Kyle Bush not looking at Formula One … yet

A North Carolina group that announced this week it was forming a U.S.-based Formula One racing team mentioned Kyle Busch as one of its two potential drivers.

The Las Vegas native said Friday morning at Las Vegas Motor Speedway that no one had talked to him, but it’s something he’d consider after he wins a NASCAR championship.

“I’d toss the idea around -— it’s definitely something I wouldn’t shoot down, but I don’t think it’s the right time yet in my career. I’m happy with where I’m at.

“And obviously, the focus here is to go for (NASCAR) Nationwide and Cup wins and championships and compete for championships."
 Bush added, “It’s something that I’d love to give a shot one day. Toyota gave me the opportunity to go over there last fall and do a (Formula One) test in Fiji (Japan), but we weren’t able to get there. Hopefully, one of these days maybe I’ll get a chance to drive one and see if I’m any good at it.”

Also mentioned by the group based in Charlotte, N.C., were Cup rookie Scott Speed — a former F1 driver — along with IndyCar drivers Danica Patrick and Marco Andretti.

“It was never on my radar, no,” said Busch, who will race at Las Vegas in the Sam’s Town 300 on Saturday and the Shelby 427 Cup race on Sunday.

“I wouldn’t mind trying IndyCars and running the Indianapolis 500 or Formula One. It’s not quite the time for me to do that yet."
“I’d like to – if I could win a championship here in the next two or three years then I wouldn’t mind going over there and doing that, trying it for a few years and coming back. I think I’d still be young enough that if I could win a championship by 25, go run Formula One for a few years, be back by 28.”

Busch is 23 years old and in his sixth year competing full-time in NASCAR.