Indycar’s boss has admitted he would "love" longest-serving F1 veteran Rubens Barrichello to switch codes for 2012.
Having lost his race seat after a record-setting 19 consecutive seasons, the 39-year-old Brazilian is this week testing the 2012 Indycar in Florida, with his close friend and KV team driver Tony Kanaan also in action.
Barrichello has previously ruled out racing on dangerous American ovals, citing a promise to his wife Silvana, but now he is not ruling out the switch.
"By the time he gets out of the car he’ll have a pretty good idea what he wants to do," countryman Kanaan said.
"Right now, we don’t have anyone signed for the other two cars. You can tell by his face he’s having a lot of fun."
Indycar chief executive Randy Bernard is hopeful Barrichello will make the decision to race in 2012.
"He’s a champion, a driver who would be a tremendous addition to a series," he is quoted by the Associated Press. "Indycar would love to have him."
Bernard is quoted by racintoday.com: "If there is a transition, I want him to know that we’re here to help him."