Pizzonia to drive again in Montreal

The Brazilian will return to the Rocketsports Racing team with whom he made his debut at the 2006 Grand Prix of Long Beach, and he will partner Dutch rookie Nicky Pastorelli.

Pizzonia told autosport.com: "I'm really pleased about this, been hoping for it for some time. I got a call last night, and got the flights to Canada arranged today. I will arrive in Montreal tomorrow (Wednesday).

"It's going to be tough, because obviously I haven't driven one of these cars since the start of April, and it's the same deal: no testing, just turn up and do my best. At least this time I know the track though!"

Pizzonia, who raced on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve for the Jaguar Racing team in 2003, said: "It's an F1 track so it's not too bumpy, and it's probably one of the best from that view in Champ Cars.

"My physical fitness is, I think, good too, because I have never stopped my training programme, and I have also been racing karts a lot which helps your race fitness too.

"The only challenge - and it is a big one - is getting used to these cars again, because it has been a long time since Long Beach.

"Going to manual gearbox isn't such a big deal; the issue is no tyre warmers in Champ Car. Every time you leave the pits you're on cold tyres, and it's very easy to make a mistake."

Rocketsports Racing team owner Paul Gentilozzi has admitted he would like to have Pizzonia in his car for all the remaining rounds, and at the start of the season he had intended to morph his Champ Car team into Team Brazil, with Antonio as lead driver.

Now, although Estonian Tonis Kasemets is contracted to race for Rocketsports in Road America at the end of September and in the season finale in Mexico City, Gentilozzi is keen to get Pizzonia in for Champ Car's penultimate round in Surfers Paradise, Australia.

Pizzonia said: "For now this is just a one race agreement, but seriously I would love to do as many races as Paul could offer me."

However, the 2000 British Formula 3 champion admitted he is not 100 per cent set on a Champ Car future yet.

"I think it is too early to say what I will be doing in 2007," he said. "I've been talking to a few Formula 1 teams, because I'm only 25 and I still have a lot to show there.

"But I think Champ Car is a great series, and should be very good next year with the new car. If I don't find anything good in Formula 1 next year, Champ Car would interest me a lot."