NASCAR Cup Series

American joins Caterham for Spanish GP practice

Published May. 10, 2012 1:06 p.m. ET

foxsports

Caterham says Alexander Rossi will drive in Spanish Grand Prix practice this week to be the first American driver behind the wheel of a Formula One car in five years.

The former Lotus team says Rossi will replace Heikki Kovalainen for the first practice on Friday at the Catalunya Circuit outside Barcelona.

The 20-year-old Californian says his goal is ''not to make any mistakes and learn as much as I can over the whole weekend as I take the next step in my career.''

The last American to drive in F1 was Scott Speed for Toro Rosso in 2007.