Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Luca Filippi doubts he will have IndyCar seat for start of season

Luca Filippi believes it is unlikely he will sign a deal in time to start the IndyCar season as he continues to chase a switch to the US-based series

The Italian, who finished as runner-up to Romain Grosjean in GP2 last year, has been chasing an IndyCar drive all winter. He has been linked to a seat alongside Takuma Sato at Rahal Letterman Racing, but his chances of landing a deal before the St Petersburg season opener on March 25 appear slim.

Filippi was in attendance at Barber Motorsports Park for IndyCar testing earlier this week, and he was a spectator at Sebring on Thursday as well.

"At the moment I would say that I hope to test a car soon," Filippi told AUTOSPORT. "But I'm not sure that I will be able to start the season, which is a shame.

"It's hard to say what will happen. Every day the situation looks different. Sometimes it is good, sometimes it is very bad, so I don't know what will happen.

"One week ago I would have said we will make it, and if I had my own sponsor, it would be done already. Now, I'm still positive, but it doesn't depend on me."

The GP2 veteran added that the shortage of engines in IndyCar added an extra hurdle to his chances of landing a deal.

"This year there is a bit of an issue because there are not enough engines for everyone," he said. "Normally it would be easier, because you start testing, then you can work on finding sponsors.

"This year if you don't have everything finalised you can't have an engine [to test with]. It's very tough to make it happen."

Be part of the Autosport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Ryan Briscoe praises oval handling of new Dallara IndyCar after Texas test
Next article Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing gets Honda engine deal for IndyCar thanks to Rahal Letterman Lanigan

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe