INDYCAR: Jones primed for second RLL test

Indy Lights front-runner Ed Jones will be reunited with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing on Thursday for his second IndyCar test with the team. RLL, along with every other Verizon IndyCar Series team barring A.J. Foyt Racing, will take to the repaved Watkins Glen International circuit in preparation for the Sept. 1-4 event that has replaced the Boston Grand Prix.

Jones, who tested for a half-day with RLL at Sonoma Raceway in August of 2015, will share the No. 15 Honda with Graham Rahal for another half-day as part of IndyCar's testing incentive that grants an additional test day for teams that use a current Indy Lights driver.

"It's great to be part of RLL for the test; thankfully they thought I did a good job last year and had confidence in me to test again," Jones told RACER. "My job is to get in and get as many laps as possible to help Graham when he gets in in the afternoon."

Driving for Carlin Racing, Jones has been a revelation since coming to America in 2015, when he opened his account with three wins and third in the standings as a rookie. With two wins so far during his sophomore season, the UAE-based Briton held the Indy Lights championship lead until the most recent round at Mid-Ohio.

Now 16 points behind Schmidt Peterson Motorsports' Santiago Urrutia, Jones will look to regain the championship lead and use the IndyCar advancement that comes with the title to make the transition as easy as possible. According to Jones, and with or without the championship in hand, his sights are set on joining the IndyCar grid in 2017.

"These next few months are going to be important," the 21-year-old said. "We'll be exploring as many options as possible In IndyCar and we've spoken to a couple of teams now. As everyone knows, it's very difficult with the funding needed and the limited seats available. And it's not just me; there are a lot of drivers looking to move up.

"It would be great if a lot of drivers can move up, and great for the series if there were more cars on the grid. I need opportunities like this with RLL to show people I can develop a car and do everything in my power to make things better - more than simply drive the car quickly."

Jones will join fellow Indy Lights drivers Shelby Blackstock, Dalton Kellett, and Dean Stoneman, who will spend half-days in the three Honda-powered Andretti Autosport cars.