A trip around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in a pace car was the first time that Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear driver Connor De Phillippi was given the opportunity to meet Indianapolis 500 qualifier Bryan Clauson in person, an experience he said was a hands-on lesson on driving the track.

“The best piece of advice [Bryan] Clauson gave was how you turn a little later and open up your hands,” De Phillippi said. “That’s where you really find your time.”

The pace car lap and interaction between the drivers is part of the 2012 Mazda Road to Indy Summit taken place at IMS this week. The summit includes opportunities for the Mazda Road to Indy drivers to meet team owners and other influential members throughout the INDYCAR community.

Clauson, who spent time in Firestone Indy Lights, appreciated being able to meet and advise some of the up-and-coming drivers.

“I’ve been in their shoes before, so it was great to give some helpful advice,” Clauson said.

De Phillippi said that the main and back straightaways were much longer, and the short straights were much shorter than he was expecting. He also said that he got a better perspective of how it looks like a tunnel going into Turn 1 of the course.

One major point that Clauson wanted to get across to the drivers who took part in the pace car lap was to respect the experience, and that the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indianapolis 500 truly is the greatest place to race in the world.

“They need to enjoy the atmosphere,” Clauson said. “It is an amazing place to race.”