Karthikeyan hoping for testing role

25 year old Indian Narain Karthikeyan is still hoping for a testing role in Formula One for this season and has had discussions with several teams. Last year he tested for Jaguar and Jordan for F1 and is also a regular in the Japanese Formula Nippon Championship.

"I have my stint at Formula Nippon for which Kingfisher, JK Tyre, Ford and Amaron are sponsors and we are also talking to a few Formula One teams to get a testing contract for the year." He said.

Knowing how important fitness is in motor racing, Karthikeyan said he had been working hard to keep in peak condition: "‘I have to work out every day to be racing fit. The neck is the most vulnerable part of a racing driver's body, especially during high-speed cornering and braking. Any damage to the neck can put an end to a promising career. The biggest difference between Formula Three or Formula Nippon and Formula One is the cornering speed, which exerts a greater G-force on the body."

Even at the age of 25 it has been suggested he is too old to make it into F1 but he dismisses that idea. Citing Allan McNish's debut for Toyota this year at the age of 35, Karthikeyan said age is on his side. On the subject of drivers he looks up to, he commented:

"Even though (Michael) Schumacher is one of the best Formula One drivers ever, I look up to drivers like (David) Coulthard for his sheer strength of character. Benetton's Jenson Button whom I have raced with and Ferrari's (Rubens) Barrichello are good buddies whose racing tips have helped me a lot."