Pizzonia coming to Champ Car?

UPDATE #4 After saying in November that he was too young to race in America and that he will stay in F1 and not consider Champ Car, now Antonio Pizzonia has had to eat those words. Shunned by F1 this year, he was quoted by Brazilian website Formula News that "My future is in the United States. I have spent much time testing in F1 and now I want to race, preferably in Champ Car, but IRL too. My bigger intention is to run in the Champ Car series. I am negotiating with the Newman/Haas, PKV, Forsythe and HVM, who would be interested in adding a third car. But, for this, I would need a sponsor." We're raising this rumor from 'false' to 'speculation' for the time being.

11/06/05 This rumor is downgraded to 'false' today. Antonio Pizzonia said in Colombia this weekend where he was attending a charity karting event organized by Juan Montoya, "I think I'm still too young to go to America. I'm still 25 and I think it's better for me to stay in F1 and try to get a good deal within the next couple of years. Then we’ll see. Right now we're talking to some teams, but I think finding a race seat will be very difficult. We're analyzing what is best for me – if staying at Williams or going to another team as third driver. We have to see what's best."

11/02/05 As reported below by Autoracing1.com, SPEEDTV.com reports that Bruno Junqueira will step back into his Newman/Haas Lola-Ford for a two-day testing session on December 12-13, at a location still undetermined (we heard there is a big Champ Car test scheduled in Sebring in early December).

“Hopefully Mexico City will be the last race on my career I’ll watch from the sidelines," said Junqueira, who won the previous Mexican round of the Champ Car World Series (at Monterrey) before suffering his Indy crash. “I had never spent so much time without racing since my career began 18 years ago. I’m excited about coming back and feel ready to drive again."

If Junqueira tests well and Newman/Haas finds money for Servia, Antonio Pizzonia will be out of any chance with the team.

10/25/05 If Pizzonia lands the third seat at Newman/Haas then either Oriol Servia or Bruno Junqueira will be out of a ride for 2006, which is quite unfortunate. AutoRacing1.com was told by a Newman/Haas team member that the plan is to test Bruno in late November or early December to see how well he has recovered from his injuries at Indy…..a victim of another IRL oval track accident.

10/24/05 Antonio Pizzonia will reportedly leave formula one after missing out on Williams' full time ride for the second year running.

With the 2006 seat alongside Mark Webber all but definitely in Nico Rosberg's grasp, the Brazilian nicknamed 'Jungle Boy' is eyeing a new foray — in America.

''I need a new challenge,'' the 25-year-old recently said when musing the possibility of staying on as 'Friday' test driver for the Grove squad.

Earlier this year, Pizzonia seriously considered the US-based Champ Car series after missing out on the '05 seat to 'shootout' rival Nick Heidfeld.

At the time, he admitted to being 'in touch' with a team or two, but it is suggested that Williams actually prevented Pizzonia from escaping his 2005 test contract. His manager, Jaime Brito, told the Brazilian press: ''The priority will be racing.''