frank
08-14-2008, 05:08 PM
Scott Speed has declared himself happy to have lived the dream of Formula 1, despite the aborted nature of his time with Toro Rosso.
Speed became the first American in more than a decade to make it to F1 after signing for the Red Bull 'B' team in 2006, making the most of his links with the drinks giant to secure a place in the new Toro Rosso squad alongside Tonio Liuzzi.
Having failed to score a point in his debut season, Speed returned for 2007 but a spectacular fall-out with team principal Franz Tost following the European Grand Prix saw him leave the team, with Sebastian Vettel coming in to replace him.
Speed has since gone on to forge a career racing back in the States and has taken four wins to date in the ARCA stock car series as well as one victory in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
Admitting he views stock car competition as something of a personal challenge, Speed said he was happy with how his 28 race F1 career had panned out, despite achieving 'nothing' during his time in the sport.
"Formula One was always my dream, always way above NASCAR," he told USA Today. "In my mind, I have accomplished what I'm going to in my life. This [stock car racing] is a personal challenge. If I don't make it, I wouldn't feel any worse than if I did, honestly.
"I did absolutely nothing in F1, but I'm 1,000 per cent satisfied. It's like going to college of the world. I never went to college, but I know a lot because I had the opportunity to live in Europe and travel the world."
I didn't take to much to Speed in F1 and thought he was a bit arrogant, but my feelings are really starting to change. What a great attitude he's starting to have in NASCAR.
Speed became the first American in more than a decade to make it to F1 after signing for the Red Bull 'B' team in 2006, making the most of his links with the drinks giant to secure a place in the new Toro Rosso squad alongside Tonio Liuzzi.
Having failed to score a point in his debut season, Speed returned for 2007 but a spectacular fall-out with team principal Franz Tost following the European Grand Prix saw him leave the team, with Sebastian Vettel coming in to replace him.
Speed has since gone on to forge a career racing back in the States and has taken four wins to date in the ARCA stock car series as well as one victory in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
Admitting he views stock car competition as something of a personal challenge, Speed said he was happy with how his 28 race F1 career had panned out, despite achieving 'nothing' during his time in the sport.
"Formula One was always my dream, always way above NASCAR," he told USA Today. "In my mind, I have accomplished what I'm going to in my life. This [stock car racing] is a personal challenge. If I don't make it, I wouldn't feel any worse than if I did, honestly.
"I did absolutely nothing in F1, but I'm 1,000 per cent satisfied. It's like going to college of the world. I never went to college, but I know a lot because I had the opportunity to live in Europe and travel the world."
I didn't take to much to Speed in F1 and thought he was a bit arrogant, but my feelings are really starting to change. What a great attitude he's starting to have in NASCAR.