Yacaman pursuing Indy 500 seat

Gustavo Yacaman is working to make his leap to the Verizon IndyCar Series by joining the field for May's Indianapolis 500. Having spent four years in Indy Lights before turning his attention to sports cars in 2013, the young Colombian says he's looking to complete a journey that started on the Mazda Road To Indy.

"I had four good years in Lights, I finished third in the championship my last year [in 2012], won the pole for the Freedom 100 that year, won two races and had a bunch of podiums, and all I wanted was to go to IndyCar," the 26-year-old told RACER.

"But the costs were just too high for what my sponsors could afford, so we went into sports cars and that's where I've been. I was 21 then and I've raced prototypes in Europe and America, and GT cars too, and I have a cool new opportunity this year as a junior Lamborghini factory driver. But I've never given up on racing at Indy and we've put the budget together so I can do it."

With the 2017 racing calendar working out in his favor, Yacaman has been busy searching for a team to facilitate his Indy 500 dreams in recent weeks.

"My schedule in May is open for me to do the 500," he said. "The schedule didn't work out in other years where I was too busy in May, but with what I'm doing in the Blancpain series with Lamborghini and in IMSA at the endurance races, I have the time so I can be in Indy to race.

"I've been talking with a lot of teams, trying to find a car to run at the 500 with the backing I've been able to put together from my sponsors. But there are a lot of drivers looking for the same thing with not a lot of available seats."

If he's lucky enough to land a drive for the 500, Yacaman would add to a rather slim rookie class. Dale Coyne Racing's Ed Jones is the only full-time rookie in the series this season, and while one or two others could end up on the entry list, veterans are expected to fill most of the grid.

"Indy is what I'm aiming for the most," Yacaman added. "But getting a car, getting an engine lease ... it isn't like there are 10 teams waiting for guys to call and jump in. All you can do at this stage is try to be one of the lucky ones to get in for the 500. If that doesn't happen, I still want to do some one-offs later this year, but being in the Indy 500 is where I'm putting all the effort before I consider any alternatives."