Red Horse Racing trying to put program together for Nelson Piquet Jr.

By Bob Pockrass

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Nelson Piquet Jr. of Brazil has been testing a Truck for Red Horse Racing.

Mark Thompson
Getty Images

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Former Formula One driver Nelson Piquet Jr. tested a truck for Red Horse Racing at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway on Wednesday and the team is looking for sponsorship for him to run the full Camping World Truck Series campaign, team owner Tom DeLoach said.

Piquet, who drove for Renault in Formula One and is the son of one of Brazil’s most famous drivers, has also already tested for Red Horse at Motor Mile Speedway in Virginia.

“We think he has a lot of talent, and we’re interested in him, and we’re trying to put everything together,” DeLoach said in a phone interview. “Nelson has made the decision that he’s very curious in racing in the United States in cars with fenders on them and back to real racing. … He has a great skill set.

“He still needs time in the seat driving a 3,400-pound vehicle. It’s not the same acceleration, not the same deceleration, has a high center of gravity and different aerodynamics.”

Red Horse Racing also has tested Vitor Meira, who still has another year in his contract to drive in the Izod IndyCar series for A.J. Foyt.

“It’s one of those things that’s intriguing from us both from a talent perspective and the ability to open up different sponsorship avenues,” DeLoach said.

The 24-year-old Piquet, who was caught up as part of a scandal where he deliberately crashed in the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix to set up a scenario where Renault teammate Fernando Alonso went on to win a race, posted a statement on his Web site Wednesday indicating he plans to compete in NASCAR.

“I have spent the last few months carefully evaluating my options for this year,” Piquet said. “I had to choose a path, and it was a difficult decision to make. Being successful in Formula One was always my goal, but I have learned that happiness is just as important as ambition, and after my first 18 months in F1 did not go as planned, I have decided to focus on something different and have chosen to take a route in America.”

DeLoach already is committed to two full-time trucks next season – one for Timothy Peters, who won the October race at Martinsville in a Red Horse truck, and the other for rookie Justin Lofton.

Peters’ crew chief from last year, Chad Kendrick, is working with Piquet. Jeff Hensley, who was working with Brian Scott last year at Xpress Motorsports, will be crew chief for Peters. Rick Gay, crew chief for T.J. Bell last year, has been promoted to director of competition.

“Jeff brings a wealth of experience and is an incredibly good crew chief,” DeLoach said. “We’re focused on getting that truck in absolutely superb condition.”