Long Beach Q&A with Stefan

We spoke to Stefan on Saturday after qualifying, and again after Sunday's race.

Q: Long Beach has been going pretty well for you so far, hasn't it?

Stefan: Yes, the guys have given me a really good car and we just keep improving every time we get out on the track and learn a bit more. We were strong yesterday in practice - P6 and P3 in the two sessions - so we knew we had the time in there. And we came out today really strong and I was running P1 in my group for quite a lot of the session. Then I dropped down to P2 in my group, so I start tomorrow on the inside of row two. I'm pretty pleased with that, considering where we were a couple of weeks ago. The team hadn't worked on the car until the testing at Sebring [a few days before St Pete] and I've never driven anything like this car, so I'm pleased with where we've got to. The team keep making gains, I keep making gains, so hopefully we'll go out tomorrow and put on a good show and do the boys proud.

Q: You've taken to this car like a duck to water. Why have you taken to it so quickly, what's so good about it?

Stefan: The car suits my driving style a bit better, it's more like a Formula Palmer Audi car than a Formula 3 car. It's a bigger car and there's more weight to work with, better weight distribution. I'm a big guy so in Formula 3 that did hurt my competitiveness a lot. And the guys in the team are so professional, they've really given me a good car to work with, so it's a combination of a lot of things. I'm really pleased to be in Indy Lights and hopefully I'll stay here.

Q: Walker Racing have a long history and lots of experience, so you really notice that difference?

Stefan: Yes, I'm working with a great bunch of guys, I clicked really well with them, and every time after a session I can tell them what the car's doing and they'll fix it, so we just keep getting better and better. Hopefully we'll get a few test days and then we can make some real gains, so when we get to Watkins Glen we'll able to put on a good show.

Q: Indy Lights is a lot different, the races are a lot longer, you've got rolling starts and you're on streets...

Stefan: Yes, I had two races at St Pete so I've got a few miles under my belt there. As for the rolling starts, it's going to be interesting tomorrow - coming out of the hairpin you've got a long straight there. I'm starting near the front this time, so I'm going to be looking to try and move forward. I'm starting on new tyres, which will be an advantage compared to the other guys starting on old tyres so, fingers crossed, if I can get in the lead I can make some headway. I had a pole time in there this afternoon. I was actually three-tenths up on my fastest lap until it got yellow-flagged, so I think the time's in there and I'm really looking forward to a strong race tomorrow.

Q: These races are a lot longer than what you've been used to, aren't they?

Stefan: Yes, it's an hour-long race so a lot more than the F3 and the FPA was, but we did it at St Pete and I felt really well considering how many sessions we got at St Pete.

Q: So you didn't feel any kind of physical ill-effects afterwards?

Stefan: After the first one I did a little bit, and then I started to feel pretty tired in race two, but here we've only got one race so it won't be as bad.

Q: When you look at the other drivers that you're competing with and beating like you've done today in qualifying, it's an amazing achievement, don't you think?

Stefan: Yes, this is the start of my third year in racing cars and most of these guys have been racing in America for three years. I'm racing against Hinchcliffe, Bomarito, Hildebrand, they're good guys, they've been around a long time and they've driven this circuit before...

Q: Are they surprised to see you up there?

Stefan: I think they are, I don't think they expected to see me challenging them this early in the season!

After the race

Q: You made a good start and you were running well in fourth place, but you stopped with just three laps to go. What happened?

Stefan: You know, I really wasn't expecting that! I was so close to the finish and I was getting quite lonely out there on the race track. I had a 5-second margin to the car behind and after being held up on the final restart I had a couple of seconds of clear air in front of me. I was giving the walls a few extra millimetres and was just concentrating on bringing her home, and then out of the blue I came on to the back straight and went to change up to fourth and there were no gears. It turns out it was an input shaft failure. That part has a reputation for breaking at the wrong time, and because of that we installed a brand new one for this weekend, but it still broke. There was nothing either me or the team could have done, it just wasn't to be this weekend. We have to look at the positives - even though we didn't finish the race, we set the second quickest lap time, and we could have been on pole if that yellow had come out just 20 seconds later. I'm really pleased with my crew, the team did a fantastic job all weekend.

Q: You're not running in the next few races, which are on ovals, so what will you be doing?

Stefan: Well, we need to do a bit of work on heavy fuel loads. It was a long race today and the car felt a little different with 90lb more fuel on board, so hopefully we can get a few test days in. And you can bet I'll be on iRacing [motorsport simulator] trying to learn Watkins Glen in the next month. In the meantime I'll be going to Indy to watch and support my brother. Maybe I'll get the chance to spot for him - although he may not like the idea of hearing me on his radio at 224mph!