Kiwi Scott McLaughlin is comfortable, and confident heading into his second full season as a driver in the IndyCar championship.
Preparing for his return to IndyCar after a long off-season, McLaughlin is itching to return to his car for another tilt at open-wheel racing in the US.
The 28-year-old impressed in his first season in the US after switching from Supercars - which he dominated with three successive titles from 2018 to 2020 - and was named as IndyCar's rookie of the year.
McLaughlin finished his 2021 season with 305 points, enough for 14th place with two top five finishes, and five top 10s.
And with a full season of experience under his belt, McLaughlin is ready to come firing out the blocks when the IndyCar season begins in Florida on February 27.
"To be honest, I don't feel like a rookie," McLaughlin says.
"I feel very comfortable where I'm at. I feel very much similar to how I felt [in] my first or second season in Supercars.
"I've got my feet on the ground, I know every face in pit lane now, I know where to go from the airport to the track, where the hotel is, little things that can be a stress for you off the track, I'm a lot more comfortable with.
"I know what I want from the car, I know certain things that will help me start a weekend off stronger so I can get to pace quicker. I was learning that on the fly last year, with very little practice.
"I'm feeling good, I'm happy to slip under the radar. I know not many people are talking about me, I'm just gonna slip under the radar, be an underdog, and snap when it counts."
As part of a Kiwi one-two with Scott Dixon, McLaughlin's best result in 2021 saw him finish second at Fort Worth Texas in what was just his fourth race in IndyCar.
And after admitting he became complacent after that result at the end of 2021, McLaughlin is ready to push on and target his maiden race victory in the US.
"I still think there's certain races last year that I could have won as well," he adds.
"That's just what IndyCar's like. I feel very confident if I get put in a position, or I put myself in a position, I can race with anyone up the front.
"But it's a matter of getting there, and that's the tough part initially - putting races together, weekends together to make sure that I'm right there. That's what I've found really tough in this series.
"No doubt in my mind that I can be consistently right there, and if anything comes my way I'll take it for sure."
