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The first ever F1 race in the Indian subcontinent, Airtel Grand Prix of India, is just two months away. The 17th race of the 2011 Formula One season will take place at the Buddh International Circuit, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India during 28-30 October. But the question that is lingering in everyone’s mind is whether the two Indian drivers currently involved in F1, Narain Karthikeyan and Karun Chandhok, will be involved in the race which marks F1′s foray into India.
It is always a proud moment for a driver to participate in his home Grand Prix. It is a wonderful feeling for a driver to be racing in front of his fans from his own country. Take the case of Fernando Alonso racing in front of his fans in Valencia or Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton performing exceptionally well in front of their home crowd in Silverstone, UK. Moreover, people will be interested to watch their son of the soil showcasing his talent to a global audience. Hence, there is so much fuss regarding Narain and Karun’s participation in the Indian Grand Prix. But there are so many reasons which may lead to their participation in the race. Hence I have decided address the concerns of the Indian fans through this article. Let us take the case of Narain Karthikeyan first.
Narain Karthikeyan: Proud Homecoming!
Narain Karthikeyan:
Narain’s return to Formula One after 7 years was a miracle in itself. But, his current stint with the Hispania Racing Team hasn’t been successful, much like his short stint with Jordan until 2004. After a disappointing start to the season, Kathikeyan lost his seat to the up-and-coming Australian Daniel Ricciardo after the European Grand Prix in June. But in his recent interview Narain has promised that he will be back in his seat for the inaugural Indian Grand Prix. Here’s the exact transcript of what Narain had to say when asked whether his participation in the Indian Grand Prix was in doubt:
“My seat was never under question for the Indian race. Yes, I would like to have a race or two to warm up for the Indian GP. It was always a dream for me to race in Formula 1 and race in front of my home crowd. And now thanks to the Jaypee Group that dream is going to be a reality. I got goose bumps when I saw the circuit. It’s a massive facility and I am very excited. It will be a great showcase.”
There you have it. Narain Karthikeyan himself assuring that, his participation in the race is a certainty. Either Liuzzi or Ricciardo will have to make way for Narain for the 17th race of the calendar. As Narain has said, he may also get a go at the preceding races also. So we have Narain Karthikeyan confirmed for the race. What about his compatriot Karun Chandhok, who was a HRT driver last year?
Karun Chandhok: Tougher times ahead?
Karun Chandhok:
Karun Chandhok, who signed with Lotus Team this year as a reserve driver, is not a certainty for the Indian Grand Prix. Chandhok drove for the first and only time this season at the German Grand Prix when he replaced teammate Jarno Trulli. He had a disappointing outing at Nurburgring and hence Jarno Trulli got his seat back in the next race. Hence, one would seriously question against Lotus if they were to use Karun again in future? This is going to hinder Karun’s participation in his home Grand Prix. It is ironical that Karun’s father, Mr. Vicky Chandhok, is the man who’s responsible for bringing F1 to India. The harsh reality is that Karun does not have the odds in his favor to drive in his home race. Karun himself admitted to this during a recent interview:
“I’ve always maintained that racing in the German GP this year was a one-off. The team seem to be pleased with my performance at the event so we will see what happens. I am quite optimistic about it but I can’t say anything at this stage. We have discussed it but nothing is final. It makes a lot of sense if Indian drivers are there but nothing is final at this moment”
But anything can happen in Formula 1. Karun Chandhok might still become a part of the line up for the October 30th race. The organisers will certainly hope that Karun will be a part of the race since the fans would certainly love to see a local flavor added in the race. Currently Karun Chandhok’s participation in the first ever Indian Grand Prix hangs in the balance.
The Bottom Line:
The demand for the tickets of the event are an indicator for the popularity of the Indian Grand Prix among the masses. If both Indian drivers are out there racing on October 30th, it will offer the fans much more to cheer about. Let’s hope that for the first time in Formula 1 history, we will get to see two Indian drivers in the same race in the Indian Grand Prix.
