Motor racing-Formula One buzz hangs over IndyCar season opener

By Steve Keating

(Reuters) - IndyCar will launch a new season on Sunday on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida but the buzz has been about Formula One and Michael Andretti's flirtation with motor racing's glamour circuit.

Andretti Autosport, with a four car driver lineup that includes F1 veteran Romain Grosjean and 21-year-old American Colton Herta, is a hot favorite to claim the IndyCar championship this season.

But the headlines for much of the week have centred around Andretti's application to join the F1 grid as its 11th team in 2024.

While awaiting world governing body FIA's decision, there have been multiple reports circulating that Andretti has been in discussion to purchase F1 tailenders Haas, who are sponsored by Russian potash producer Uralkali and facing financial headwinds with sanctions imposed on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.

Andretti, a former IndyCar champion and grand prix racer, had been in takeover talks with the owners of Sauber, who run the Alfa Romeo team, but said in November last year that "control issues" led to a collapse of negotiations.

The son of former-F1 drivers champion Mario Andretti, Michael said had he purchased Sauber that Herta, the youngest race winner in IndyCar Series history when he won at Circuit of The Americas in 2019 at 18 years-old, would have been one of his drivers.

Herta told the IndyStar an opportunity to race Formula One would not be something he could pass up, if FIA approves Andretti's application.

"It's so hard to get into F1, that if an opportunity comes, you can’t just sit and wait around," Herta told IndyStar.

Until then, Herta's focus will be on winning the IndyCar drivers title and the St. Petersburg Grand Prix the first of 17 races on the