Newton (United States), July 19 (IANS): Racing driver Max Chilton dedicated his victory in the Indy Lights race here to his friend and former Formula 1 team Marussia teammate Jules Bianchi.

Chilton raced with Bianchi at Marussia in 2013 and 2014. The 25-year-old Bianchi died on Saturday due to head injuries suffered in a crash at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix. The Nice-born had been in coma since crashing his car into a recovery vehicle at October's rain-hit race in Suzuka.

"I probably thought of Bianchi every five or 10 laps. He was a driver destined to probably be a world champion. It's been a difficult nine months, to be brutally honest with you. I've learned a lot from him and he was part of that win," the 24-year-old Chilton was quoted as saying by BBC.

"No words can describe what his family and the sport have lost. All I can say is it was a pleasure knowing and racing you," the Briton had tweeted with a picture of their childhood on Saturday.

This was Chilton's ninth race in Indy Lights with his previous best finish being third.