Scheckter optimistic of further races

Last year Scheckter joined Dale Coyne Racing for a one-off at Indy, and subsequently earned a sponsor deal that enabled him to complete the season with Dreyer & Reinbold.

He started 2010 without a full-time drive again, but was recently announced in Dreyer & Reinbold's third car for Indy alongside Justin Wilson and Mike Conway.

Now the South African is determined to do enough to keep himself in the seat beyond Indianapolis.

"That's the hope," said Scheckter. "At the moment, we're extremely happy to be in the Indy 500. There are some options to possibly carry on. There's some possible interest from certain people to carry on backing me for the rest of year. That's sort of what we did last year.

"But my focus right now is to do a good job at the speedway. I think if I can do that, things will just fall into place."

Dreyer & Reinbold has already taken two podium finishes with Wilson on street courses this year, and Scheckter is optimistic that strong form will continue at Indianapolis and subsequent ovals.

"I feel extremely at home," he said. "We did a test towards the end of last year that went very well that carried on the development. As I think you guys have seen on road courses for sure this year, with having Mike and Justin, they've done an unbelievable job."