Rising open-wheel star Matthew Brabham is prepared to be patient before taking a possible step up to the IndyCar Series.
Currently in his second year with Andretti Autosport and his first in Indy Lights, Brabham has found the key to winning after a slow adjustment to the feeder series.
“For sure I think spending a couple of years in Indy Lights is going to do you no harm,” Brabham told Speedcafe.com
“It’s going to definitely help you out and get that experience under the belt so that when you do move up to IndyCars you are ready to go after it and hopefully run up front straight away.
“At the end of the day your opportunities come into play a little bit more so than your experience.
“If you get an opportunity you kind of almost have to take it because you might not ever get another opportunity.
“I’ll just play out this year and see how we go and hopefully find out more later in the year.”
Brabham’s break-through Indy Lights win came in the road course race at Indianapolis last month, two weeks before experiencing a heart-breaking .005s loss in the Freedom 100 at the Indy speedway oval.
The 20-year-old says the adjustment from his record-breaking season in the Pro Mazda Series, which use rotary-designed Wankel engines, had been more challenging than he expected.
Although with the benefit of seven rounds under his belt, Brabham has become more accustomed to the 3.5-litre V8-powered Indy Lights machine.
“I think the biggest one is the weight of the car has been the hardest thing for me to get used to,” Brabham said.
“It kind of feels like a train of carriages are pushing you into the corner because there is so much momentum behind the car.
“Everything is slowly clicking into place now.
“I’m definitely in a position to challenge for race wins.”
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