Karthikeyan in frame for Force India seat

UPDATE See related rumor that Karthikeyan could end up at Dale Coyne Racing alongside Justin Wilson, another former F1 driver.

02/09/13

Did Karthikeyan's management team play Bernie like a fiddle?

Using rumors he will move to IndyCar and scare Bernie Ecclestone into thinking that there won't be an Indian driver for the Indian F1 race, Narain Karthikeyan has emerged as a surprise contender to fill the final spot on the 2013 grid.

Although the Indian driver and team boss Vijay Mallya have never been the best of friends, the Deccan Chronicle newspaper said Karthikeyan's sponsor Tata has opened the doors to the Silverstone based team.

However, the Ferrari-linked Frenchman Jules Bianchi appears arguably the hotter favorite to be Paul di Resta's teammate this year, particularly after going second quickest in the brand new VJM06 car as the Jerez test wrapped up on Friday.

Bianchi told Autosport on Friday: "Even if the plan was to stay a third driver for two years, now the plan has changed and I'm ready."

A source, however, told the Deccan Chronicle newspaper that 2012 HRT driver Karthikeyan is now also a contender, thanks to a boost to his sponsorship coffers.

"As soon as Tata increased the budget for 2013, talks with Force India began," the source said.

"Unlike the past, the negotiation has been a lot more positive. If talks fail, he will probably go to America for (the) IndyCar series".