With no real chance of an immediate return to Formula One's hallowed track in sight, Narain Karthikeyan has committed himself to A1 GP for the next season.
On his return after winning the A1 GP race in China for Team India, Karthikeyan said the triumph came at the right time and asserted he was not a spent force yet as far as Formula One was concerned.
"I'm on a high after winning the first ever A1 GP race for India and I think we are good enough for a few more podium finishes next year," Karthikeyan told reporters in New Delhi on Thursday.
"We have sorted out the problems that plagued us in the qualifying races and I'm expecting a top six finish by the end of the next year," he said.
Before the victory in China, Karthikeyan, however, had an exasperating year. With Vijay Mallya taking over Spyker and renaming it Force India, many expected him to be behind the wheels but things did not fall in place for the driver.
The other setback came last week when Williams replaced him with Nico Hulkenberg as their test driver.
Karthikeyan, however, asserted not getting a seat with Force India was not end of roads and claimed it was he who had spurned a Williams offer to continue as test driver for the F1 outfit.
"Not getting a seat with Force India does not mean the end of everything. They have their plans and all I can say is that having an Indian team is good for motorsports in India."
"Regarding Williams, they did talk to us but my management did not want me to continue in the same test driver's role. I was more keen for a third driver's role but they have not offered it even to the new guy," he said.
Karthikeyan also claimed that five months ago, Spyker had offered him a seat, which he had turned down.
Though he claimed he still had a few F1 "options", the ace driver admitted that nothing was concrete and felt the only way he can keep pushing was by doing well in A1 GP.
"Everytime you win, people tend to notice you. The win in China came at right time and I proved I can win at the top level.
"At A1 GP, the Team India has been built around me and next season we would drive Ferrari cars. We would be doing everything to be in the top six in the championship."
Though Karthikeyan has been a trendsetter for the country in motorsports, 23-year-old Karun Chandhok apparently seems better placed to join the big league of F1, especially since he test drove for Red Bull and subsequently joined iSports in GP2 series.
Karthikeyan, however, dismisses suggestion that at 30, he was probably too old to do well in F1.
"Damon Hill made his F1 debut at 31 and went on to win the F1 World Championship. Anyway, as long as I know I can win races, I don't mind what others say. After all age is just a number," he said.
Meanwhile, Team India CEO Andaleeb Sehgal said A1 GP authorities have written letters to the state governments of Haryana and Rajasthan, seeking appointment to lay the track for a race in the country.
"We are trying to help them fix an appointment with both the state governments. David Clare (A1 GP CEO, Asia Pacific) would be here in January to finalise things," Sehgal said.
