IndyCar veteran calls FOM arguments ‘offensive’

Oriol Servia, a Spanish IndyCar veteran who once drove for Andretti Autosport, called FOM’s arguments against allowing the Andretti Cadillac team into the championship “pathetic and insulting.”

“I am sure that making a decision (on the 11th World Championship team) is more difficult than it seems to someone from the outside, but I think Formula 1’s arguments are pathetic and insulting,” newspaper Marca quoted the opinion as saying. from Serbia. – The Andretti team has confirmed the availability of financial resources, confirmed the desire to get to Formula 1, signed a contract with General Motors and its Cadillac division, it is based in the USA, it has a glorious history in the motorsport, because three generations of the Andretti family have achieved success in racing.

It’s hard to argue that Mario and Michael Andretti helped create the foundation on which modern Formula 1 stands. And their teams won every championship they entered – Indycar, IMSA, Formula E, Indy 500, Extreme E, Indy Lights…

I especially didn’t like the phrase “FOM believes that the new team will bring more benefits to Michael Andretti itself than Formula 1.” Who benefits more from participating in the championship: Formula 1 or the team? The essence of motorsport is to try to beat everyone else with the resources you have and to put on a good show for the fans. In my opinion it is the job of the championship management to ensure the well-being of Formula 1 as a whole.”

Servia is a long-time US resident, winning the Indy Lights youth series title in 1999, making his ChampCar debut in 2000 and becoming vice-champion in 2005. He has competed in the Indy 500 more than once, with his best finish being 4th in 2012. The last time he was at the start of the famous race was in 2019, when he was almost 45 years old.