BASILDON boy Jay Howard is living the dream after being snapped up for the current American IndyCar Series.

The 27-year-old, whose team's owners Marty and Margaret Roth have made an $7 million investment in his talent, retired with handling problems in his debut race at the Homestead-Miami Speedway.

But last time out he finished 14th in St Petersburg and is now 21st in the rankings, 44 points behind early leader Helio Castroneves.

"Living in the town where the biggest race in the world is held is pretty amazing," Howard told the Echo.

"I am living in Indianapolis, the city of Indy Car racing which is great.

"They hold the biggest race in the world and you can not imagine what it is like when the Indianapolis 500 race is on because words just cannot describe it."

Howard has currently swapped America for Japan for the third round of the Indy Car Series at the Twin Ring Montegi where he will race on the Super Speedway circuit tomorrow.

The Essex racer is part of the Roth Racing team and had always been earmarked for a fine future in the sport.

In 2003 he won the Formula Renault 2000 winter series and after a frustrating few years, which were full of unkept promises, he opted to head to America to kick start his career.

"The most common question I was asked in the UK was, How much money do you have?' and my answer was always the same, none!'," reflected Howard.

"But there were a couple of good people, one being Martin Donnelly, the ex-F1 driver and team owner, who helped me in my early car racing career.

"He supported me the very best he could with my Formula Ford drive in 2003 and I owe him a big drink when I see him next.

"He was the person who helped me make the move to the US by putting me onto the right people to make the initial move."

That advice led to Howard joining Roth and Howard has no regrets over the switch, thanks also to the team's owners.

"They are building the whole team around me which is cool to say the least," he said.

"I have great guys working on my cars, from engineers to mechanics, everyone on the team looks after me and works really hard.

"I currently have no sponsors on the car, the Roth's are paying for me to race out of their own pockets which I am very grateful for, but also gives me confidence in my own ability to see Marty and Margaret make a $7 Million investment in me. I just hope I am worth it!"

The duo are expecting big things from Howard but he knows he will take a while to adjust to the new competition.

"For me this season I need to gain good and valuable experience and just do what I have been doing all throughout my career," he said.

"I am only two races into my first IndyCar season and have learned so much already, especially from a strategy point which I have never had to do before.

"There are so many other little things you have to learn and I am loving every minute of it.

"Rookie of the year would be great but we have to remember that Roth Racing is a brand new team and new teams take a while for everything to gel and run smoothly.

"We will take it race by race and hopefully keep moving forward."

Howard is reluctant to look too far ahead and is determined to make the most of his racing.

"At the moment I am just enjoying race by race and thinking about now," he said. "Who knows what will happen? I never say never to anything and will keep my options open, but I am very happy at Roth Racing at the moment."