Patrick hesitant about USF1 possibility

The IndyCar Series race-winner was one of several American drivers mentioned by the USF1 founders during the public launch of their plans.

She said that she would think very carefully before accepting any offer of an F1 test as her US career remained her priority.

"The first thing I think of is does it even fit?" Patrick told reporters during a media event in Texas this week.

"Is it going to get in the way of my IndyCar season? Is it going to get in the way of my prior obligations? Is it going to make me tired? Is it going to be something that's not going to just really work into the schedule and then also is it something that I really want to do?"

Patrick acknowledged that trying F1 would be a gamble and that she would need to be absolutely convinced that she and her team would be competitive.

"I don't believe that it's very productive to lead people on if it's not something that I'm interested in because you're really opening yourself up then," she said.

"What if you go and do it and it doesn't go ideally or perfect and you don't set the world on fire? Then all of a sudden all you did was just open yourself up to criticism.

"So I would think about it and I would check the schedule, and we'll cross that bridge if it ever comes."

The 26-year-old American emphasised that so far she had not been contacted by USF1.

"I haven't heard anything," she said. "All I've heard is what all of you have and read what you have so there's been nothing more on that."

During the USF1 press conference earlier this week, team co-founder Peter Windsor confirmed their interest in Patrick.

"She's definitely on the list - all American drivers that have got the credentials, and she certainly has, are," he said.

"To me she's definitely got road dust on her and she's a person that we should be looking at, but we're looking at everybody."

Patrick's contract with Andretti Green Racing ends this season, but she has not yet given any indication as to whether she will remain in the IndyCar Series or look elsewhere. She had previously been linked with a switch to NASCAR before securing her AGR deal for 2007.