Dec 21: Indian racing sensation Narayan Karthikeyan throws his weight for the A1 GP ahead of Formula 1 at the moment as victory in A1 comes for nation while F1 is an individual feat. Though he still reckons his F1 dream is an unfinished business that will happen sooner or later in the near future.
“People do notice you when you win. I am on a high after winning in China. In F1 circuit, you do everything for your individual success. Here, it is a great feeling to achieve something for the nation,” said Karthikeyan while talking to reporters at the felicitation ceremony on his victorious return from China.
The ace driver clearly stated that his aim was to lead Team India to a top six finish every time in the A1 GP. "I am committed to the AI Grand Prix for 2008-09. All 24 cars will be Ferrari cars," he said.
"We are going to drive Ferrari cars next season and that would certainly brighten up our chances,” he added.
But last week victory in China doesn't mean that he is setting aside his F1 dream. The victory was his reply to those who feel that his F1 chances are over. Karthikeyan was the first Indian to drive for a F1 team, Team Jordan Toyota, which made him the race driver for the 2005-6 season.
"F1 is unfinished business and I will do both parallel at the moment committed to A1. I will try to build a strong team. Any win at this level helps the profile and takes confidence to its peak. I will carry on the momentum," Karthikeyan said.
“I think this is the dream time for Indian motor sport and it required right moves by the right people to put everything together,” said Karthikeyan, during his felicitation here on Thursday.
The win in Zhuhai served as a consolation for the Indian racing champion after his F-1 team Williams sacked him from his test driver position.
“The victory has come at a very important time for me. This will help me plan for the future,” said Karthikeyan, expressing his desire to race in the F-1 again. “There is still time for me and I hope it will happen sooner rather than later.”
India’s lone F1 driver said, “I was a test driver with Team Williams and I left because they didn’t offer me the position of the third driver. It is something my management staff didn’t like. But there could be so many options in the near future.
Karthikeyan, 31, plainly defied the age logic for his F1 status as it may be difficult for him to make a comeback at this age.
“Age is just a number and if I remember well, Damon Kill made his F1 debut at my age and went on to win the world championships. These things hardly matter. If I win races, no one would talk about my age,” Karthikeyan resisted.
The Coimbatore-based fastest Indian Karthikeyan said that right now he would be concentrating on the A1 GP.
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