First American driver to compete F1 since 1993
(AP)
Updated: 2005-12-07 09:50

His father, Mario, was the most successful American in F1, winning 12 times in 128 races and taking the title in 1978. Only one other American has won the series title �� Phil Hill in 1961.

A few others have made a mark in F1 �� Dan Gurney, Peter Revson, Richie Ginther and Eddie Cheever.

Speed got his break in 2002, when he was discovered by the Red Bull Drivers Search, a campaign funded by Red Bull owner and Austrian billionaire Dietrich Mateschitz to find American talent.

Toro Rosso will be the feeder team in F1 for Red Bull Racing. Red Bull purchased the old Minardi team a few months ago, and renamed it Toro Rosso (Red Bull in Italian).

Italian Tonio Liuzzi was selected Tuesday as Toro Rosso's other driver, with Neel Jani given the test driver's slot.

Like Minardi, which entered 340 races over two decades without ever winning, Toro Rosso will be a tail-end team.

"I think realistically my personal goal is to become a Formula One world champion," Speed said. "If this next year helps me learn and helps me get closer to that goal, it will be a success for me."