Baumgartner Weighing Up his Options

Hungarian Zsolt Baumgartner is weighing up possibilities for next season in CART as well as Formula One, Hungary's official MTI news agency said on Wednesday.

The Hungarian has raced in two Grands Prix for Jordan this year as a stand-in for injured British rookie Ralph Firman. MTI said Baumgartner could have a chance of landing a full-time Formula One drive with Jordan if he can raise enough sponsorship money.

The agency quoted Baumgartner's manager Tamas Frank as saying that there was also an offer from a team which intended to enter the US Cart series next year.

Baumgartner became the first Hungarian to compete in Formula One at his home Grand Prix in August, retiring with an engine failure. He finished 11th at Monza in Italy on September 13. A Jordan spokeswoman said the team had a lot of drivers under consideration.

"We are looking for the best package commercially and technically," she said. "We're talking to everybody. It's in our interests to do so."

Jordan's main driver Italian Giancarlo Fisichella is leaving at the end of the season to join Sauber.