Tharani on "learning" Road to Indy shootout despite non-selection

The 2015 MRF F1600 champion represented India against 17 other title winners last week at Laguna Seca, where Oliver Askew was adjudged the inaugural winner.

"Overall it was a great experience to be a part of the shootout," said Tharani to Motorsport.com, after he failed to make it to the final six on the final day.

"I have to thank Mazda Motorsport, Team Cooper Tires and Andersen Promotions for this opportunity. Driving at Laguna Seca was fabulous.

"At the same time, [it was] a little daunting as it's such a fast track with some serious changes in elevation. I knew the competition was going to be tough with 18 of the best junior formula drivers."

The first day of the three-day shootout saw drivers being allotted their cars and briefed about the progamme, with the track action starting on Day 2 having three 20 minutes practice sessions.

The final day saw a sole practice session after which 12 drivers were eliminated, with the remaining six involved in a mock qualifying followed by a race.

Talking more on adapting to the cars provided by Lucas Oil School of Racing – Formula Ford chassis with Mazda MZR engines – Tharani said it was a task to acclimatise with the street tyre on a race track.

"I had to get used to the package overall as driving on street tyres in a formula car chassis was something new and I took some time to get used to it.

"The tyre had a lot of sidewall flex since it was street tyres, so the roll and movement were a lot more pronounced in the car.

"But I enjoyed driving on the track, a proper old school layout fast flowing circuit where mistakes cost you and rhythm is important.

"All the hype about [Laguna Seca's] Corkscrew turn certainly is true, nothing quite like that corner anywhere," the Indian added.

Great help from instructors

The judges and instructors for the event included IndyCar driver Spencer Pigot, Joel Miller, Scott Goodyear, Jonathan Bomarito and Andrew Carbonell.

Tharani said he received enormous aid after his runs which will help him improve in his career. "It was great to interact with all of them who are very very accomplished drivers and I had a very deep learning from them.

"It was not only on my driving that I got input on but also what it takes to be a pro driver off the track with the media and sponsors. It was fantastic!

"The entire crew from Mazda Motorsport were helpful and highly experienced in their field of PR and the whole shootout was an enriching experience," he said, also congratulating Askew on his win and thanking Madras Motor Sports Club and its chairman Vicky Chandhok for the opportunity presented.

Eye-opener to racing in US

With Narain Karthikeyan trying out NASCAR in the past, while Armaan Ebrahim racing in Indy Lights for few rounds, there hasn't been many from the country to race in the US.

Even though it looks unlikely at the moment for Tharani to make a move to the States, but he adds, it has been an eye-opener and that he will look for opportunities.

"The USF2000 looks even more promising a championship than what it already was," he said. "I really intend to do it, but the budget is something that is going to be an issue.

"It's good value but at the end of the day still a lot of money. But it has opened my eyes to the possibilities that exist in racing in the US and I am going to work towards it."