INDYCAR: Barrichello Opts For Brazilian Stock Car Ride In 2013

Formula 1

INDYCAR: Barrichello Opts For Brazilian Stock Car Ride In 2013

SPEED.com has confirmed Rubens Barrichello has accepted an offer to race full time in the Brazilian Stock Car series in 2013.

Marshall Pruett | Posted December 11, 2012

With limited options in IndyCar, Rubens Barrichello will switch to the Brazilian Stock Car series in 2013--his first season of racing at home in more than two decades. (Photo: Marshall Pruett)

SPEED.com has confirmed through multiple sources that Formula One veteran and 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series rookie Rubens Barrichello has accepted an offer to race full time in the Brazilian Stock Car series in 2013.

Along with countrymen Tony Kanaan, left, and Helio Castroneves, Barrichello, right, raced in the Brazilian Stock Car finale last weekend and will call the series home in 2013. (Photo: Brazilian Stock Car)

Prior to that decision, Barrichello had been working to raise the funds to return to IndyCar with a Honda-powered team.

Sam Schmidt Motorsports and Rahal Letterman Lanigan were the leading candidates to sign the 11-time grand prix winner, but the Brazilian struggled to find all of the multi-million-dollar budget that was needed to land a competitive drive. He was also linked to a possible return to F1 with the Caterham team.

Barrichello declined to comment on his future plans when reached Tuesday in Brazil.

Although a formal announcement is expected in the coming days, his friend and former KV Racing teammate Tony Kanaan says that time and financial constraints have forced Barrichello down the path he’s pursuing.

“He got a proposal there (in Brazilian Stock Cars) because right now people aren’t giving him many options (in IndyCar),” Kanaan remarked. “They’re asking him for money to keep racing in IndyCar, and he doesn’t have all the sponsors. I know his heart is still in IndyCar, but he’s not going to sit and wait. It’s a shame, but it’s the reality of racing right now. It’s really sad. He has to look out for his own interest.”

Barrichello spent 19 years in F1, placing second in the championship on two occasions before switching to the IndyCar Series in 2012.

Barrichello was mobbed whenever he stepped from the car during this year's street race in Sao Paulo, and could join the grid next year. (Photo: Marshall Pruett)

Driving for team owners Kevin Kalkhoven and Jimmy Vasser, Barrichello’s deal came together relatively late in the off-season, and despite his lack of experience with the car, circuits and oval racing in general, earned seven top-10 finishes and a best of fourth at Sonoma on the way to securing 12th in the final standings.

The 40-year-old contested last weekend's Brazilian Stock Car season finale at Interlagos with the Medley Full Time Sports Peugeot team, and with a lucrative offer to remain in the series, it's believed Barrichello had until the end of the weekend to accept the proposal.

With no scheduling conflicts in place, the door appears to remain open for Barrichello to contest next year’s IndyCar race on the streets of Sao Paulo, but another run at Indianapolis could be tricky as Round 4 of the Brazilian Stock Car series is being held on the same weekend as qualifying for the 500.

Marshall Pruett is SPEED.com's Auto Racing Editor, and covers the IndyCar Series. Before joining SPEED, Pruett worked in open-wheel racing for 20 years as a mechanic and engineer. He also contributes to RACER, Road & Track and Racecar Engineering. Follow him @MarshallPruett.