By Andrew Cutler
February 3 2009

Former F1 & CCWS driver Robert Doornbos was one of the handful of notable names left without a race seat after the IRL/CCWS merger early last year. As as been previously reported here, the Dutchman has been working hard to secure an IndyCar ride for 2009. Early reports had him talking to HVM, the squad (then known as Minardi Team USA) that he drove for in the 2007 CCWS season.

Later on the rumor mill had Robert switching his focus to the open seat (vacated by Justin Wilson) at Newman Haas Lanigan. At some point either yesterday or very early today newspapers in his native Holland began running the story that a deal with NHL had been signed. 

This has lead to Doornbos posting the following message on his offical website:  "Several newspapers suggest that Robert Doornbos already signed a contract to race for Newman Haas Lanigan in 2009. We like to confirm that negotiations with IRL teams are in the final stages. But as long as there is no official press release on this website, there is no deal. We hope that we can announce Bobby D’s plans very soon."

I'll keep everyone posted as the situation unfolds.