American single seater 'ace' Jonathan Summerton has said that a drive with the USF1 team in 2010 would be a fantastic opportunity, but has conceded that his best bet is likely to be as a test or reserve driver with the team.
The USF1 team has made a number of bold steps in recent days to prove that they really will be in Formula One next season, including launching a website with the wrong 2010 F1 schedule on it, and uploading at least three poorly-produced videos onto YouTube.
But the American team remains the only one of the thirteen 2010 teams yet to announce any drivers for their two seats next year, aside from a rumoured provisional deal with Argentine touring car 'star' Jose Maria Lopez, which is on the proviso that he comes up with around $8 million in sponsorship money.
But despite the ongoing vacancies, and the fact that his name has been linked to the team for some time, with team principal Peter Windsor determined to find at least one half-decent American driver willing to toil around for his team next year, Summerton admits that his chances are probably going to be limited to a test role, with a view to racing in F1 in future years.
"It's been a hard battle for [USF1], as they have to develop a car, find sponsors, and do everything with a first year racing team," Summerton said when asked about the all-American team, "They've done a great job with it. I'd love to be part of the team, as one of the drivers, or a test driver, or a junior for the team to be prepped for 2011 or '12.
"Just to represent America again like I did in A1GP would be an honor[sic]."
Summerton raced for the American team in the A1GP Series in 2007 and 2008, scoring Team USA's only outright A1GP victory in Shanghai in 2008.
The 21-year old American, who raced a partial season in the Indy Lights series in 2009, said that he would greet any potential news of an F1 drive with "fireworks in the town of Kissimmee", his oddly-named hometown in Florida, saying that he had no idea what it would be like to be the first American driver in F1 since Scott Speed lost his Toro Rosso drive in mid-2007.
"I think you would see fireworks in the town of Kissimmee," he said when asked what would happen if he was to get a call from Windsor, "This is everything I've set my eyes on doing.
"The past 2-3 years have been nothing but struggle. To be given that opportunity, and thank everyone supporting me, as an American in USF1, I'm kind of speechless as to what it would be like."
A more likely option for Summerton in 2010 would be a drive in the reborn Formula 2 championship. He recently took part in a pre-season F2 test in Portugal, ending his day on track in 14th place out of 21 drivers.
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