Andretti Autosport/AFS Racing’s Sebastian Saavedra talks to Racing Observer Online’s Matt Weaver following Saturday qualifying for the Barber Indy Lights 45 at Barber Motorsports Park in Leeds, Ala. Saavedra starts on the pole for Saturday morning’s Lights race. (Joshua Thomas/Racing Observer Online)
LEEDS, Ala. -Andretti Autosport’s Sebastian Saavedra will start the Barber Indy Lights 45 race from the pole.
The Andretti Autosport/AFS Racing driver, who returned to Lights this year after a season in the IndyCar Series, set a best time of 1:16.497.
Saavedra signaled his return to Lights with a third place last Sunday at St. Petersburg. While Saavedra is satisfied with the team’s results, he’s looking forward to competing for wins, as early as Sunday at Barber.
“That’s the way we wanted to start the season,” Saavedra said. “We’re looking to achieve podiums, make no mistakes and ultimately win races. We passed our first test and it’s a great way to start the season.”
Saavedra has a good bit of experience on the 2.3-mile road course but it hasn’t always been kind to him. Saavedra started dead last in the 2011 Grand Prix of Alabama and finished there due to a gearbox failure. His most recent Lights race here was in 2010, where he finished on the podium (third) but failed to lead a single lap.
While the finishes aren’t as high as he would have liked, Saavedra has always felt comfortable turning laps at Barber Motorsports Park.
I always feel good on the track,” Saavedra said. “It’s a good track with real tight corners – the driver output makes a difference.”
Saavedra starts on the pole while last week’s winner, Tristan Vautier, starts second. Remember that today’s Indy Lights race will not be televised until Thursday afternoon at 5 p.m. EST on the NBC Sports Network. Avoid social media if you don’t want to know the results!
The complete starting lineup as well as practice times for the Indy Light Barber 45 can be found below.
Pos Driver Team Time Gap
1. Sebastian Saavedra AFS/Andretti 1m16.4968s
2. Tristan Vautier Sam Schmidt 1m16.7270s + 0.2302s
3. Carlos Munoz Andretti 1m17.0882s + 0.5914s
4. Esteban Guerrieri Sam Schmidt 1m17.2494s + 0.7526s
5. Oliver Webb Sam Schmidt 1m17.4288s + 0.9320s
6. Alon Day Belardi 1m17.5997s + 1.1029s
7. Gustavo Yacaman Moore 1m17.6158s + 1.1190s
8. Jorge Goncalvez Belardi 1m17.8393s + 1.3425s
9. Troy Castaneda Bryan Herta 1m17.9743s + 1.4775s
10. Joao Horto Juncos 1m18.0338s + 1.5370s
11. Juan Pablo Garcia Jeffrey Mark 1m18.0496s + 1.5528s
12. Armaan Ebrahim Fan Force 1m18.3943s + 1.8975s
13. Darryl Wills Hillenburg 1m18.7854s + 2.2886s
14. David Ostella Moore 1m18.7993s + 2.3025s
15. Victor Carbone Sam Schmidt
A complete Q&A with Sebastian Saavedra will be posted sometime next week. A feature story on the young Cambodian can be found here on SB Pop Off Valve. Check it out!
