Formula One still lags far behind NASCAR
(AP)
Updated: 2006-03-15 08:45

Speed got his break when Red Bull, the energy drink company, launched a search for an American driver. He won Red Bull's first competition and was relocated to Austria to train in F1's junior ranks. His time there led to a stint in Red Bull's test car during F1's swing through North America last season.

Some viewed his time in the car as a publicity stunt for a series that wants very much to grab American attention — and its advertising dollars. But Speed must have done something right because when Red Bull expanded to field a second team this season, the company gave him a seat.

So Speed made his debut Sunday driving for Scuderia Toro Rosso (Italian for Red Bull Stable). He drives for a team that no one expects to compete for wins, podium finishes or even points. Speed's only goal is to gain experience and put himself in position to someday land a ride in a top-tier car.

No matter for Speed, who was thrilled to simply be making his first start.

"It's something I've been looking forward to my whole life," Speed said before the race. "And to get here, I get a sense of feeling that I've arrived and all the work, dedication and sacrifice I've made in my life are all paying off today."

Then he went out and finished 13th out of 22 drivers, beating F1 veterans Ralf Schumacher, Rubens Barrichello, Jarno Trulli and former world champion Jacques Villeneuve.

It was a remarkable showing, but not nearly enough to capture an American audience that was all too eager to waste an afternoon watching Matt Kenseth lead parade laps around Las Vegas Motor Speedway until Johnson used a dramatic late pass to steal the NASCAR race.

It's too early too tell if he'll ever catch on here in the States. But Speed, who left Bahrain immediately after the race so he could get to Kuala Lumpur and begin training for this weekend's Malaysian Grand Prix, knows it's his responsibility to try.

"Certainly there's responsibility of trying to raise the awareness of Formula One in America," he said. "And it's something that I really hope we can do."