Jamie Chadwick has driven well since moving to America, competing in Indy NXT and aiming to join the grid in IndyCar.
The British driver spent two years in the championship and adjusted to the different style of racing and tracks she hadn’t competed on.
She also had to deal with the extra complication of ovals, which are almost non-existent in European racing, battling at Iowa Speedway and Gateway, two venues on the IndyCar calendar.
Chadwick took a brilliant victory earlier this season at Road America, usurping the eventual Indy NXT champion Louis Foster.
The 26-year-old undertook her first IndyCar test for Andretti at Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama as Chadwick steps towards North America’s highest level of single-seater racing.
She explained while speaking on Sky Sports News that her first test in an IndyCar highlighted that physicality will be a key point ahead of a potential step up.
Jamie Chadwick explained physicality has been her ‘focus point’ since racing in America
The cars on the ladder towards IndyCar are very difficult to drive, with a lot of power and no power steering, making them difficult to drive. Chadwick admitted that the high-speed turns were particularly difficult after the test with Andretti.
They can be tougher than some comparable cars in European junior series on the road to Formula 1 which adds an extra layer of difficulty.
The Dallara-built IndyCar is very unforgiving and getting more complicated with hybrids, push-to-pass, and the weight jacker on ovals.
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Chadwick explained that the test with Andretti allowed her to realise she needed to improve her physicality further before making the move to IndyCar.
She said: “I think ever since first going over to race in the States a couple of years ago, that’s been my focus point [physicality]. And I’ve made good gains.
“But I think what the day on Monday taught me is if I’m going to do it, I’m going to have to make another big step again. But i’m confident I can do it.
“It’s just getting the work in and seeing how strong I can get because really these cars without power steering, big, heavy cars, a lot of very physical tracks, long races. I think that’s really going to be the big deciding factor from my side.”
Despite Jamie Chadwick’s good form there are very few options in IndyCar next season
Chadwick has been very impressive this season, and the next logical step is to compete in IndyCar, but few seats are available.
Andretti have a formidable three-car lineup of Colton Herta, Kyle Kirkwood and Indy 500 winner Marcus Ericsson, leaving no options at that team.
Other teams, such as Dale Coyne Racing and Juncos Hollinger Racing further down the field have vacancies and Chadwick may be in contention if she performed at Barber Motorsports Park.