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May 23rd
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Indian duo lament dwindling options

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Indian Formula One drivers Karun Chandhok and Narain Karthikeyan have both admitted that they are unlikely to be on the gridĀ for theĀ 2012 season, given the lack of seats that are still available for the new year.

Karthikeyan was handed half a season at the HRT team last year, as well as a one-off return for his home race in India.

Meanwhile Chandhok got a single race drive in 2011 for Team Lotus when he deputised for Jarno Trulli at the German Grand Prix, as well as taking part in a number of FP1 cameos.

And now, despite the Indian GP remaining on the calendar for 2012, both drivers have admitted that their chances of a 2012 race seat were looking thin.

"Things have been a little slow to be honest, with the Christmas and New Year's break," Karthikeyan told the Press Trust of India on Wednesday.

"But with the holiday season now behind us we should be able to go ahead with our discussions as nothing has been finalised yet."

He added: "There are only a few seats available on the grid for next year, so it's open I guess.

"We are hoping for the best. It is a question of many things coming together, not just what I want. So it is all up in the air as of now."

The only remaining seats for 2012 are at Williams and HRT, with Karthikeyan's name not having appeared on many wishlists for either team.

Meanwhile, Chandhok confirmed to the same source that he was now "unlikely" to be racing in 2012, having suggested last month that his 2012 ambitions lay in sportscars.

"It's frustrating to watch the races and not doing it," he muttered, ""But it is unlikely that I will race in 2012."

The next best option is to continue as test and reserve driver and for that I am still talking to teams."

He added: "You know the way F1 is. A lot of decisions are made on commercial considerations.

"It's tough for us. It's not that people from the corporate world have not spoken to us but they are still analysing the sport."

Chandhok is reportedly likely to remain with the newly-renamed Caterham team as a reserve driver next year, while pursuing his aim of racing an LMP1 car at Le Mans.