Vergne eyes switch to IndyCar (6th Update)
"I'm still working on some things right now, but they aren't done," he said. "I'm doing the simulator work, but I will have some opportunities to race. There's nothing more I can say. Things are looking good." [AR1.com: Some opportunities to race? Sounds like his Ferrari gig will indeed stand in the way of a full-time job now won't it. Maybe he will find a way to do a partial IndyCar season.]
12/20/14 This rumor is downgraded to 'false' with today's announcement that Vergne will be a Ferrari F1 test driver in 2015, leaving no time for a full-time IndyCar ride.
12/01/14
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| Jean-Eric Vergne |
(GMM) Jean-Eric Vergne has revealed his next move could be to Indycar.
After three seasons with Toro Rosso, the 24-year-old Frenchman has been replaced for 2015 by the young rookie Spaniard Carlos Sainz Jr.
He told the official website of America's premier open-wheeler series: "I would be really interested in racing in America in Indycar. I think it's a great championship.
Indycar.com said Vergne has already contacted the teams Andretti and Ganassi.
"I'm working with a manager who works with a few drivers in America, Julian Jakobi, and at the moment, it seems like it is quite hard to go to a top team right away, but I am very interested to see what type of seats are available," Vergne added.
Earlier, it was reported Vergne's best chance of staying in the F1 paddock next year was to accept a possible role as Williams' new reserve driver.
"I'm not really bitter to leave Toro Rosso," he insisted. "I have some other options in formula one, but I want to get back into a series where I can win races and win championships.
"My target is to go for the Indycar championship in my first year.
"I don't pretend I would win everything, or have an easy time on the ovals. It's a lot to learn coming from Europe, but many European drivers have become quite good on ovals with some experience, and with so many road courses and street races, I know I can be very effective," Vergne added.
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| Vergne's F1 career probably over, eyes IndyCar |
11/28/14 "I would be really interest in racing in America in IndyCar; I think it's a great championship," he told RACER. "I'm working with a manager who works with a few drivers in America, Julian Jakobi, and at the moment, it seems like it is quite hard to go to a top team right away, but I am very interested to see what type of seats are available," Verne told Racer.com
"Toro Rosso isn't really a team where you can stay for a long time, even if you beat your teammates. If I look at what [Daniel] Ricciardo is doing this year and what I'm doing this year, I'm confident I can do the same as him. I'm not really bitter to leave Toro Rosso, I have some other options in Formula 1, but I want to get back into a series where I can win races and win championships. My target is to go for the IndyCar championship my first year," he said.
"I don't pretend I would win everything, or have an easy time on the ovals; it's a lot to learn coming from Europe, but many European drivers have become quite good on ovals with some experience, and with so many road courses and street races, I know I can be very effective," he noted.
"Testing new aerodynamic pieces, suspension components and everything else is something we do every weekend in Formula 1," he said. "This is something I enjoy very much; development is very big for the success of the team, the success of the manufacturer, and this is an area I have with a lot of experience."
"There aren't so many teams to go to that I can win a championship right away, but this doesn't stop me from looking and talking to team owners to see if we can do something together," he added. "I have always loved racing in America, and I have always been very interested in IndyCar. The timing is very good right now to make this happen." Racer.com
11/28/14 Rumor has it that Jean Eric Vergne, having lost his Toro Rosso F1 ride, is now eyeing a switch to the IndyCar Series in 2015.
11/26/14
This rumor is updated to fact, as Jean-Eric Vergne confirmed earlier today he will not return to Scuderia Toro Rosso next season. The 24-year-old Frenchman spent the last two seasons at STR, recording a best race finish of sixth twice (Canada 2013, Singapore 2014). Vergne also finished a career-best 13th in the final standings this past year scoring 22 championship points.
Reportedly, the Frenchman is headed to Williams next season to be the team's test and reserve driver.
AR1 Staff Report
11/23/14 (GMM) Jean-Eric Vergne appears to have missed out on a Toro Rosso seat for 2015.
Prior to Sebastian Vettel's shock Red Bull exit, Frenchman Vergne had already been left out of junior team Toro Rosso's plans for 2015.
The Faenza based team had announced that 17-year-old rookie Max Verstappen will join Daniil Kvyat next year.
But when the Vettel news struck, Red Bull quickly promoted Russian Kvyat, leaving 24-year-old Vergne still in the running to keep his Toro Rosso seat.
Although he had seemed upbeat about his chances in recent weeks, however, French reporters on Saturday noticed that at the Abu Dhabi finale, Vergne's body language has suddenly changed.
When asked if double points on Sunday will change the team's approach to the race, Vergne answered: "Apparently there are things that are more important to Red Bull than points."
He is probably referring to the fact that, despite the promotion of teammate Kvyat to the senior team, Vergne's current teammate has actually scored less points in 2014.
The French publications RMC and L'Equipe surmised that Vergne's attitude indicates he has been overlooked for the 2015 seat at Toro Rosso, perhaps in favor of Carlos Sainz Jr.
L'Equipe quotes Vergne as saying: "No matter what happens in this grand prix, whether I score 1 point or 10 points, nothing will change."
Sainz is not the only contender to replace Vergne.
New GP3 champion Alex Lynn is clearly in the running, but RMC reports that 18-year-old Pierre Gasly, runner-up to Sainz in the Formula Renault 3.5 series, could make his debut next year if Red Bull is asked to run a third car.
The report said F1's Strategy Group will discuss the issue of third cars on Tuesday.