Tuesday 6 July at 10:01 : Jul.6 (GMM) An American driver says he is in talks with an American outfit hoping to make its debut in formula one next year.

Despite the demise of the stillborn USF1 effort, it emerged in May that the separate Cypher Group is bidding to put together a US-based team with the support of "experienced F1 engineers, designers and businessmen".

Now, via Twitter, 22-year-old Indy Lights driver Jonathan Summerton has revealed he is "working hard with Cypher towards being the American F1 team with an American driver".

"They (Cypher) have applied and (I'm) pretty sure things are looking good," he added.

"(I'm) in talks with them for F1 in 2011".

Also via Twitter, Cypher Group confirmed that "we are in contact with Jonathan Summerton".

Florida-born Summerton, linked last year with USF1, has in the past also raced single seaters in European F3, Formula Atlantic and A1GP.