Vautier to test for SSM

UPDATE

Vautier

This rumor is upgraded to 'fact' now. Just one week after the Championship Celebration, Vautier will join SSM at Sebring International Raceway for his first outing in an IZOD IndyCar.

SSM will conduct a two-day test with their regular IndyCar driver Simon Pagenaud driving the No. 77 Schmidt Hamilton HP Motorsports Dallara/Honda/Firestone car on Dec. 12. Vautier will step into the car Dec. 13 while Pagenaud remains behind to help him learn the nuances of the bigger car.

Vautier is looking forward to his first chance to experience the IndyCar Dallara chassis, but has set realistic goals for himself heading into the test.

“It's going to be totally new for me, so I can't set any goals regarding where I want to end-up performance wise," Vautier said. “I will go to Sebring without putting any pressure on myself but instead focus on what the IndyCar guys at SSM have to teach me and how I can learn efficiently. My goal is to improve all-day long and learn as much as I can. “

12/10/12 Rumor has it that Tristan Vautier will at minimum test for Sam Schmidt Motorsports this week at Sebring. We imagine the team is now looking at him after things fell through with Barrichello.