F1: Trulli Set For NASCAR Test

Formula 1

F1: Trulli Set For NASCAR Test

Jarno Trulli is scheduled to test for Michael Waltrip Racing in NASCAR next month but insisted he remains committed to Formula One...

SPEED Staff / GMM | Posted October 07, 2009 GMM Newswire

Jarno Trulli will test for NASCAR team Michael Waltrip Racing in November. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

Jarno Trulli, a veteran of 217 Grands Prix who currently races for Toyota, is scheduled to test for Michael Waltrip Racing in NASCAR next month, according to a Fox Sports report.

The 35-year-old Italian's current F1 boss John Howett has said publicly on a number of recent occasions that Trulli, who finished second in last Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix, is unlikely to keep his seat for the 2010 season.

He moved to Toyota in 2004 and has also raced for the Minardi, Jordan and Renault teams, winning his only Grand Prix at Monaco five years ago.

After F1's Abu Dhabi finale on November 1, he will travel for a NASCAR seat fitting before observing the last three Sprint Cup Series races.

At the end of last year, McLaren's head of race operations Steve Hallam switched to NASCAR joining MWR.

Another familiar F1 name Mika Salo is going to test alongside Trulli next month, and Hallam said: "It's very premature to get carried away with this because it takes a long time for both parties to know where they are in terms of performance."

In a media statement Wednesday Trulli said the test dates back to his attendance at a NASCAR race last year, when he asked Toyota's US counterparts if a test "just for fun" would be possible.

"Before the Belgian Grand Prix they offered me the chance to do so later in the year," said Trulli.

He confirmed that his NASCAR test would take place over two days.

"But I want to stress this is purely an opportunity to experience another category of motor sport for personal enjoyment.

"My commitment is 100 per cent to Formula One," added the Italian.

The news comes only days after it was learned that Nelson Piquet Jr. would be testing a NASCAR Camping World Series truck for Red Horse Racing next week.

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