Piquet may seek race drive in IRL
The 23-year-old Brazilian was sacked by former Renault boss Flavio Briatore earlier this year, and he then blew the whistle on what became known as crash-gate, having admitted to crashing on purpose in Singapore last year.
2010 team Manor's current boss John Booth suggested earlier this week that he still rated Piquet Jr highly.
But when his comments were interpreted by some as suggesting Piquet might race for Booth next year, likely team sponsor Virgin – via Virgin F1's expected boss Alex Tai – said categorically in Singapore that the team would never work with cheats.
But Ecclestone told the Daily Express: "Piquet will get another drive. He's a driver who does as he's told. That's what any team boss would want. And they don't all do that."
Piquet is also linked with a seat at the new Spanish team Campos. [Editor's Note: Did we not tell you that Bernie would not let the famous piquet name get to the IRL?]
09/25/09 Alex Tai, the Virgin board member responsible for group sponsorship who is set to become team boss when the lifestyle brand confirms its involvement with Manor, made it clear in Singapore on Friday that his company would never be associated with a driver who had broken the rules.
Speaking to AUTOSPORT in the paddock, Tai said, "We will make our plans known after the end of the season," said Tai. "I don't believe it is professional to in any way talk about our plans while we are sponsoring another team this year, namely Brawn – who happen to be leading both championships and who I personally believe will win the championships.
"However, what I can say, is that as a director of the main board of Virgin, I can assure you that we would never have anybody in a team sponsored by us who cheats."
09/23/09 (GMM) Crash-gate conspirator Nelson Piquet Jr has revealed that he may seek a race drive across the Atlantic ocean for the 2010 season.
The 23-year-old Brazilian, who was not punished for his actions in the 2008 Singapore grand prix due to his whistleblower immunity granted by the FIA, has indicated he intends to return to formula one next year.
"I am aware that because of this (scandal) it will be difficult," Piquet said during an interview with Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.
"Some people will be afraid that the same thing will happen. But this was an unique case and I have learned from it. If I can't find a place in F1, perhaps for one year I will go to America and try to do a good job there until the waves have calmed down a bit. I was there in August for a week and spoke with some teams," he revealed.
[Editor's Note: This is tactical ploy by Piquet because he knows darn well that Bernie Ecclestone will not let the famous Piquet name get away to IndyCar, especially with the rumored Brazil IndyCar race. Piquet is from Brazil so he would add nicely to the list of drivers from Brazil that IndyCar would bring to the event. BTW we hear the race is 50/50 and may not happen, which is why the IRL has yet to announce the venue in Brazil.]