Scott Speed  Born: 24.01.83  Birthplace:Manteca, California  Team: Toro Rosso  2006 Car Number: 21  Last Season: N/A  GP Pedigree (After Brazilian GP)  Starts: 18  Victories: 0  Poles: 0  Fastest Laps: 0  Points: 0  GP Debut: 2006, Bahrain GP.   Five-year Stats

It's been 13 years since America last had a driver in Formula One in Michael Andretti.

And little did anyone realise that at the same time Scott Speed was beginning on his path to the big league.

Scott began racing with karts and over the next nine years he won many titles in the United States.

However, in 2001 he stepped up to single-seaters and the following season was crowned the Formula Mazda champion.

That same year, the Californian also caught the eye of those running the Red Bull Drivers Search programme and with the Austrian energy drink company’s backing, he entered the British F1 Championship in 2003.

A year later Scott was off to the Formula Renault German series, before heading to the new GP2 Series in 2005. He finished third overall.

The American also tested for Red Bull Racing that year, standing in as their Friday test driver for three grand prix weekends.

His performances earned Scott a racedrive with RBR’s junior team, Scuderia Toro Rosso, for 2006.

Now it’s just a case of time telling whether he will be more successful in Formula One than his predecessor.

Formula One Career:

2006:

GP with Toro Rosso.

Background:

2005:	Finished third overall in GP2 championship.
2004:	Winner of both the Formula Renault German and Eurocup Championships.
2003:	Competed in British Formula 3 but did not complete season due to illness.
2002:	Wins Red Bull's American Driver Search Programme and a British Formula 3 drive.