Lopez of Argentina named first driver for American Formula One team

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Jose Maria Lopez of Argentina today was chosen to be one of two drivers for the newly formed American Formula One team, US F1.

Lopez, 26, is a former test driver for Renault’s Formula One team who has been a dominant race-car driver in his home country since 2007.

‘With Jose Maria Lopez we have further positioned ourselves for a successful 2010 debut campaign,’ US F1 President Ken Anderson said in a statement. The team, based in Charlotte, N.C., has yet to announce its second driver.

The team ‘faces many challenges but our goal is to improve with each race,’ Lopez said.

The Formula One season opens March 14 with the Bahrain Grand Prix.

-- Jim Peltz