Speed to pull double duty in 2006

Scott Speed is set to become the first American driver employed full-time by a Formula 1 team since Michael Andretti’s 1993 stint with McLaren, when Red Bull Racing announces him as an official test driver during the upcoming Italian GP weekend. The fact that the Californian is also running Team USA’s A1GP car in this week’s Paul Ricard test sessions, however, prompted doubts about his availability to perform double duty as an F1 tester and A1 racer during the winter months. But RBR has confirmed this Friday that Speed’s A1 involvement is in both parties’ best interest. "It will be good for him to be busy over the winter and get more experience," Red Bull officials told Autosport-Atlas. More at SPEEDTV.com