Full Throttle

Considering Switzerland’s three official languages are German, French and Italian the question is which one Neel Jani used when asked if he were interested in joining a CCWS team in 2008.

If I were a betting man I’d guess “No Dell’Inferno” (Hell No!) but I could be wrong. He could have used that [in]famous hand & arm gesture the Italians use when telling Champ Car to pack sand when he elected to complete the A1GP season at the expense of returning to Champ Cars this year.

The 24-year-old Team Switzerland driver is one of the favourites to win the A1 title and says he would rather concentrate on that than race in America this summer.

He told autosport.com: “The pre-season Champ Car tests clash with A1 races and when I look at how well we’re going in A1, why would I want to not race to go and test a Champ Car?

“Champ Car has a very uncertain future and I haven’t had an offer that I think I could win the title with, so why would I give away a title chance in A1 for that?” (I think I heard that rumor somewhere before)

Jani believes A1GP has developed into a championship that drivers can contest without racing during the summer as well: “You can do this and nothing else. Formula One drivers don’t have to look to do anything in the winter and it’s no different for us.

“I don’t have to bring a budget to A1, the racing is good, and it gets excellent coverage. Most people would like to have a go at F1 as well of course, and that’s my target as well, but a driver doesn’t have to look beyond A1 - you could stay here for your career.”

And Lord knows it would take a BUNDLE of cash to go CCWS racing at the moment. It looks like skid row over there. I haven’t seen any drunks laying on doorsteps but everyone there has a hand out looking for cash.

When you’re already holding a Silk Purse as one of A1GP’s most successful teams and is only two points out of the current championship lead why opt for a Pig’s Ear that is CCWS?

UPDATE: Unsurprisingly, Tony George has stepped into stinkin’ the pile of dung and offered “free cars. Free engines. Long Beach, Toronto, Edmonton, Mexico City and Australia added to the Indy Racing League