Karthikeyan signs Williams deal

UPDATE This rumor is now upgraded to 'fact' as AutoRacing1.com has confirmed that Karthikeyan has indeed signed with Williams and there will be an announcement Friday.

01/25/06 (GMMf1NET) India's Narain Karthikeyan has now finally signed a contract to test for the Williams team in 2006.

That's the claim of the Mumbai-based 'Business Standard' newspaper, which said on Wednesday that the 28-year-old – who became the first Indian to drive grands prix last year in a Jordan – would share Friday practice driving throughout this season with teammate Alex Wurz.

With a consortium of Indian companies backing him, Narain's sponsorship kitty is an ideal way for Sir Frank Williams to finance Austrian Wurz's '06 wage.