INDY LIGHTS: Jones hones oval skills on dirt

Indy Lights race winner Ed Jones has been on a high since testing his first dirt oval car in the days leading up to this weekend's race at Phoenix International Raceway. The 21-year-old Brit, who lives in Dubai, wrestled a non-wing sprint car at Cory Kruseman's school in an effort to improve his understanding of oval driving, and according to the diminutive road racer, it was well worth the trip.

"For me, I wanted to do something to learn more because testing is so limited in these series, and the dirt ovals is something I've always looked at and wanted to try; it's so crazy," Jones told RACER. "Any little things you can pick up will help, and after running the sprint car, I can see the benefits already. It isn't massive, but there's something to be learned."

The visit to Kruseman's school at the half-mile Perris Auto Speedway oval in Southern California helped Jones to catch a massive slide in practice on Friday – his giant drift through Phoenix Turn Four was the highlight of the day – and he went on the qualify second for today's race, missing pole by only 0.365mph.

• Indy Lights qualifying report

"What I've found the most translatable from the sprint car is you have a greater feel for the car being on the edge on the ovals," Jones continued. "Obviously I pushed it a little too far today, but I was a lot more on the edge today than I've ever been, and I was so comfortable with it.

"I also learned to be more efficient with my lines – to get my turn done earlier to lengthen the straights. I know we've been taught that before but on the dirt, it was much more evident to see how big of a difference it made. I brought it all back with me [to Phoenix]."

Jones also acknowledged part of the desire to learn on dirt came from learning about Indy car racing's most successful drivers.

"I look at guys like A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti – the legends of Indy car racing – and they all got their start on dirt ovals. So if they did it, there has to be a benefit, and why wouldn't I want to learn where they learned?" Jones asked. "I'll be doing more; maybe before the Barber race. I just want to go back and go around and around..."