Speed misses Red Bull chance

American racer Scott Speed missed the opportunity to stake his claim for a Red Bull third driver role in the wet at Silverstone today.

Speed, who is currently a Red Bull-backed driver in the GP2 Series, is under consideration to step in as a third driver for the next two grands prix.

Red Bull are keen to increase interest in Formula One in North America and see a role for Speed in Canada and Indianapolis, when there is no GP2 action, as the perfect starting point.

He was scheduled to test today at Silverstone but the British weather intervened and he never got the chance to set a lap time as BAR, Renault and Toyota to cancel their tests altogether.

Speed impressed with his first test earlier this year and if he is chosen for a role in North America, he will replace Vitantonio Liuzzi as third driver, with Christian Klien resuming race duties.

McLaren did take to the track, with Pedro de la Rosa and Juan Pablo Montoya setting the first and second fastest times respectively. Nick Heidfeld was third for Williams with Klien the sole Red Bull present in fourth.