An American back on the grid Speed first US racer since 1993 Scott Speed will become the first American to race in Formula One since Michael Andretti's 1193 stint with McLaren Ford when he takes the wheel in 2006 for Scuderia Toro Rosso, the team confirmed Tuesday. The 22-year-old Californian will join Vitantonio Liuzzi on the new Grand Prix team, formerly Minardi. "Fantastic. Its certainly a feeling of excitement," Speed said. "To bring F1 closer to the American public is exciting. Its going to be incredible. Im really looking forward to it." Speed becomes the first US driver in the series since Andretti, the son of 1978 world champion Mario Andretti, drove for McLaren in most of the 1993 season. No US racer has driven in a US Grand Prix since Eddie Cheever's race at Phoenix in his Arrows in 1989. After a troubled 2003 season with a digestive tract illness, Speed won the German and Eurocup Formula Renault crowns in 2004 and was third in GP2 last season. "There has been so much hard work, so much weve had to overcome and with the disease I had," Speed said. "To be an American in F1, it took so much work to move here and prove to people that I belonged. And the work is just starting."
Great news! It will be interesting to see how many Americans root for the American, seeing as many other countries play that way. Also, I can't help snickering at the new team name...
That is fantastic news. Would have been nice if he could have been on a competitive team, but if he consistently outpaces his team mate, the top teams will come knocking. I hope he does very well, and helps grow interest in Formula 1 within the USA.
And he's from San Jose, no? Perhaps some public appearances in the future are in store! Really, this can't be anything but good for F1 - perhaps now more races will get better coverage (than what CBS provided last year) on network TV. Doubtful, but I can always hope. And at least I now have a second driver to cheer for if/when MS drops out of a race (aside from his wingman).
You know, I just don't get all the "Scott Speed" hype. Now if you want to talk about a youngster with some real talent, let's talk about Heikki Kovalainen. I still can't get over what he did at the European IROC.
Kovalainen beating MS was fantastic and I'm eager to see him in a F1 car. He looks like the next Kimi/Alonso/MS. But that doesn't stop me from cheering for Scott Speed. I have my reservations because of his meager A1GP results, but at least finally an American in F1 again. Yes, that is pure chauvinism, I admit. But also on a bigger scale it is just what F1 needs in this country. Not saying that Scott will make F1 big in the US, but he will help it at least a bit. And by gholly this sports needs a major boost after its 2005 FIAsco. And let's be honest here for a moment: Cheering for Speed will not take away anything from the front runners. It just adds to the list of drivers I "support", now I got somebody at the end of the field as well (along with the RedBulls in midfield and the Scuderia up front). Hopefully we'll see Kovalainen racing in F1 in 2007 and I'm sure he'll kick some major league ass.
I think Kovalainen is the real deal. My guess is that he will be much more successful than Speed. Speed is an American so, I'll cheer him on.
i think that it is great that speed is going to drive in F1, i was exicited to see it in the paper this morning
Personally, I think Speed is the wrong sex and not pretty enough (so my female consultant says) to capture the attention of the American open wheeled motor racing spectator. It will take a lot more than an American running up the rear of the pack to get America behind F1 after the fiasco last season. I don't think many of the disgruntled specs who threw their ticket in the trash will be back. We will be watching him on T.V., or in Canada, and open wheeled racing never does well on T.V., does it? JMHO That being said, congrats to Speedy!
WOOT!! Let's hope he doesn't crap his drivers suit out of excitement! Great news for American F1 fans and F1 in general.
Good point about how cheering for Speed won't take away from the rest of the field. What blew me away about Kovalainen wasn't so much that he beat Schuey in a Stradale as much as that he beat the world rally car champion in his very first time in a rally car!!
As long as were remebering IROC 2004, let's not forget Tony Kanaan's great driving. Very deserving of an F1 seat, IMO.
Interesting, I didn't realize that part of the accomplishment. To me it was the fact that he beat the seven times world champion on his home turf, a Ferrari. Michael has tested the CS umpteenth times in preparation for this event (as I read somewhere), yet this kid beat him. Fair and square.
I thought Scott was the real deal after reading about his performances in 2004 and recovering from a bad colitis disease. But he seemed pretty much mid pack material in A1 GP and GP2 this year. Kovalainen and Rosberg Jr. were standouts this year IMO. Personally I dont think Speed will amount to that much in F1. He is no Alonso. Anyway we shall see next year if I am wrong.
I personally wish the guy the best, about time to have an American in F1. You guys should be ashamed of yourselves, look at how the Guys on this forum from Portugal stick up for TM, and so many of you guys don't seem to give Speed much credit. Either way I hope he does very well.
Speed was the best of the rest in the GP2...not to mention the first American winner of a European (not counting F1) open wheeler series ever!
If you call finishing 3rd in the GP2 Championship "mid pack" then I hope he runs "mid pack" in F1 next year! Seriously, 3rd in that championship was great. He was no Heikki or Rosberg, but he wasn't exactly a Piquet either! I really can't wait to see how Speed does in F1. If he runs good, look out USA, cause F1 fever is gonna take over. And the roar the crowd is gonna give when he goes out on the Brickyard for the first practice is gonna be insane.
Might have to do something with having been burnt in the past. AFAIK TM is the first Portuguese driver to amount to anything in F1 whereas the US had several drivers. Some successfull (Hill/Andretti), some underaCheevers and some complete failures (Andretti Jr.).
Well I don't give a damn about nationalities ... If I like a driver it is because of his individual abilities and not where he comes from ...
Well I do....I are talking about the drivers world championship, and so nationalities are important like in foot-ball, Olimpic games, or any other world wide sport. I'm glad to see an American F1 driver this year. It's important to F1 and to keep this sport in the USA. I hope Scot Speed a good year, but, nationality oblige, after Tiago
Agreed on all. I had once the pleasure of attending an event where Derek Daily gave a speech to a US audience about F1. He compared the various teams, drivers, manufacturers and nationalities involved to a Medieval Joust. And I think he was spot on. I'm no fan of blind chauvinism, but rooting for your country man is ok. Personally I have about five different drivers for whom I'm keeping my fingers crossed. With F1 having front, midfield and back runners they're not even mutually exclusive. And it keeps the race more interesting once your top man buries his car in the kitty litter.
