Wheldon: F1 Deal Didn't Feel Right

[Senna 0]

WHELDON: F1 DEAL DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT

ITV

Dan Wheldon says he made the right choice not to switch to Formula 1 in 2006, after signing to defend his Indy Racing League title with Chip Ganassi Racing in the US.

The Englishman had been linked to a third driver role at BMW, where he planned to learn the tracks, before stepping into a race seat the following year.

But Wheldon, 27, claimed his heart wasn't in the move after being unable to secure the promise of a future race contract.

"Certainly I love to race, and with the F1 opportunity, that wasn't going to be around," he said.

Wheldon added that when he was approached by Chip Ganassi to spearhead the American's new Honda programme, the offer far outweighed any of the F1 options he had on the table.

"Having spoken to him (Ganassi), although we at one point were talking to an F1 team or two, it just wasn't for me," explained Wheldon.

"You can have people approach you, but your heart has got to be 100 percent into it, and mine really wasn't. I mean, the deal didn't seem right to me, and like I say, my heart didn't feel like that was the thing to be doing.

"I do love racing in America, I love the Indianapolis 500 and I love being part of the series."

Wheldon said his F1 plan had always involved a year of testing as preparation, but pointed out that it was only worthwhile if there was a race-deal in place at the end of of it.

"Well, to be quite frank, when we started conversations it was always my intention to be a test driver because I don

[pumpdoc 2]

Going to Chip's team is a step back even in the IRL..............

[Taku 0]

indeed. he really should have taken the 3rd driver role. sure he's a big star in the us, but at 27 you've really got to take these f1 opportunities when they come.

[Wez 0]

He's afraid of falling from an IRL star to an F1 flop.... ala Michael Andretti.

[monza gorilla 1]

I think you hit the nail on the head there, Wez. You as well, Pumpdoc.

[Senna 0]

He's afraid of falling from an IRL star to an F1 flop.... ala Michael Andretti.

I don