« Dr. Balamuralikrishna receives Congressional recognition. :+: Uber Malarial Videos: Cowboys in Andhra Pradesh »

A1 GP

Narain has an F1 seat for 2008.

By: Karthik :+: Under: A1 GP, Force India F1, Formula 1, GP2, Karun Chandok, Motor Racing, Narain Karthikeyan, Sports
On: ⋅ October 13, 2007 ⋅  Email this post ⋅  Print this post ⋅ Post a comment
Discuss in our off-topic forums

Looks like you are new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Or so I predict.

Narain Karthikeyan sits in the pits at Zandvoort.
Image from Team India’s new website.

The major motor racing season is drawing to a great end. Going into the last race of the season in F1, Kimi Raikonnen, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando “Whiner” Alonso are fighting for the title, the end should be good. Although Kazuki Nakajima laid claim to the Williams race seat, it might be a good move for India, particularly Karun Chandok. Nakajima finished 5th this year in GP2 before moving on and in another year, Karun should be there.

But not all motor racing has ended. The A1GP season has just started and here is a piece of Information that you will see no where else. Narain Karthikeyan has an F1 seat for 2008 and here is why.

A few months ago, Über Desi had a visitor, we least expected. Yohann Setna, the owner of Team India and this was the conversation that ensued.

Also, I am not sure on if you can officially answer this, but if Narain decides to become a full time driver with WilliamsF1, I assume Parthiv will take over his duties for you. Who will be your second driver?

And Mr. Setna answered

If Narain does sign up for the 2008 season with an F1 team as the race driver, then we will probably use Parthiv as his replacement. It’s too early to tell. As for a second driver, we may not need one if we decide Parthiv is to be the race driver. He would be eligible to do the rookie sessions as well as the races.

Now keep that information in the back of you mind and consider this report from the PTI about the recent practice session.

At the Automotodrom Brno circuit, Karthikeyan was behind the wheel in the afternoon practice session and he did 16 laps with various set ups trying to find the optimum one for this circuit. He clocked 1:47.490, 2.154 behind defending champion
Team Germany’s Christian Vietoris who clocked 1:45.336 to set a new lap record in the practice session.

Earlier, in the morning session, Team India rookie Parthiva Sureshwaren timed 1:51.885, which placed him at the penultimate place in the time sheets ahead of the second race of the season.

Pathiva has started just one race for Team India, in Durban, last season when Narain could not fill in. Since then, I have not seen Parthiva put any miles on the car. In fact that article where Mr. Setna answered my question, I was discussing the absence of a second driver and how Team India had to pack it’s bags and go back home.

So why would they let Parthiva test the car after the start of the season?

The answer my friends is that Narain has plans, possibly even a contract. In a few weeks, I will come back and tell you I said so.

In the meanwhile, do not forget to catch the A1GP race this weekend and hopefully India will find better luck this weekend.

« Dr. Balamuralikrishna receives Congressional recognition. :+: Uber Malarial Videos: Cowboys in Andhra Pradesh »
Discuss in our off-topic forums