Brabham sure he is ready for full-time drive in IndyCar

Matt Brabham is a 'ladies' man

Matthew Brabham feels ready to make the step up to a full-time drive in the Verizon IndyCar Series following successful tests with Andretti Autosport at Iowa and Sonoma in recent weeks.

Brabham was one of a handful of rookie drivers to test at Sonoma on Thursday, sharing the running with regular driver Marco Andretti as part of the Mazda Road to Indy program for young drivers.

Speaking after the test day, the 21-year-old expressed his enjoyment and belief that he is now ready to make the step up to a full-time drive in IndyCar.

“[I] had an awesome day," Brabham said. “Driving an IndyCar around Sonoma was a lot more physically demanding than when I last drove at Iowa.

“You really had to muscle the car a lot more, but it was an incredible experience and so much more fun than anything else that I have driven.

“As a team we worked our way through the program which I was scheduled to do, so they were happy. And it was good to be able to ask Marco and Justin [Wilson] questions during the day, that was a big help.

“Speed-wise, it was difficult to really judge as the regular drivers were on different compound tires to the MRTI guys and there was no official timing.

“But it appears unofficially that Piquet and myself were the fastest rookie drivers, and we did almost identical times.

“I want to race one so bad now, and after today I am ready if given the opportunity."

Brabham has spent 2015 sampling a number of different racing cars after finishing fourth in Indy Lights last year, but remains a firm part of the Andretti Autosport family.

The American-Australian has raced for the marque in Indy Lights and FIA Formula E this year, and will hope that this latest test has put his name in the mix for a possible full-time drive in 2016. Luke Smith/NBC Sports