Born: 24/1/83 Nationality: American Team: Toro Rosso First GP: Bahrain 2006 Best result: 9th 2006 position: 20th Previous teams: N/A

Formula One has long believed it needed an American driver for the sport finally to make a lasting mark in the world's richest country.

For a while, Red Bull believed they had found one in Scott Speed.

Toro Rosso team boss Gerhard Berger said Speed, with his cocky, confident attitude, had great potential.

But he did not prove it sufficiently, and his attitude eventually got him the sack, leaving F1 still searching for that American dream.