JUNE 14, 2001

Karthikeyan becomes first Indian to drive F1 car

INDIAN Narain Karthikeyan has become the first person from his country to drive a Formula One car after he started testing for the Jaguar Racing team at Silverstone on Thursday.

Karthikeyan was promised a Formula One test with the Jaguar team after he signed for their British Formula Three team Stewart Racing two years ago.

Karthikeyan now races in Japan in the Formula Nippon Championship and his test for the team had been delayed as he tried to find a gap in his schedule.

But the Indian driver started testing for the Milton Keynes based team on Thursday morning and completed a handful of laps.