Pantano eyes GP2, maybe Champ Car
This rumor is upgraded to 'fact' with today's announcement that Pantano has joined the Campos GP2 team.
09/25/06 "GP2 is growing a lot, and it always needs drivers able to win and not just bring money," Pantano told Italian magazine Autosprint. "A good season in 2007 could re-launch me into F1 in 2008."
"If I had started the season from the beginning, I could have been in the fight for success," he said, "but I'm not saying I would have won it."
"The objective is not just Champ Car," he said. "There could also be the chance of becoming a test and third driver for a couple of very good F1 teams."
09/10/06 With Giorgio Pantano's double win at Monza this weekend, both times beating the highly rated Lewis Hamilton and Nelson Piquet Jr., his stock has certainly risen in the Champ Car paddock. Pantano was competitive all year in GP2 with a far from top level team. It really depends if a team wants a driver that can win races, or if they want a ride-buyer who brings money to the team but crashes regularly.
07/28/06 "It won't be GP2 taking me back to F1, only my budget," Pantano told Autosprint. "If you have 10 million dollars then all of a sudden you are wanted and you become a star. Only the ones in a certain clique go from GP2 to F1.
"F1 ruined it all. If there's something I wouldn't do again in my career is to sign for Jordan. It was a problem-filled year.
"A driver works his entire life to reach F1, understands that he's up to it, and then for other people's faults he's cut off and all that effort gets destroyed in an instant.
"It's terrible. I know I could do well in F1 with the right conditions, but it seems like I'm not going to get the right chance, so I better put my heart at rest and look elsewhere, to America, where I can become a professional driver.
"David spoke with everyone and had a long chat with [Kevin] Kalkhoven at Toronto, who is the boss of the series and manager of a PKV. We are waiting, but I'm confident.
"Between Champ Car and IndyCar I prefer the former."
07/08/06 Pantano said, "I'm trying to find a seat," said Pantano. "I don't know, this year or next year would be fine. I want a chance to run at the front not just be a backmarker. I want to get results. I think I showed in December when I tested and matched Bruno Junqueira's times my first time in a Champ Car and my first time at Sebring what I can do."
Sears felt that next year would be a good time to come in with everyone on a level playing field.
07/08/06 Italian driver Giorgio Pantano is here in Toronto with his manager David Sears talking to team owners, presumably about a possible drive in 2007.
(L to R) Giorgio Pantano, Pantano and David Sears (back to camera) talk to team owners Dale Coyne and Dan Pettit, (Right) Pantano looks up as Sears talks to team boss Keith Wiggins.