IndyCar: Chilton considering IndyCar switch

With his first season of racing in America completed, former Marussia Formula 1 driver Max Chilton is contemplating his next move, which could include stepping up to the Verizon IndyCar Series.

The 24-year-old Briton contested 13 of the 16 Indy Lights rounds with series newcomers Carlin Racing, claiming seven podiums, three poles, and his first win on the 0.875-mile Iowa oval. Despite missing three races, Chilton still managed a fifth-place finish in the championship, and says he's pleased with the experience on IndyCar's open-wheel ladder system.

"I've showed my pace, I've had a win on an oval, had pole positions, and I've now got some decisions to make about next year," Chilton told RACER. "This has definitely opened up a new career path in the States if this is where I choose to go.

"I really enjoyed my time in Indy Lights; it's very welcoming, very professional, and I like how with the Mazda Road To Indy, you can really progress, like [2015 champion] Spencer Pigot has, which is a clever, clever idea."

Chilton's background made his transition to IndyCar's version of GP2 rather seamless on the road and street courses, but the most remarkable aspect of his Indy Lights debut took place on the ovals. Trevor Carlin's team adapted quickly to the art of oval racing, and with the longstanding relationship between driver and team owner, Chilton says Carlin Racing would be his first choice as an IndyCar entrant.

"I proved that I can be quick on ovals, although there are a few [IndyCar drivers] I'd worry about on ovals from some of the driving standards I've seen, and I'm not too worried on road courses," said Chilton, whose entry was sponsored by the popular Skylanders video game last weekend in Monterey.

"I know I can find the right car and the right team; I'd love to do that with Carlin, although I don't think we'd be able to do a full IndyCar season next year because it's so late in the day. They're a team I love; I've had more race wins with them than any other team, so I've got some decisions to make."

Chilton also made his Le Mans debut this year with the Nissan LMP1 World Endurance Championship program. An offer to race in the WEC is apparently on the table for 2016, and with two series to choose from, Chilton says getting a feel for the Dallara DW12 Indy car chassis and IndyCar's 2.2-liter twin-turbo V6 engine package could help in his decision making process.

"I've been thinking about a test," he noted. "I know it will be slower than I expected [compared to F1], but I have the abilities to do it. Whether I like it or not, I'd just have to get on with it. And there's a possibility in WEC, as well. It's good to have options at this time of the year, but no choices have been made."