Nasr eyeing IndyCar (2nd Update)

Brazilian Felipe Nasr

UPDATE This rumor is downgraded to 'false' today per this announcement. It cost too much to buy an IndyCar ride so he took a ride in IMSA where he will get paid to drive.

09/02/17 We ran into former Sauber Formula 1 driver Felipe Nasr is in attendance at Watkins Glen to see if there are any opportunities next year in the Verizon IndyCar Series.

After the 2016 F1 season concluded, the Brazilian ran out of money to continue in F1 and this weekend he has been hanging out with countryman Helio Castroneves to help open some doors for him.

"I am looking," the 25-year-old said. "I mainly came because I'm a good friend of Helio to see things a little closer and meet a lot of people. So let's see how things pan out. I will be racing next year, but I'm not sure where. It might be IndyCar, it might be somewhere else. I've always been a fan of IndyCar and I watch most of the races."

"I took a different path from Helio, but he's known me since I was little and he always said he would take me and introduce me to people to talk about coming to IndyCar," Nasr added. "I would love to do it, it's on the list."

07/26/17 Former Sauber driver Felipe Nasr is still working on a 2018 Formula 1 return, but concedes a future in IndyCar could be a more realistic target.

Nasr made his first F1 appearance since losing his Sauber seat at the end of 2016 at last weekend's British Grand Prix.

"I'm still looking at options out there," he told Autosport.

"I still feel capable of being back here, and I'm looking at opportunities for 2018.

"Of course F1 is plan A, but there's a lot of plan Bs.

"It could be IndyCar, Formula E or WEC, these are all series that caught my attention.

"I'll definitely be looking to try all I can before I make any commitments or any decisions."

Nasr admits that the lack of potential openings on the grid makes an F1 return a long shot.

"It's difficult. It would be nice to see one or two more teams around, not only for myself, but any up-and-coming driver that wants to step up to F1," he said.

"But things can change very quickly as well.

"The important thing is I'm fit. I did everything I could to be ready for this year, and I know I can jump in any car any time, and show that I'm competitive still.

"It's not easy to be out of the car, that's for sure. But I don't have any regrets.

"There's a time for everything in life, and the important thing is that I'm ready, and I'll make a decision pretty soon."

Nasr hopes his connections with fellow Brazilians already in IndyCar could open doors there.

"I always had an eye on Indy," he admitted.

"We've had many Brazilians going over there, especially Helio [Castroneves] – we had a good relationship, because he drove for my uncle's team when he did F3.

"He always kept us updated on things there, so it was always a series that caught my attention, and it's highly competitive as well.

"We'll see how things pan out, but I definitely have all doors open." Adam Cooper/Autosport