Manning eyes IRL or Champ Car return

UPDATE #2 Darren Manning revealed during the Autosport International show in England that he is still trying to land a drive in the USA for the 2006 season. "I am going back to the USA next week to talk to some Champ Car teams about a deal," the 30-year old said. "It will be good to go back to road courses. Justin came into Champ Car after I did my time there, and he's since carved himself out a nice career.

"I have not turned my back on F1 but we are not pushing that side of things," he admitted. "If I do Champ Cars this year, win every race and the championship and then get some phone calls from F1, we will obviously take them and put those on the table…"

07/28/05 Darren Manning told Autosport-Atlas, "I have to be thinking about 2006 immediately. I have thought about it and there is no holding me back. I don't have to go one way or another, other than just talk to people. I haven't become a terrible driver overnight. Chip signed me for a reason, I was a Formula One test driver for a reason and I'm still around racing for a reason. People aren't going to think that and I'm sure there are opportunities out there for me.

"I'm going to be looking at IRL and Champ Car primarily because like I've always said this is where I want to be racing in US open wheel racing.

"It's got to be a top-level drive. That's why I came to Ganassi because I thought they were going to give me an opportunity to win. Unfortunately it didn't turn out that way.

"No-one has given me a call yet, but it's mid-season so there is nothing I can really do for the rest of this year. I'm not desperate for the rest of this season. I want to be in chance to win races for next year. All the teams will pretty much know who I am. I've made a name for myself on the American scene."

"I can promise them that it will be competitive. I don't need to do anything on a low level anymore. I don't need to get a ride for a rides sake. I'm working towards a top-level drive in IRL or Champ Car for '06 or something on the world scene. The phone will start ringing today I guess, and my manager will start ringing round.

"Ganassi are not standing in my way. I've got to see out my contract but they are letting me look around. And if something comes up we'll have to talk to them."

07/27/05 Darren Manning said was shocked but not necessarily angered by his sudden firing Tuesday by Chip Ganassi. “I’ve been in a lot worse situations than this," Manning said shortly after he was told he was out of the Target Chip Ganassi Racing No. 10 Panoz-Toyota. “He hasn’t cut my legs off; he hasn’t shot me. I’m still breathing, so everything will be all right. This isn’t but a dent in my ambition at all. It might even make things better."

“It wasn’t that I wasn’t a good-enough driver," Manning said. “I don’t think that was the decision he made – ‘Manning’s a terrible driver; let’s get rid of him.’ I don’t think that was the decision, but I don’t know if anybody will ever know. I can’t speak for Chip as to why he picked me to take the brunt of the problems. It was either leave it as it was or make a change, and Chip decided to make a change."

“I’ve got to move on in my career and get back to something good," said Manning, adding that he would be interested in returning to the IRL or the Champ Car World Series. “I’ll only take a top-level drive. I don’t need to take a low-level drive that I’m unable to win in. Maybe this is good for me. It might be the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I don’t wish anybody any harm or malice over it." More at SPEEDTV.com