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Written by:
David Harris
01/07/2007 - 07:00 PM
Charlotte, N.C.
Scott Speed. ยป More Photos
SPEEDtv.com caught up with Formula One driver Scott Speed during this past weekend's Amp'd Mobile AMA Supercross event at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Calif.
Speed, who recently completed his first full World Championship season alongside teammate Vintantonio Liuzzi, is confident in returning for a second-straight year with Scuderia Toro Rosso (STR), even as the team has lacked an official driver announcement to date.
"For me, it's always been sure," said Speed, a California native. "For whatever reason, they haven't announced it officially, but I very much doubt anything will change. We're not worried. I mean, everyone I have talked to within Red Bull and the team for everyone it's sure."
As for STR, the engine program will switch from the Cosworth V10's of 2006 to the Ferrari V8. And according to various media interviews of co-team owner Gerhard Berger, he feels the new STR2 chassis will also be ready to go in February and approved for testing under FIA rules despite Spyker-led rumblings that the new "Red Bull Technologies" STR2 offering is simply a derivative of the 2007 Adrian Newey-designed RB3 chassis of Red Bull Racing. Controversy aside, Speed feels strongly about its potential.
Scott Speed: soon in a stock car near you. (LAT Photo) ยป More Photos
"The Ferrari (engine) and the new car are all going to be ready at the very beginning of February," Speed explained. "I'm very excited about it and that's what I'm looking forward to the most. That will be the package that takes us from running in the back to being in the upper midpack. It's going to be a completely different season next year."
Still, Speed was pleased with his overall F1 experience last season, which included a ninth-place finish at the Australian Grand Prix and two tenth-place finishes at the Canadian and French rounds of the World Championship. Qualifying wise, a career-high 13th-place effort during the United States Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was a highlight, but it was immediately nullified when he was caught up in an opening lap incident heading into turn two.
"As a whole, the season went great," Speed said. "I mean, when compared to a lot of other guys and their first seasons. The results, everything went well for me in the first season. I've learned a lot and I'm able to go into next year knowing our packages are going to be much better, more competitive.
"Myself, as a driver, also has a year of experience under my belt which is priceless in Formula One because it's all about getting your foot in the door," Speed continued. "Once your there, you have to learn everything as quick as possible it's a big learning curve. Now, I take all of that experience forward for next year and I'm really looking forward to battling much further up the grid."
As for the popularity of Formula One in the United States it may be a work in progress. But that's not for a lack of trying on Speed's part.
"That's a big goal of ours. It's a goal of Red Bull's of course and mine," Speed said. "Formula One is ridiculously small in America for what it is. It's the third largest sport in the world and no one knows what it is here. It's crazy."
