IndyCar: Bird remains focused on move to America

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Sam Bird concluded the 2013 GP2 season with a fine runner-up finish in the championship and quickly set his sights on establishing a career in the Verizon IndyCar Series. With few seats available, the former Mercedes Formula 1 reserve driver shifted his focus to sports cars, landing his first opportunity in America with Starworks Motorsport in the TUDOR United Sports Car Championship, along with racing for the AF Corse Ferrari team at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The 27-year-old Englishman says he remains undeterred by the limited IndyCar openings, and continues to push for a drive in the U.S.

"I've been speaking to people within the IndyCar family now for a while, a lot of team owners, and it's been something that I've wanted to really explore because I can see myself making a complete move in IndyCar, not just as a one-off season or something short-term," Bird told RACER.

"I really believe that I can forge a very good career in America. I like the lifestyle, I very much enjoy the atmosphere and the paddocks. I think the U.S. motorsport scene is a perfect fit for me, and with so many drivers like Dario Franchitti, Justin Wilson, Mike Conway and other Brits being successful in IndyCar, I know it's absolutely possible for me to do the same."

Bird returns to open-wheel competition this weekend as one of Virgin Racing's drivers in the new

FIA Formula E series

(ABOVE). Once he's done with the Formula E opener in Beijing, Bird expects to fly to America and visit with IndyCar team owners to further explore the possibilities of landing a seat for 2015.

"I think the time is about right now," he continued. "After a good campaign last year in GP2 and with some knowledge now from racing stateside, I've met some wonderful people, had some great chances with Starworks and (owner) Peter Baron. He's given me some great opportunities at Daytona and at Sebring and at Laguna Seca. I believe I'm going to do Petit Le Mans with him as well, which I'm very much looking forward to, but before then, I want to have as many face to face meetings as I can with IndyCar team owners."

One of the smartest moves made by Bird since setting his sights on IndyCar has been to seek advice from former champions Gil de Ferran and, more recently, Dario Franchitti.

"I've been speaking a lot to Gil de Ferran who's been fantastic with me, and he's been giving me some useful feedback and some information," he said. "He's been extremely helpful so far with regards to who I'm speaking to. So I have to thank Gil. He is one of the guys I really look up to. I think him and Dario, especially, you look at their careers and you have to say, wow, If I could replicate anything, anywhere near what they've done with an IndyCar career, then I would be doing pretty well. It's great to have help as I try and make this transition.

"And I figure coming over to speak directly with people is the right way to do it. It's better than just firing out an e-mail because I think, quite frankly, most people could do that. I think if I can show my face over there and prove to them how much it would mean to me in order to get a test, and then to hopefully grow a relationship from there. I want to become a name in the IndyCar Series, and to get there, it takes more than phone calls and e-mails. I could quite happily move to America tomorrow."