Highlights

Speed ready to score points in new Toro Rosso car

(Reuters)
Updated: 2007-03-14 13:39

American Scott Speed dismissed doubts about his commitment to Formula One on Wednesday and looked forward to a far better second year with Toro Rosso.

The only U.S. driver on the grand prix starting grid, Speed was also the last to be confirmed for the season starting in Melbourne on Sunday.

Toro Rosso co-owner Gerhard Berger had questioned the Californian's attitude before the announcement late last month that the 24-year-old would be returning.

"I was always pretty sure that I was going to drive so I just kept my head down, did the training that I needed to do in the off season and here we are," Speed told reporters at the Albert Park circuit.

"As far as my commitment -- over the whole winter off season that I had, I spent one week over Christmas with my family in California whom I hadn't seen all year," said Speed.

"The rest of the time I spent in Arizona training, because that's where I had the best training opportunities.

"So I think that should pretty much answer everybody's commitment question."

Speed was speaking after driving former Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee and Rock Star Supernova lead singer Lukas Rossi around the track in a black Ferrari ahead of a Melbourne concert on Thursday.

Toro Rosso scored just one point last year but have higher expectations this season although their Ferrari-powered STR2 car is already controversial.

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Rivals have questioned the legality of the Adrian Newey-designed machine because of strong similarities with the RB3 of sister team Red Bull.

Speed said, however, that the main problem for the team would be getting to grips with a far more advanced car than last year's model.

"It's going to be a tough weekend for us," he said.

"It's been a struggle for us because we've gotten everything so late and we're still having quite a bit of problems. It's such a huge difference for us this car to last year.

"It's so much more complex and all the guys are still getting used to it. I think it's going to be a slow start for us but I think we have a car that's got a lot of potential," added the American.

"By the end of the season we should be in the points a few times."

Speed said he had learnt a lot from his first year.

"I couldn't say I'm much better prepared than I was at the end of last year, but you surely learn a lot of stuff in Formula One race by race," he said.

"Going into this year, I am definitely way ahead of where I was at the beginning of last year."