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IRL: Barrichello denies Indycar test reports

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Khatir Soltani
From GMM

Rubens Barrichello has flatly denied reports he is set to test an Indy car following next month's Brazilian grand prix.

The 36-year-old Brazilian is openly fighting for his Honda seat and for his future in formula one, as the Japanese team courts potential successors to the longest driving career in F1 history.

Reports from South America recently pointed at an opening for 2009 at the Honda-powered Penske Indy car team, stating that a test run at the Homestead track in Florida has been lined up.

"Someone invented that story," Barrichello said in Shanghai in interview with Eurosport Motormagazin.

"Because of my friendship with Tony Kanaan, I had the opportunity to go to the Indy 500. Then my wife told me that was the only thing she didn't want me to do, (racing on) the ovals."

Barrichello does not totally rule out a future career on the American racing scene.

"It would be tempting to drive for a team like that of Roger Penske, but there is nothing to it (currently). I don't have his phone number and we have never talked about it.

"I have only read about it on the internet, and, as you can imagine, I was pretty surprised!"
Khatir Soltani
Khatir Soltani
Automotive expert
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