With a borrowed Arrow Electronics firesuit, and his own helmet and red gloves, Aaron Telitz could have easily been passed for James Hinchcliffe on Friday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

He fit the bill behind the wheel of Hinchcliffe’s Indy car on track as well.

The two-time Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires race winner got his first chance to drive a Verizon IndyCar Series car, sharing the No. 5 Arrow Electronics Honda for Schmidt Peterson Motorsports with Hinchcliffe.

“It was an absolute blast out there,” said Telitz, who normally drives for Belardi Auto Racing in Indy Lights. “Huge thanks to Schmidt Peterson Motorsports for trusting me with their car and James for letting me borrow his suit, too.

“The car is awesome. I thought everything about it was fun. I loved the power, the big tires that have so much grip, the carbon brakes. It was all stuff I had to get used to, but I really enjoyed it. It will take a little time to digest, but my first reaction was (it was) a pile of fun.”

Telitz ran through the paces of an abbreviated testing program after cold temperatures delayed the start of the day’s activity. His only regret, he said, was he wished he knew how good the new tires would have felt before his sticker tire run just before he swapped places with Hinchcliffe.

Still, Schmidt Petersen Motorsports team officials came away impressed with the 26-year-old Wisconsin native.

“I think Aaron did a great job,” said Schmidt Peterson Motorsports team manager Taylor Kiel, who calls the strategy for Hinchcliffe’s car. “He was up to speed quickly and understood what we were trying to do. He did everything we asked him to do. From my perspective he did everything we could ask of him and more.”

Working with the No. 5 crew, Telitz ran for nearly 2½ hours on the 2.439-mile road course, though official lap times were not available. Hinchcliffe and engineer Leena Gade were on the pit stand communicating with the young driver about the nuances of driving the 2018 Indy car.

“(Leena) doesn’t overpower you or ask too much of you,” Telitz said. “She was great to work with and easy to work with. She’s extremely smart and knows what she’s doing. We didn’t do any massive changes. It was mostly about me getting laps.”

And the location couldn’t have been better for Telitz. He has raced on the IMS road course in all three Mazda Road to Indy series, and said his success on the track - four podiums in eight races - prepared him for the opportunity to test when it came.

“(The Mazda Road to Indy is) definitely the best route to get to (the Verizon IndyCar Series),” Telitz said. “You’re on all the same tracks and in front of all the teams, so they all know who you are. That’s how you get opportunities like this.”