Ganassi keen to re-sign Chilton

Chip Ganassi Racing are keen for ex-Formula One driver Max Chilton to re-sign with the team for a number of years.

Chilton made the move Stateside last year after losing his F1 drive and took six podiums and one win on his way to fifth in the Indy Lights championship.

This year racing for Ganassi in IndyCar Chilton's highest finishing position so far has been seventh at the second round of the season in Phoenix.

Speaking about retaining the 25-year-old Brit, Ganassi managing director Mike Hull said that the team were looking at a long-term future for the former Marussia driver.

"We are working really hard to retain Max for hopefully more than one additional year if we can make that happen," Hull told Racer. "He will benefit greatly if we are able to do that together.

"It's a terrific opportunity for Max to be able to excel, and the benefit will come to all of us when he continues with Ganassi Racing."

Hull said that in order for Chilton to excel in IndyCar, he must be given time to settle in and adapt to the series.

"Owners need to be patient with young talents to give them at least two or three years of running," he said. "You see where drivers are after that - they either flatline and never get better or they accelerate from that point."

"They don't get valuable time away from the races to learn Indycars the way it once was," he added. "The veterans we have came from that system and the guys that are going to become veterans are going through this new system.

"That takes two or three years of patience to get them there."