Maldonado to drive IndyCar (3rd Update)

Pastor Maldonado in KVSH pits at Iowa last year

UPDATE Former Formula 1 driver and race-winner Pastor Maldonado is currently in negotiations with KV Racing, as the team seeks a way to stay on the Verizon IndyCar Series grid in 2017.

Motorsport.com has learned that the Venezuelan is pursuing a road and street course program with the Kevin Kalkhoven/Jimmy Vasser-owned squad, which has scored four wins over the past three seasons with Sebastien Bourdais.

However, the 2012 Spanish GP winner is not interested in racing on ovals. He attended last year's IndyCar race at Iowa Speedway as a guest of former Williams F1 colleague, Adam Parr, who now works for Cosworth, which is owned by Kalkhoven and Gerry Forsythe.

Should a deal occur, therefore, it leaves KV looking for a driver for the six ovals on the IndyCar schedule this year, or possibly an Indy 500-only drive, should the team elect to race only part-time.

However, the long-mooted partnership between KV and Carlin is now looking very tenuous, given that Trevor Carlin has revealed he is unlikely to expand his team to IndyCar in 2017 and that he’s not keen on joining IndyCar on a part-time basis, nor in running different drivers through his debut season in the series.

KV’s team equipment and assets have been packed up in its shop in Indianapolis, but have not been sold, despite Carlin admitting, “I’m still tempted because it’s really good quality stuff and a very reasonable price. It would be a nice headstart."

All but three KV team members, meanwhile, have been disbanded and should Kalkhoven fail to reach an agreement with Maldonado, it is understood that the team’s 14th season in Indy car racing was its last. David Malsher/Motorsport.com

08/12/16 This rumor is downgraded to 'speculation' now. His check may not be big enough for IndyCar either. Pastor Maldonado could be set to get his race career back on track in sports cars.

Since losing his Lotus/Renault race seat at the end of last year, the controversial Venezuelan has not had a prominent role apart from some Pirelli tire testing.

But it now emerges that the 31-year-old could be drafted into the lineup of the Manor Motorsport team, headed by former F1 team chief Graeme Lowdon, ahead of the forthcoming 6-hour world endurance sports car race in Mexico.

"We are waiting to confirm the third driver — it could be Pastor Maldonado," Alfonso Toledano, an LMP2 driver, is quoted by the Brazilian sports car publication Bonga Sat.

"The team is making a decision now so we'll have to wait," he added.

07/09/16 The driver who was rumored to be in the frame for a Verizon IndyCar Series race seat at the start of the year is present at a Verizon IndyCar Series weekend now.

Pastor Maldonado, the 2012 Spanish Grand Prix winner who was left sidelined when Renault Sport took over what was the Lotus F1 team at the start of the year, is on site at this weekend’s Iowa Corn 300 at Iowa Speedway.

He was spotted in the KVSH Racing pits during first practice and was invited by the team co-owned by Kevin Kalkhoven, Jimmy Vasser and James “Sulli" Sullivan for this weekend.

While there was a significant Venezuelan presence in the sport when E.J. Viso raced — and did so with KV for several years — the Venezuelan presence has been absent in recent years.

Maldonado says he is “taking in the race weekend" and was somewhat coy in terms of noting his interest in racing in IndyCar, but didn’t rule it out.

“I was very interested to see how the Indy works," Maldonado told NBC Sports. “I got the invitation from the team and it’s very interesting. I have so many friends here from Europe, starting with Juan Pablo (Montoya), then so many other drivers. It’s quite interesting to see how the series is organized. And then maybe I didn’t choose the best track to come, but it’s nice even to see this old-fashioned American style."

Asked whether he was close to racing here this year, Maldonado didn’t deny it, but didn’t admit it either.

“At the moment we are not looking to race here, but for sure I’m looking around to solve my situation," he said. “First option is of course Formula 1, because I’ve been very involved in the past few years there. This year I’m fully involved in the tire development."

Maldonado also confirmed he has been undertaking Pirelli tire testing this year, as outlined above.

We pondered whether Alexander Rossi’s success in North America this year was anything Maldonado took note of.

“I’ve been racing even two years ago, Rossi when he did a few races in Formula 1 I think," he said. “He’s a good driver. He showed his consistency in GP2 as well which is a very tough category in Europe. He’s showing very good potential. It’s not easy. It’s kind of different concept of racing. But I think any good driver from Europe can adapt easily to a decent style. The same in the other way around, any good driver from here can adapt themselves to Europe style."

Anyway, since Maldonado’s now been at an IndyCar race, watch this space to see what happens for him in the future. Tony Dizinno/NBC Sports

03/08/16 (GMM) F1 driver Pastor Maldonado could keep his motor racing career alive in America's top open wheeler series.

The Portuguese-language Diario Motorsport reports that the controversial Venezuelan, ousted by Renault amid sponsorship problems, is in talks with Ed Carpenter's Indycar team about racing on the road and street tracks in 2016 with Carpenter himself doing the ovals.

Whether Maldonado's departure from F1 is a loss to the sport has been the subject of recent debate, as while he was a F1 race winner, his description as 'Crashtor' attested to his tendency to get involved in incidents.