DECEMBER 17, 2004

IRL tests for F1 hopefuls

With the chances available to drivers in Formula 1 now almost entirely dependent on money, the men who cannot afford to buy a drive are having to look elsewhere and a number have been looking to the Indy Racing League. Ryan Briscoe has a deal with Target Chip Ganassi Racing and former Jaguar Racing test driver Andre Lotterer, who has been racing in Japan of late, will this week test for the Panther Racing IRL team. It is also worth noting that Eddie Cheever has tested Red Bull hopeful Scott Speed and says he would like to run the American in a few races this year. This would be a surprise given that Red Bull has been teaching Speed the ropes in Europe and has high hopes that he will one day be the first American driver in a generation to get a regular seat in Formula 1.