Hulkenberg dismisses move to IndyCar 'for personal reasons'

©IndyCar

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F1 veteran Nico Hulkenberg has killed off his own prospects of racing in the NTT IndyCar Series in the future, for "personal reasons".

The 34-year-old German driver, who remains Aston Martin F1's reserve driver but who no longer entertains any hopes of returning full-time to the grid, was offered a test outing by Arrow McLaren SP two weeks ago at Barber Motorsports Park.

Hulkenberg qualified the run in Alabama as "good and successful" while McLaren Racing boss Zak Brown readily put the former Grand Prix driver among the front-runners to fill a third seat in the future at AMSP.

However, despite the positive feedback that followed his Barber test, Hulkenberg ruled out a move to IndyCar in a message on Twitter on Thursday.

©IndyCar

"Quick update regarding IndyCar: It was exciting to test an Indycar two weeks ago and I am grateful to Arrow McLaren SP for this opportunity," Hulkenberg wrote.

"However for personal reasons I decided not to go ahead with it. Keep you posted on my future plans."

Read also: McLaren impressed by O'Ward 'very good' F1 sim stint

The former Renault driver didn't elaborate on the "personal reasons" behind his decision.

But as the proud parents of a recently born young son, Hulkenberg and his wife, fashion designer Egle Ruskyte, may feel that committing to IndyCar or relocating to America are not in the family's best interests.

Hulkenberg's former F1 colleagues, Marcus Ericsson and Romain Grosjean have both successfully undergone the endeavour.

Ericsson switched to IndyCar in 2019 and has enjoyed two wins in the series, while Grosjean is in the process of moving his family to the US where he will undertake in 2022 his first full IndyCar season, running with top outfit Andretti Autosport.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.