Fisichella officially named Force India driver

Fisichella and his German team-mate Adrian Sutil were on Thursday presented as drivers for the Force India Team in Mumbai. Another Italian, Vitantonio Liuzzi, was named test and reserve driver.

 "This is a historic day for India. Thanks to Vijay (the owner of the team: Vijay Mallya) India is a part of Formula One."

   Fisichella, 34, is a veteran in the sport with 194 races for Minardi, Jordan, Benetton, Jordan, Sauber and Renault. He has three career wins.

 He is bound to earn less at Force India than he did last year with Renault, but he said that the team was not his only option. "Contrary to what so many think, this was not my only option - it was simply the best."

   Sutil said he was looking forward to racing with the veteran driver. "He can help me and the team," he said.

 Mallya started Force India after buying the former Spyker team for 80 million Euros (120 million dollars). Spyker last year finished last in the constructors' standings.

 He promised that the team would be better. "We will be better, but I while not make any promises that we can't keep. The only thing that I can say is that we are aiming to have someone on the podium at the first Grand Prix in India in 2010."