Marcus Ericsson says he is regarding his opportunity to race in IndyCar as a long-term project, having secured a seat with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports.
Ericsson hoped to continue with Sauber in Formula 1 for 2019 but was overlooked in favour of Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi, and revealed IndyCar was his favoured destination.
Ericsson’s full-time SPM seat was confirmed on Wednesday and has already undertaken a seat fitting, with the ambition of sampling a car prior to the festive period.
“I can't wait to get a chance to test the car,” said Ericsson. “I think it will be a lot of fun.
“I spoke to some drivers that have been driving this year, and they say the cars are really, really fun to drive, lots of power.
"It requires a lot of work. Obviously, it will be a bit different for me as well coming driving from power steering to no power steering. I'm sure it will be a little bit different.
"I've only heard good things about IndyCar. I can't wait to get a test. We're working on it now. Hopefully, we can get me in a car and drive before Christmas. That's what we trying to do.
"Then for the step to IndyCar for me, I see myself being here for many years. I want to come over here and do well, you know, make myself a career over here.
"But with that said, I don't close any doors. I don't know what happens in the future. As I see it now, I see it as a long-term project. I want to be here and do well and be successful."
Ericsson will be the most experienced Formula 1 driver on next year’s IndyCar grid, with this month’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix set to be his 97th start in the championship.
Ericsson believes his five-year stay in Formula 1 raises expectations for next season but remains wary he must not underestimate the opposition.
"I think definitely there will be high expectations on me, I would expect nothing else," he said.
"I come from almost 100 races in F1, five years there. I've built up a big experience which I think will benefit me making this step.
“I definitely feel that there will be high expectations on me, which is something that I think is right. And I think that comes with pressure, as well, but that's something that I'm used to that.
"I come over here [to IndyCar], expect myself to be up there in fights, getting to it quickly. But like I say, I also know it's going to be requiring a lot of hard work from me because everything will be new.
"The competition in IndyCar is extremely tough, as well. It's very important to not underestimate it. It's going to require a lot of hard work.
"But I'm sure
that I will do all that homework and be able to be successful."
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