Grapevine: McNish Pushing for IRL Seat after Test

Scot Allan McNish said that he will push to secure a drive in the United States Indy Racing League next year - after being thrilled by a test on Monday.

McNish, who lost his Toyota Formula One drive at the end of this season, took to the track in a Penske IRL car at the Fontana Speedway and enjoyed his first taste of an oval circuit. He set some very competitive times during a 350-mile run and admitted: "I enjoyed it and it's fired my enthusiasm. I think it would be fun to experience IRL in race conditions."

McNish was driving the 2003-spec machine, which has been subject to significant speed-reducing rule changes but easily took to the challenges of the oval, but coped well with his adjustment from road course racing.

"I'm pleased to have run speeds that would have been competitive during last March's event," he said. "It's quite physically and mentally demanding but I enjoyed the fast pace and the flow of driving on the oval."

McNish is still searching for a seat in Formula One next year but he is unlikely to have any options because there are very few seats available. He has been linked to a return to sportscars as a works driver with the ultra-dominant Audi team, but it is now thought that he would prefer to stay in open-wheel racing.