus Lundqvist leads the Indy Lights series comfortably after seven rounds with 315, with American Sting Ray Robb in second place 82 points behind. Pedersen has 218 points in third place. The series returns on July 3 for the Mid-Ohio round.