Zoom Happy in the US and with NASCAR

Team boss Franz Tost sounded out whether Juan Pablo Montoya, a winner of seven Grand Prix, might be interested in returning to F1 with Toro Rosso in 2009.

Montoya, 33, was a frontrunner with Williams and McLaren until a drop in form in 2006 led to his switch to NASCAR.

But with Toro Rosso boss Franz Tost needing to fill Sebastian Vettel's seat, the Austrian admitted he looked into whether Colombian Montoya might be ready to return to the series.

"Unfortunately he no longer wants to be in Formula One," Tost is quoted as saying by Auto Motor und Sport.

The German magazine also said Nelson Piquet was offered Red Bull-bound Vettel's race seat, before the Brazilian was re-confirmed by Renault for next season.

Also in the running for Toro Rosso seats next year is incumbent Sebastien Bourdais, Swiss rookie Sebastien Buemi, Japanese veteran Takuma Sato, Bruno Senna and Rubens Barrichello.

Team co-owner Gerhard Berger said of 29-year-old Bourdais: "He has talent but lacks a bit of confidence both in the car and in himself."

Source: GMM
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