Success comes slow for Speed in Formula One racing

He’s the only American driver at this week’s U.S. Grand Prix.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Scott Speed, the only Formula One driver carrying the American colors at the U.S. Grand Prix, would love to score his first career points in his home country.

“It would mean a lot to me to do it at home,” Speed said. “That would really be something special.”

Speed is living a dream that few Americans share. The kid from Manteca, Calif., near San Francisco, wanted from the time he was little to race in Formula One.

Short history

He didn’t have many countrymen as role models.

Since 1978, when Mario Andretti joined Phil Hill as the only American F1 champions, only a handful of drivers from the U.S. have found a seat in the international open-wheel series.

Eddie Cheever and Danny Sullivan both gave it a good try and never had any real success before coming back to the States and finding fame and fortune, including winning the Indianapolis 500.

Michael Andretti, Mario’s son, was already a star in the U.S.-based CART Series — now Champ Car — before he gave F1 a go in 1993. The reception from F1 was less than enthusiastic, mostly because Andretti chose to commute from the U.S. rather than move to Europe, and he didn’t even make it through a full season.

Then, along came Speed.

Still optimistic

Now 24, Speed is in his second season driving for the lower-level Toro Rosso team and the improvement by both the driver and team has come in small steps. But, somehow, Speed remains confident and optimistic.

“Certainly, when I first moved to Europe and first started racing, the respect was very little,” he said. “I am sure there is not very much respect for American drivers even now.

“The level of competition in Europe is definitely a lot more. The people who try to come from American racing ... to European racing normally have a rude awakening because it is much more competitive and a totally different style.”

The young driver prepares to make his second start before the home fans in Sunday’s U.S. Grand Prix at the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

A year ago he qualified a solid 13th and appeared ready to make a run at the top eight. But the day turned sour quickly as he crashed out while trying to make a move on Ralf Schumacher and Mark Webber in the first lap.

“But it is encouraging to see where we are at now, and we can kind of see where our target is. We are pretty confident we will be able to reach it this year, which is to be in the points a few times.”