UpdateF1 >> Formula 1 News > F1 return for Penske?

But costs must fall first

(GMM) The famous 'Penske' name is again being linked with a future in F1.

Roger Penske, the IRL and NASCAR team owner in America - a 13-time winner of the Indy 500 - has told Bernie Ecclestone that if budgets can be cut to about $100m a year, he is 'interested in fielding a formula one team,' England's The Guardian newspaper wrote.

Penske, whose F1 team in the mid-70s even won a grand prix, is clearly referring to the FIA's newly unveiled 2008 regulations, which are yet to be ratified by the world motor sport council.

FIA president Max Mosley told France's L'Equipe on Thursday: ''A big private team, very well known in America, recently told Bernie: 'We want to join F1, but only if we can do it with a budget of 80 million dollars'.''

Mosley added that are three or four others who are similarly just waiting for F1's costs to fall, and a couple more who are less serious.

Another prospective privateer entrant would be former Benetton and BAR boss David Richards, who - speculation says - would attack F1 with his 'Prodrive' team name.

But he warned in F1 Racing magazine: ''If formula one carries on like it is, it won't be worth me being involved.

''You might as well hand the title at the start of the season to the team with the deepest pockets.''

Written: Fri, 23 Dec 2005 16:36:58