INDY LIGHTS: Carlin aiming for four-car expansion

Trevor Carlin could see his burgeoning Indy Lights team double in size next year.

Carlin Racing's New York-based operation won 25 percent of the Indy Lights races last season on its North American debut, and Ed Jones, who was responsible for three of those four victories, is returning for another run at the championship and the Mazda Road to Indy scholarship that comes with it.

"We're pushing ahead in Indy Lights, we've announced Ed Jones will come back for a proper go at the championship, we've been testing a couple of people and I think we're close to a second driver, and possibly a third," Carlin (LEFT) told RACER. "And if we sign a third, you need to go to four because of the truck situation."

With Indy Lights/IndyCar transporters capable of carrying no more than two cars, adding a third car would require Carlin to acquire a second hauler, and from a financial standpoint, it's more economical to find and field a fourth entry to justify the use of two transporters.

"There's a lot of interest, and I don't see any reason why we can't expand by two [cars] next year," Carlin continued. "That will help us to grow our base in the U.S., and help get us closer to our goal of IndyCar."

Carlin has been interested in joining the Verizon IndyCar Series, and was looking into the possibility of running Chilton next season, but the team's plans have been pushed back to no earlier than 2017.

"Max is plowing his own path at the moment; it will be interesting to see where he ends up, he'll learn about IndyCar and who knows, we might be able to have him back in a few years," he said. "We're not in a position where we'll be able to do IndyCar next year, but we're looking and learning and doing our best to prepare for the day when we can."