IndySpeedway.com
| 2006 Toro Rosso - Scott Speed |
It's been 13 years since America last had a driver in Formula One in Michael Andretti.
And little did anyone realise that at the same time Scott Speed was beginning on his path to
the big league.
Scott began racing with karts and over the next nine years he won many titles in the United
States.
However, in 2001 he stepped up to single-seaters and the following season was crowned the
Formula Mazda champion.
That same year, the Californian also caught the eye of those running the Red Bull Drivers
Search programme and with the Austrian energy drink company's backing, he entered the
British F1 Championship in 2003.
A year later Scott was off to the Formula Renault German series, before heading to the new
GP2 Series in 2005. He finished third overall.
The American also tested for Red Bull Racing that year, standing in as their Friday test driver
for three grand prix weekends.
His performances earned Scott a racedrive with RBR's junior team, Scuderia Toro Rosso, for
2006.
Now it's just a case of time telling whether he will be more successful in F1 than his
predecessor.
And little did anyone realise that at the same time Scott Speed was beginning on his path to
the big league.
Scott began racing with karts and over the next nine years he won many titles in the United
States.
However, in 2001 he stepped up to single-seaters and the following season was crowned the
Formula Mazda champion.
That same year, the Californian also caught the eye of those running the Red Bull Drivers
Search programme and with the Austrian energy drink company's backing, he entered the
British F1 Championship in 2003.
A year later Scott was off to the Formula Renault German series, before heading to the new
GP2 Series in 2005. He finished third overall.
The American also tested for Red Bull Racing that year, standing in as their Friday test driver
for three grand prix weekends.
His performances earned Scott a racedrive with RBR's junior team, Scuderia Toro Rosso, for
2006.
Now it's just a case of time telling whether he will be more successful in F1 than his
predecessor.
