Karthikeyan says not considered for F1 drive

Narain Karthikeyan

(GMM) Narain Karthikeyan has confirmed that he is not in the running to race for countryman Vijay Mallya's formula one team Force India.

The 30-year-old was India's first representative on the grand prix grid, when he raced for one season for Force India predecessor Jordan in 2005.

Karthikeyan then spent two years as Williams' occasional test driver.

But while compatriot Karun Chandhok, who races in GP2 and has tested for Red Bull, has been promised consideration for a seat in 2009, Karthikeyan says he has not heard from Mallya or the Silverstone based outfit since October.

"I sent a congratulations message to Mr. Mallya after he completed the (Spyker) buyout," Karthikeyan told the Indian Economic Times' motoring supplement AutoMania.

"He told me that once he took over the team he would talk to me. That was in October. After that, for whatever reasons, they have pursued others. But that's alright. It's not the end of the world for me," Karthikeyan added.