Vautier paces Indy Lights practice in Baltimore

Almost a month hiatus from racing gave Tristan Vautier time to ponder and prepare for the final two Firestone Indy Lights races of the season.

In a heated duel with Sam Schmidt Motorsports teammate Esteban Guerrieri for the championship, the freshman Firestone Indy Lights driver arrived at the Grand Prix of Baltimore seven points arrears. Also in the mix are Sebastian Saavedra of Team AFS (37 off the pace) and Gustavo Yacaman of Team Moore Racing (47 points behind). Yacaman is the defending race winner on the temporary street circuit.

Vautier paced the initial practice session on the 2.04-mile, 12-turn course with a lap of 1 minute, 28.2387 seconds in the No. 77 Mazda Road to Indy/Sam Schmidt Motorsports with Curb Agajanian car.

Yacaman was second quick (1:28.3794) in the No. 2 TMR-Tuvacol-Xtreme Coil Drilling car, and Victor Carbone was third (1:29.1865) in the No. 3 MACT TV/Nevoni/Sam Schmidt Motorsports with Curb Agajanian car.

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