David Ostella and Performance Motorsports ready to make positive memories at Indy

Performance Tech Motorsports will roll into the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with the No. 38 Dash Neighborhoods/ Phillips 66 Prototype Challenge car and a new face to accompany David Ostella behind the wheel.

 James French, 22, will share driving duties with Ostella in the Brickyard Grand Prix on Friday, July 25 on the new, 14-turn, 2.439-mile road course that incorporates part of the famous IMS oval. French ran a partial schedule in the PC class in the American Le Mans Series from 2011-13. He primarily races in SCCA competition and also drives a 1997 Formula One car in vintage competition, including the SVRA event in early June at IMS. The Wisconsin native has landed on the podium two of the five PC races he’s competed in and hopes to stand on the famed podium atop Victory Circle at IMS during the Brickyard Grand Prix.

 “Coming in to a new team obviously has its challenges when they’re five races into the season,” French said. “There are a little nerves involved. But if there’s no pressure, then it isn’t fun. The goal is to win, but I’d really love to just not get third. I always seem to end up third. I’m looking forward to racing with David Ostella. He’s my age, so I think we’ll have similar determination to win.”

 Ostella, 22, is returning to IMS with hopes of creating a memory of a podium finish. He raced twice on the famed oval, in 2011-12, in the Firestone Freedom 100 during his open-wheel career in Indy Lights.

“I’ll be excited to be back in Indy and be on the road course,” Ostella said. “Last time I was there on the oval I didn’t have such a great time, so I’m looking forward to being on the road course this time around. We’ll still use the straightaways, so we’ll get some good speed going down into Turn 1. I love Indianapolis; it’s a great racing town. There should be good energy there with the fans.”

This will be his first start on the infield road course, as he joins the small group of drivers who have raced on both circuits at the Brickyard. 

“Back in Indy Lights two years ago I had tested on the road course; it’s obviously changed since then,” Ostella said. “I know we won’t be on the same track that IndyCar ran this season for their Grand Prix – ours is a mix of the old and new. Either way, I don’t think anyone will have much of an advantage when it comes to knowing the track.”

After a fourth-place finish with a new teammate in late June at Watkins Glen International, Ostella is confident in Team Principal Brent O’Neill’s ability to pair him with drivers that compliment his driving style. 

“I think it’s going to be great to have another guy in the car around the same age as me,” Ostella said. “I’m sure he’ll have corners where he’s faster than me, and I’ll have corners where I’m faster than him. It should be fun to compare data with each other to help the other improve. There’s a lot of good competition, so we’ll have to work hard.” 

O’Neill, with eyes set on the podium, is excited to see what this new duo will do in Indianapolis. 

“James (French) is young and fits Performance Tech’s style,” O’Neill said. “He is very smooth in the car and does not make mistakes. I think his personality is a lot like David (Ostella), and they will fit really well together. He (French) only got a few laps testing with us, but I look for him to be up to speed right away.” 

The weekend starts for Performance Tech at 10:45 a.m. (ET) Thursday, July 24 with Practice 1. Later in the day, fans can catch the start of TUDOR United SportsCar Championship qualifying at 4 p.m. with PC qualifying at 4:45 p.m. The Brickyard Grand Prix – a two-hour, 45-minute race – begins at 5:45 p.m. Friday, July 25.

Adam Sinclair