Rubens Barrichello may be poised to rewrite Riccardo Patrese's long-standing record for the number of grand prix starts this season, but he may not extend the new marker to far from the Italian's current tally if the rumour mill is to be believed.
According to
motorsport-total.com, Barrichello could be poised to hang up his Formula One helmet at the end of the season and head to the IndyCar Series in the United States to see out his final years. The Brazilian has apparently received an offer to join the crack Andretti Green Racing outfit - where he would link up with old friend Tony Kanaan and Motegi racewinner Danica Patrick - for 2009.
Although it is hard to regard Barrichello as one of Formula One's senior figures, he has been around since 1993 when, as a 21-year old, he joined Jordan. Since then, he has experienced the highs and lows of the top flight with Stewart,
Ferrari and
Honda and is poised to pass Patrese's total of 256 grands prix appearances before the mid-point of 2008.
He holds a contract with Honda until the end of the current season but, despite the team's upturn in form and fortune, it is not thought likely to be extended, with younger blood being targeted to partner
Jenson Button from 2009 onwards.
Although he has no contemporary oval experience, Barrichello would benefit from the growth in road and street course racing expected in the Honda-powered IndyCar Series in the next couple of years - following its unification with the Champ Car World Series - as well as the knowledge of Kanaan, with whom he has raced in end-of-season kart events in Brazil and indulged in helmet swapping for various race weekends in recent seasons.
The report also suggests that the Brazilian could be half of a 'swap' deal that would see the Andretti name return to
Formula One. Marco Andretti, son of former
McLaren pilot Michael, has already tested on a couple of occasions with Honda and has made no secret of his interest in making it to Formula One - but he could face some stern opposition from other young hopefuls who have made their way up the conventional European ladder.
