DEAN Stoneman produced a stunning drive to finish fifth in his first ever Indy Lights oval race in Arizona.

The Andretti Autosport driver, from Bishops Waltham, arrived at the Phoenix Raceway determined to build on a solid Indy Lights debut in Florida, where he picked up points in his first outing in the Stellrecht Mazda.

The 25-year old finished the first practice session in an impressive third place. The second practice simulated a race run, but seventh-placed Stoneman was still just two tenths of a second off the fastest car.

Qualifying was a three-lap shoot-out format that Stoneman experienced for the first time. He qualified in ninth, just two and a half tenths of a second off pole.

Stoneman soon made up places from the fifth row.

After the first of the race’s 90 laps, he had moved up to eighth. He was seventh by lap 29 and soon jumped to sixth when the field bunched up thanks to a safety car.

All eyes were on Stoneman as he became the fastest car on the track with an average speed of 161mph.

The British rookie dived low before going high on the oval track, wrong footing his rival to move up to fifth with an overtaking move way above his experience level on ovals.

A delighted Stoneman said: “The Stellrecht Company Mazda showed great race pace and we were able to pick off places, but unfortunately the race wasn’t long enough to keep chipping away. "We had great potential and my pace was very quick bearing in mind it was my first time on an oval.

"It’s been a great learning curve. "It’s a shame we didn’t qualify further up the grid, we really could’ve won this.”

Stoneman is now fifth in the Indy Lights series. The next race in Barber Alabama is on April 24/25.