INDYCAR: Brabham encouraged by Sebring test

Third-generation racer Matthew Brabham completed his first test with the Pirtek Team Murray/KVSH Racing team at Sebring on Tuesday. The Florida-born, Australia-bred Brabham drove the No. 61 Chevy on the track's popular short course in preparation for his Verizon IndyCar Series debut in May at the Angie's List Grand Prix of Indianapolis.

"We ran Sebastien Bourdais' Chevy for the test and it was fantastic to be back in an open-wheel car," Brabham told RACER. "It took me a few laps to acclimatize my brain to the speeds after not being in an IndyCar since Sonoma. Once I got up to speed I was pretty comfortable, and learned about all the new systems with the guys from Chevy after testing with a Honda last year."

Brabham has kept busy driving in the Super Stadium Trucks series where the giant off-road machines compete on city streets and use jumps to leap 30 feet in the air before crashing down and tackling the next corner. He says switching from truck-mode to IndyCar-mode made for an amusing run on his first outing.

"Trading the truck for the Indy car was a shock to the system and I had to get used to the corner speeds...and no jumps..." the 22-year-old said with a laugh. "The car felt a little bit different than the Andretti [Honda] I tested last. It's hard to say if it was the 2016 updates, or a Chevy versus a Honda, but the braking felt better, and I felt I was better at getting to the limit at Sebring. Sebring's a bit easier that way, though.

"And testing with Andretti last year really helped get me ready for what I needed to work on and I had a game plan coming into today's test. I hadn't used carbon brakes before and the grip is incredible, so we made good progress there today. I still feel like I'm improving every time I get in the car and each lap helps me to refine those little details."

The single-day test also gave Brabham a chance to work with his race engineer Andy Brown and the other team members who will run the No. 61 at the GP of Indy and in the 100th running of the Indy 500 on May 29.

Brabham, who is using the No. 61 to honor his late grandfather Jack Brabham who sparked Indy's rear-engine revolution in 1961, performed just as team co-owner Brett "Crusher" Murray expected throughout a busy day of familiarization.

"Well we could not have asked for more than that," said Murray, who attended the test with Brabham's father Geoff, a four-time IMSA GTP champion and 10-time Indy 500 starter. "Matt did an exceptionally professional job and the support from the KV Racing guys was first class. I was delighted with how quickly Matt and Andy Brown became a cohesive unit. It was like they have been working together for years.

"To get 134 laps of running, produce some good speed and come away without a scratch on the car really is close to a perfect result. It was great to have Matt's dad Geoff looking on from the pit lane and I am sure Sir Jack (Brabham) had a smile on his face somewhere."

Brabham also said keeping his ego in check and appreciating the talent possessed by IndyCar's best drivers won't be an issue.

"The thing I love about IndyCar is it isn't easy; it's been humbling and I have to work really hard to get the most out of an IndyCar," he admitted. "It's challenging and gives you so much respect for guys like [defending IndyCar champion] Scott Dixon, because you can't jump straight in and be on their pace. There's a lot of downforce, no power steering, and you have to manhandle it, and you're kidding yourself if you think matching those guys will happen quickly. The more laps I do, the better I will get. I just can't wait to get a crack at it in the Indy GP."