Stoneman turns to GTs but still eyes Indy 500

Former Andretti Autosport Indy Lights driver Dean Stoneman will make the transition from open-wheel racing to piloting GT cars this year in Europe with McLaren factory team Strakka Racing. The 26-year-old Briton will share a twin-turbo V8-powered McLaren 650S GT3 with Andrew Watson and Jazeman Jaafar in the Blancpain Endurance Series, but he hasn't abandoned his dream of racing in the Verizon IndyCar Series.

Stoneman showed his potential last year on his American debut by winning on the IMS road course and taking the victory at the Freedom 100 race in his No. 27 Dallara IL15-Mazda, and went on to capture five podiums on his way to fifth in the championship before sponsorship limitations forced the offseason move to GT competition.

"I'd always looked at GT racing but had better opportunities to get to Formula 1 or IndyCar, and that's changed since last year, so I'm excited to have a go with the Strakka team in Blancpain, but from where I sit, I'm going to leave the door open to IndyCar," Stoneman told RACER.

The 2010 FIA Formula 2 champion quickly earned a reputation as one of the hardest chargers in Indy Lights. Despite his lack of oval experience, the win at Indy and a pair of top fives at Phoenix and Iowa left Stoneman feeling confident about his abilities to race at any circuit on the IndyCar calendar. Having tasted victory at IMS in Indy Lights, finding the budget to return and race in the 101st Indy 500 is a goal Stoneman and his manager, three-time Le Mans winner Allan McNish, continue to pursue.

"My aim would be to do the Indy 500 this year as that would be a great achievement, and we are trying to find a sponsor for it," he said. "Our first GT race is the end of April at Monza; we're only doing the endurance side of the Blancpain championship, so there are some openings in the schedule that would allow something like the Indy 500 to happen for me. But it's down to budget, as always."

Coming off a test last weekend with Strakka at the Paul Ricard circuit in France, Stoneman says he'll continue to focus on the new GT opportunity while the Indy 500 budget search takes place in the background.

"It's great to have a manufacturer behind me and to be signed by a McLaren factory team or my first year in GT," he added. "And it's different. It's not just about me now; it's about my other two teammates and helping each other. It has taken some adapting, but I enjoy it and I expect to learn a lot about endurance racing this season. And I loved racing in America, so I get to go back and race there in IndyCar or maybe IMSA, it would be fantastic."