Karthikeyan happy with US NASCAR series
December 5th, 2010 - 7:59 pm ICT by IANSBangalore, Dec 5 (IANS) Narain Karthikeyan has not exactly given up on a return to Formula One next year, coinciding with the inaugural Indian Grand Prix, but preferred not to comment on the possibility of him driving for Force India in 2011. For the moment, he is enjoying his time in the US NASCAR series.
Karthikeyan did a simulator test for Force India soon after the season-ending Grand Prix at Abu Dhabhi, but stressed that not much should be read into it while admitting that driving a Formula One car still excites him.
“Any racing driver will get excited about driving a F1 car and it is the same with me. Yes, I did a simulator test for Force India, but I cannot say anything beyond that.
“There are so many factors that go into Formula One and I do not wish to say anything more than that,” said Karthikeyan when asked specifically about the possibility of him driving for Vijay Mallya’s Force India next year.
Karthikeyan, speaking on the sidelines of the Karnataka-1000 Rally here Sunday, said he was enjoying his time in the American NASCAR series and that he would have to give up a lot to get back to Formula One series in which he made his debut in 2005, his first and only season so far in the elite championship.
“I see myself driving in the NASCAR championship for another 10 years, but for now, I don’t want to talk about Formula One,” said the 33-year-old Karthikeyan, who was recently voted the most popular driver in the NASCAR series.
Mallya, whose Force India made its F1 debut in 2008, has given little or no indication so far about having an Indian driving for his team, although at one juncture, it was thought that Karun Chandhok might get a race seat.
Chandhok, the 26-year-old from Chennai, made his F1 debut this year with the Hispania Racing team, but drove in only 10 races before making way for Japanese Sakon Yamamoto who came in with a bigger budget.
- Karthikeyan returns to Formula One - Jan 06, 2011
- Chandhok eyeing test driver's spot in F1 - Jan 28, 2011
- Chandhok, Gill shone in motorsports (2010 in Retrospect) - Dec 26, 2010
- An emotional and special moment: Mallya - Oct 28, 2011
- Bumpy ride for Karthikeyan and Chandhok - Oct 23, 2011
- I'll try to be in F1 as long as I can: Chandhok (Interview) - Oct 27, 2011
- No points for Force India, Karthikeyan 21st at Turkish GP - May 08, 2011
- i1Super Series drivers to be unveiled Monday - Dec 19, 2011
- Karthikeyan trying to get a race before Indian GP - Sep 02, 2011
- Karthikeyan to warm-up in Singapore ahead of Indian GP - Sep 17, 2011
- Age no barrier in F1, says Karthikeyan - Feb 03, 2012
- Painful to watch race from sidelines: Karun Chandhok - Oct 25, 2011
- Narain just unlucky to be in one of the slowest cars: Button - Oct 28, 2011
- Karthikeyan joins Hispania to complete 2012 F1 line-up (Lead) - Feb 03, 2012
- F1 driver Ricciardo enthralls fans in the capital - Oct 01, 2011
Tags: 10 years, bangalore, budget, f1 debut, force india, formula one car, grand prix, juncture, nascar, nascar championship, rally, sakon yamamoto, sidelines, simulator test, vijay mallya