Force India F1 2008

There is some good news, and some potentially bad news.

Spyker is one of the first to start testing for the 2008 season (Is testing in November winter testing? I have no idea). The Force India car now has an interim burgundy colour scheme, and the 2008 FIA engine management system. The testing will open with test drivers Roldan Rodriguez (who is hoping for a race seat) and Giedo van der Garde to start with. On the second day, current driver Adrian Sutil (who has a race seat for 2008, almost confirmed) will be joined by Christian Klien and Vitantonio Liuzzi on the other two days.

A german newspaper has also reported that Ralf Schumacher - Michael Schumacher’s brother and Mallya’s close friend - will also be testing.

And the bad news? You don’t notice any Indian names there. No Karun Chandok, no Narain Karthikeyan.

I have been scouring the Net for looking for information on Narain and Formula One, but my searches have turned up zilch. Narain has not even said that he is considering Force India for 2008. And No such news from Vijay Mallya or Gascoyne either. Just what the hell is Karthikeyan up to? A William seatis closed to him, his test driver status there is just in name, and no offers from any of the teams? Is he going to stick with A1GP and forget about his F1 career?

Testing is no big deal, I know. The final race driver name may not even feature among the testers so early.

But frankly Vijay Mallya is getting me nervous. Will the unthinkable happen -  a Force India team with no Indian driver?

Oh screw that. Let us hope the testing turns out alright - remember it is without traction control and driver aids in 2008 - and the car shows some promise.

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