Dubai: UAE-born and based racing driver Ed Jones says he needs a strong finish to his debut Indy Car season to guarantee a ride in 2018, despite having already wrapped up the Rookie of the Year award with two races to go.
The 22-year Briton, who started off karting in Jebel Ali and races under the UAE flag, secured the Rookie award last weekend with a 13th place finish in the Bommarito Automotive 500 at Gateway Motorsports Park in Madison, Illinois.
It’s his second big achievement this season after finishing third at the iconic Indy 500 in May, in what is his best result so far in the 17-stage US-based series.
However, two races remain, one this weekend at Watkins Glen in New York, and the other in Sonoma, California, on September 17, and the team Dale Coyne Racing driver feels that unless he continues to impress his seat might be in jeopardy.
“It’s not like football where if you’re not doing well one week they can stick you on the bench,” he said. “It’s a commitment from teams, there are only 20 seats and every team needs their selection to work.
“Teams aren’t willing to take risks on younger drivers and for the last few years it’s been extremely difficult for rookies to not only get in but stay there.”
He’s not entirely wrong, of seven rookies to have taken part last season only four were retained this year, while from the season before only two from a total eight rookies carried on in the series full-time last year.
It’s a different story for Rookie of the Year winners though, four of the past five were retained the following year, but only two went on to immediately better their Rookie year result. All five are still in the series now however. One - 2012 rookie winner Simon Pagenaud – even went on to win the series last year.
“If I have another strong season next year hopefully I can stay in Indy Car for the long-term. That’s what I really want, another shot at it next year to get more podiums and wins.”
Aside from his podium at Indy 500, the 2013 European F3 Open and 2016 Indy Lights champion also has four other top 10s this season, but the last was five races ago. It still places him 14th in the overall driver’s standings, which would be the third best finish for a Rookie over the past five seasons.
“Earlier on in the season I got on quite well but at the same time a lot of things fell my way and everything clicked. The last few races I’ve been better but just haven’t caught a break. Hopefully, I can change that in the last two races with some good results.
“Two good circuits remain and I had a good result at Watkins Glen last season in the Indy Lights series (where he finished second). If I can get a top six to eight finish in both that would be pretty good, and strong qualifying would show how far we’ve come this season.
“It’s not a big problem,” he said of his recent form. “When I’ve had the car to perform I’ve been right at the front. I’m in the smallest team in the series, which always makes things harder to get up there and they understand that.
“This has already been a strong season before it’s even ended, it’s just that getting stronger and improving for a Rookie is always important especially in their second year where it’s even more essential to show how much you’ve come along and how consistently you can perform. So hopefully I can get some more good results from the final two races to put us in a strong position going into next year.”
Of his Indy 500 finish, he said: “Starting from 11th on the grid and finishing third in the race was the team’s best qualifying and race result at Indy 500 in 11 appearances – and the team’s been going 25 years – so that was a pretty big achievement.
“It’s one of the biggest three races in motorsport along with Le Mans and the F1 Monaco Grand Prix, and one of the biggest one-day sports events on earth. The atmosphere was like nothing I’d ever experienced and it was great to be a part of that.
“It’s such a long race, 500 miles [almost 805-km] and three and a half hours. I’ve never been in a race with so many ups and downs, and so many points where I thought one minute ‘this is going really well’ and then the next, ‘my race is over’.
“It was just about sticking in there and learning throughout. A lot of races are just like a sprint where you attack the whole time and then it’s over before you know it. But with this you need a lot of patience, and to be there at the end fighting for a win on my first go, was really special.”
The only downside was losing out on the Indy 500 rookie award to two-time F1 champion Fernando Alonso, a decision thought to be political to court the Spaniard stateside on a permanent basis, especially seeing as Jones finished ahead of him. Alonso, who had skipped the F1 Monaco Grand Prix to make his Indy Car debut, was leading for 27 laps before engine failure forced his retirement 21 laps before the end.
If Jones can beat Alonso, why doesn’t he try getting into F1?
“If the right deal came along I’d love to, but F1 has become more about money. If you’re in the right car and on the right team you can be made to look like a superstar. Whereas if you’re in the wrong one you can be made to look like an amateur.
“Ideally I’d like to stay in Indy Car, the racing itself is closer and more competitive. In Indy Car the difference between the top 20 is hardly anything whereas in F1 first to fourth could be as much as a second. There’s still a difference in Indy Car but even the smallest team should have a chance of doing something on the day. There’s also a variety of ovals, normal tracks and street circuits in Indy Car, so it makes it a lot more challenging and exciting.”
Does what he has achieved prove that the UAE can produce more talent?
“The level is higher now in karting from when I was there, so it is possible for more drivers to move up. I think a lot are following what I’ve done and I hope I’ve shown them the way.
“But what would be beneficial is a programme where they select potential talent and groom them to become racing drivers and give them all the support, training and backing financially.
“The UAE has some of the best facilities in the world, and it is probably one of the few places that could afford to do this properly. And if they do, it will definitely lead to a higher chance of having more drivers at the top.”
