F1 talks to continue, says Monteiro, Champ Car maybe

(GMM) Tiago Monteiro says he is still hoping to return to formula one in the near future but Champ Car would best for him. Does he want to be a backmarker because he will not get a good ride in F1 or a winner in Champ Car where all the cars are equal?

The 30-year-old Portuguese raced for F1's Silverstone based team in its Jordan, Midland and Spyker guises in 2005 and 2006, but lost the seat to impressive German rookie Adrian Sutil for this season.

Monteiro has turned to the FIA's World Touring Car Championship with the SEAT team for refuge, but suggested in an interview that he hoped to come back to F1.

"(F1) negotiations continue but for this year I am 100 per cent committed to my team SEAT," he said. "After (that), who knows."

Monteiro admits that he wanted to retain his Spyker seat for this year, and also revealed that options existed for him to be a test driver or go to Champ Car.

"Initially, the idea was to continue in formula one," he explained. "I had opportunities to be a test driver or even a main driver but they did not materialise."

Monteiro contested 37 career grands prix, collecting 7 points in total and a maiden podium in the infamous 6-car race at Indianapolis in 2005.