Fisichella Leads Indian Formula One Team

Topics:  Giancarlo Fisichella, Force India

VOA Sports
January 10, 2008

Italian veteran Giancarlo Fisichella and Germany's Adrian Sutil will lead the Force India Formula one team when it makes its debut this season.

Indian billionaire and team owner Vijay Mallya made the announcement Thursday. Fisichella joins Force India from Renault. Sutil was last season's most successful driver for the team when it was previously known as Spyker.

With 12 years of Formula One experience and three wins in his career, Fisichella is expected to bring the stability Force India needs. Sutil is in his second year on the Formula One circuit after winning the 2006 Japanese Formula Three race and finishing behind Britain's Lewis Hamilton in the 2005 Formula Three series. Italian Vitantonio Liuzzi will be the test and reserve driver.

Team owner Mallya said he does not expect miracles this season, but would like to have a car on the podium when India hosts its first Formula One race in 2010. The Formula One season starts with the Australian Grand Prix in March.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.