(Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)
Formula One race-fixer Nelson Piquet Jr. is now planning to race in NASCAR's pickup truck series after being snubbed by a number of F1 teams for a future drive.
Piquet Jr's website reports that he and fellow Brazilian Vitor Meira would test a NASCAR Camping World truck series Toyota Tundra for Red Horse Racing at Rockingham Speedway in North Carolina next Monday, with Piquet looking to "evaluate a future career among the NASCAR ranks."
Piquet Jr. was at the heart of one of F1's biggest scandals this year when it was revealed, after he had been sacked by Renault, that he had been told to crash deliberately at last year's Singapore Grand Prix to aid team mate Fernando Alonso.
A serious of fortunate events in favour of the Spaniard saw him win the race in what was otherwise a poor season for Renault.
Piquet Jr—who went unpunished for his role in "Crashgate" by testifying against co-conspirators Flavio Briatore and Pat Symonds—still believed he had a future in F1 after a hearing of the World Motor Sport Council last month, however several team principals moved to distance themselves at the last race at Suzuka.
Former team Renault, Red Bull, and Toyota have already moved to say they would not entertain Piquet Jr. driving for them, while F1 newcomers Manor who were interested, have now backtracked after pressure from title sponsor Virgin.
Wherever Piquet Jr. goes in motorsport, he will always have the race-fixing hanging over his head. He cannot hide from what he did, and while he tries to justify to the world why he committed the offence, it doesn't make it any better. It was a shocking act.
It will be a tough move for him into stock car racing from GP2 and F1, but maybe he'll grow up somewhat while he's there.
And as for a return to F1, his only likely return will be racing for his father.
2 Comments
Loading more comments...
This comment and all replies have been deleted This comment has been deleted Undo delete